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Step 1
Know your body. If you frequently get sinus headaches, for example, you should talk to your obstetrician when you visit him or her for the first pregnancy visit. Ask if the painkiller you currently take is acceptable, or if you should make changes. Doing this early gives you a chance to make plans for any changes you might need to make to your current regimen. No matter what you currently take pain medication for, you should talk to your doctor, even if you think the medication will create no problems at all.
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Step 2
Read up. Most pregnant women are happy to read everything they can about their pregnancy, and what's acceptable and what's not in pregnancy. Read everything you can about different painkillers and educate yourself about what's in them and what harm they can cause to your developing fetus (if any).
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Step 3
Avoid certain painkillers. In general, experts agree that Tylenol or other acetaminophen products are safe to take in pregnancy, while ibuprofen (contained in products like Advil and Aleve) produces a mixed reaction. Some experts believe it's safe, while others believe it can cause harm to a developing fetus. Some over-the-counter medications will contain caffeine or other ingredients that you should be careful about taking. Read labels carefully and always consult your doctor if you are unsure about a particular medication.
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Step 4
Trust your doctor if he must prescribe pain medication to you. Obstetricians will generally prescribe the lowest dose of any medication available for pregnant women and will also prescribe medications considered safe and effective during pregnancy. The most common pain medication prescribed for pregnant women is Tylenol with codeine.
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Step 5
Take acceptable pain medications when necessary. Don't be afraid to take medications when you're pregnant. If you can handle the pain without medication, it's always all right to do so, but suffering through pain can be harmful to your mental state (and therefore armful to your unborn baby, too).
