That is according to the most rigorous analysis of the evidence to date published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health, and led by researchers from City St George's, University of London.

Professor Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at City St George's, University of London and Consultant Obstetrician, who led the study said: ‘The message is clear – paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided. This is important as paracetamol is the first-line medication we recommend for pregnant women in pain or with a fever, and so they should feel reassured that they still have a safe option to relieve them of their symptoms.'

US President Donald Trump was condemned by health leaders in the UK in September after he said the pain reliever Tylenol was ‘no good' for pregnant women to use, claiming a disputed link between the drug and autism.

The research data included 262,852 children assessed for autism, 335,255 for ADHD and 406,681 for intellectual disability. When compared to pregnancies with no exposure to paracetamol, it was confirmed that taking paracetamol in pregnancy was not linked to childhood autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.