Autism, Tylenol and Trusting God Beyond the “What Ifs”

I have to be honest, when I read the news about a possible correlation between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism, I wasn’t shocked. But my heart still sank a little. Because like so many moms, I did take Tylenol when I was pregnant.

My first trimester was brutal—debilitating migraines that left me unable to get out of bed. My doctor, who I trusted and still trust, told me Tylenol was safe. I didn’t want to take it, but I needed to function and keep working. Later, when my son was little, I followed the advice of his pediatrician (again, a medial doctor whom I trusted,) and I gave my young son Tylenol after every vaccination to keep him comfortable. I trusted. I followed instructions. I did my best.

So, is that what caused my son’s autism diagnosis? I don’t know. And I can’t live chained to the ‘what ifs.’ For years, I wrestled with guilt—wondering what I could’ve done differently, what I should’ve avoided, what might have changed the outcome. I would spiral down the “should have / could have / what if” rabbit hole until my heart raced and my mind was overwhelmed with worry.

But here’s the truth: I made every decision with the information I had at the time. And it wasn’t careless—it was careful, prayerful, and full of love.

Romans 8:28 reminds me that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even if something was meant for harm—even if there are pieces of this story that science doesn’t yet understand—God is not surprised, and He can bring good out of it.

Today, I no longer carry that crushing guilt. I trust that my child was created by God, on purpose, with a purpose. And while I still feel a twinge of anger when headlines like these resurface, I also feel peace. Because hindsight may be 20/20, but faith allows me to look forward and be reassured that God is weaving redemption into every detail of our story.

If you’re a mom wrestling with guilt over decisions you made in the past, hear me: you did the best you knew how to do at that time. And more than that, God has your child’s story—and yours—securely in His hands.