Singer’s birth announcement fuels surrogacy criticism
Meanwhile, false claims about Tylenol and autism persisted.
Meanwhile, false claims about Tylenol and autism persisted.
This week, singer Meghan Trainor’s announcement that she had a baby via a surrogate sparked debate online, with some suggesting that surrogacy is unethical. Last week, social media users responded with false claims to a review of 43 studies finding that prenatal acetaminophen (commonly sold as Tylenol) use is not linked to autism. The death of a Black midwife from birth complications also raised alarm online about how racial bias impacts Black maternal health, and other posts criticized updated federal cervical cancer screening guidance that includes an option for self-collected samples.
In light of these conversations, communicators may explain how surrogacy works, debunk myths about Tylenol during pregnancy, offer resources for Black birthing parents, and share cervical cancer screening information—especially as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end.
Insights brought to you by the reporters and science writers of Public Good News (PGN), a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to improving community health.
What’s trending nationally in conversations about reproductive health:
On January 20, singer Meghan Trainor announced on Instagram that she had a baby via surrogate. “We had endless conversations with our doctors in this journey and this was the safest way for us to be able to continue growing our family,” she wrote in the caption. That same day, the entertainment news platform Pop Crave shared Trainor’s photo and announcement on X, where the post garnered approximately 129.1 million views, 86,000 likes, 13,000 reposts, and 5,500 comments in two days. While some commenters celebrated Trainor’s new baby, many others alleged that having a baby via surrogate is unethical and suggested that Trainor is not the baby’s “real” mother. Some also called Trainor “performative” for sharing a photo of herself having skin-to-skin contact with her baby after birth, suggesting that skin-to-skin contact only benefits babies when it’s with the gestational parent. A few commenters pushed back against the critics, noting that for some, surrogacy is the safest or only available route to having biological children.
On January 16, the Lancet published a review of 43 studies that found that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy is not linked to having a baby with autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental differences. Articles and social media users discussed the study. Many commenters suggested that this research was not necessary, noting that the studies in the review and major medical organizations have already confirmed that it’s safe for pregnant people to take acetaminophen as needed. Others expressed skepticism about the review’s results, alleging without evidence that it was funded by “Big Pharma.” Some also claimed without evidence that increased prenatal acetaminophen use has led to an uptick in autism diagnoses.
On January 2, a Black midwife and maternal health advocate in South Carolina died from birth complications. Over the following weeks, articles and social media posts about her death raised awareness about racial bias in health care and the impact on maternal health outcomes. Some commenters shared their own experiences with racial bias during labor and delivery. Others called for more resources to support Black pregnant people.
On January 5, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced updated federal cervical cancer screening guidance that gives the option for average-risk people with a cervix between ages 30 and 65 to collect a sample for a high-risk human papillomavirus test at home. Patients can still be tested by a health care provider, and the agency still recommends that average-risk patients receive an HPV test every five years. In response, some social media users alleged that at-home HPV tests are unreliable.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
Recommendations for public health professionals
The Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about reproductive health.
In response to growing conversations about surrogacy, communicators may explain that gestational surrogacy is when a person carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple. Messaging may note that the surrogate typically undergoes in vitro fertilization to become pregnant and has no genetic relation to the baby. Additional messaging can highlight why families might opt for surrogacy, including because an intended parent is infertile, doesn’t have a uterus, or has a health issue that would make pregnancy dangerous.
False claims about acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental differences have persisted since last September, when President Donald Trump falsely linked prenatal use of the medication to autism diagnoses in babies. Messaging may explain that research consistently shows that there is no link between acetaminophen and autism or other neurodevelopmental differences. Messaging may also emphasize that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says it’s safe to take acetaminophen during pregnancy as needed after consulting with your doctor. However, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), aspirin, and Aleve should only be taken during the second trimester and only for 48 hours or less at a time, as taking NSAIDs during the third trimester could lead to fetal abnormalities. The impact of taking NSAIDs during the first trimester is unclear. Messaging may encourage patients seeking pain relief during pregnancy to talk to their health care provider about the best pain management options for them.
Discussions about racial bias in health care and Black maternal health provide an opportunity to share resources geared toward Black pregnant people, such as the BLACK Doula Network and the National Black Doulas Association. Communicators may also want to recirculate tips for how pregnant people can advocate for their needs in the delivery room.
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January provides an opportunity to share information about HPV and cervical cancer prevention, especially given new federal screening guidance. Messaging may explain that HPV is a very common sexually transmitted virus that can cause several types of cancer, including cervical, anal, and throat cancers. Highlighting the screening guidelines for different age groups is recommended: The CDC recommends that anyone with a cervix ages 21 to 29 receive a Pap smear—in which a health care provider takes samples of cervical cells using a soft brush—to screen for HPV and cervical cancer. If the Pap smear is normal, people in this age group can wait three years until their next test. Those ages 30 to 65 should be screened for cervical cancer every three years or for HPV every five years. Now, people of average risk in this age group who opt for HPV testing can collect their test sample at home and send it to a lab. In response to fears about accuracy, messaging may explain that according to the American Cancer Society, self-collected samples for HPV tests are just as accurate as a sample taken by a health care provider. Messaging may also highlight why people may opt for an at-home test, such as pain during pelvic exams, cultural or religious beliefs, anxiety in medical settings, a history of sexual trauma, or barriers to in-person care, like time and travel constraints. Communicators may emphasize that people with certain health conditions and those who’ve had abnormal tests or cervical cancer in the past should not self-collect samples for HPV tests. Encouraging people to talk to their health care provider about their best option is recommended.