Codeine dependancy??

[gilz82]

Hi girls :wave:

I'm being treated for hydronephrosis with some pretty strong codeine based painkillers. My consultant obstetrician has explained that a side effect of this could be that the baby is born with a mild codeine dependancy.

Has anyone had a baby born with this and how is it treated? I wouldn't be taking these painkillers if I could possibly avoid it but similarly I really don't want to harm the baby.

 

[Emmea12uk]

You got to do what you got to do...

No experience but I hope everything goes ok. A friend of mine need morphine throughout her pregnancy due to a shattered pelvis. She felt bad too, but she would not have made it through otherwise. Baby was fine after a short stay in nicu.

 

[gilz82]

Thanks Emmea12uk

My consultant told me if I don't take the painkillers then it could induce very early labour so I'm doing as I'm told. Obviously just worry about the little man.

 

[kelzyboo]

Hi, i have to take codine due to SPD and previous pelvic injury from my first pregnancy, i was advised to take this by my consultant and was also told that my son could be born withdrawing and would spend time in NICU. This was too much for me and i told her i'd rather have the pain than pass pain on to my son, your situation sounds different though and you may not have that choice I'm told the symptoms would be mild and not last for long and if thats what has to be done then you can't help it. They wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't.

I'm replying because i'm being changed to something else in 3rd tri to avoid him withdrawing from codine, i'm not sure if they could in your case change you to something else but its worth asking (you can stop it at 33 weeks for the same effect).

don't beat yourself up if it can't be done, they have to look after you both and obviously believe that the outcome of the codine wouldn't be as bad as you not taking it xx

 

[gilz82]

Thanks Kelzyboo

My little boy is due to come early at 36 weeks anyway because of the kidney problems but they now think I have the start of pre-eclampsia so it could be even earlier. I'm back at hospital tomorrow so ask if there is any way I could stop the codeine early and not risk the pain in my kidney triggering labour.

 

[kelzyboo]

Hope it works out for you, like i said its something that can't be helped and they wouldn't risk your LO for anything they didn't think was nescesary x

Hope your delivery goes well, good luck to you and LO xx

 

[MamaKari]

Im 18.5 weeks along and have been taking codeine for the last 10 weeks. Doctor says it will only affect bubs in the third trimester and i should be fine to stop meds in a couple of weeks so im looking forward to stopping (codeine makes me feel lethargic).

Congrats on the birth of your baby boy.

 

[gilz82]

Thanks Mamakari

I ended up on liquid morphine before Noah was born and thankfully he didn't have any dependancy to codeine or morphine when he was born.

I suppose its true what the drs say in that every baby's different.