Codeine prescribed for spd in late pregnancy

[angelic_one]

hey i have a bit of a dillema. The midwife got me an appointment with the doctor to get some painkillers for my spd. Both of them promised they would not effect baby, so i walked away with my codeine quite happily. Doctor said to take 1 four times a day but i usually take less painkillers then reccommended anyway, let alone when pregnant so have only been taking 2or3 but there has been such a massive improvement, it's been great. I wasn't able to do anything at all before and was getting so depressed and fed up, but now i feel able to go out and see friends again and finish getting ready for baby!

Problem is, now i've done a bit of research i've found out that it's not safe especially at the end which is where i am! And that it should only be taken if 'the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks'. Granted the doctor and midwife might think that this is the case...but they said there was NO risk to the baby which is not true now. Now i don't know what to do, if i just take 1 or 2 so that the pain is bearable, is there still as much of a risk as taking 4? Will it be okay if i just take it on really bad days? I don't really feel like i can ask my doctor now as i think he'll just say it's fine! My boyfriend says i should take them because it's only a small, unproven chance it'll cause problems, but he just doesn't like seeing me suffer. I feel like im being selfish taking the painkillers and maybe i should just put up with the pain, it's only 4 weeks!

What do people think? Has anyone else been prescribed codeine, and how strong is the evidence linking it to respitory problems? I find it hard to believe my doctor would just lie and say there is no risks, so is the evidence not very strong or did he think that by putting me on a low dosage it would be okay? Is there an alternative strong painkiller i could ask to be put on that has less risks? (paracetomol didn't help at all)

 

[donna-c-86]

i had to have codeine last week in quite strong doses for an agonising wisdom tooth problem. the doc wouldnt give us these things if they werent safe

 

[mayb_baby]

Careful I hear it's Very addictive baby can get hooked on it and suffer bad withdrawal symptoms when born.
I'm not too sure but I'd call my MW and ask her opinion xxx

 

[DJ987]

My doctor provided me with a prescription for codeine for my SPD last week and said it was perfectly safe, but that the midwife would want to wean me off of it in the last few weeks because it makes baby sleepy and can make the birth more difficult?! I haven't got my prescription because I don't want to get used to it and then be weaned off of it. Ive been trying to manage on paracetamol (which like you said makes no diff) and my exercise ball which I do find helps. I know iv not really said anything helpful but I don't believe the doctor would give it to us if it can cause respiratory problems, the doctor just said it will make baby sleepy for birth.

 

[Gobilino]

I was prescribed codeine for SPD and my doctor said it was safe but not to take it as I approach labor as it can depress the babies breathing. I'm not sure how i know when i'm approaching labor so have just taken 1 per day when i feel really bad. I really wanted it for getting through my last couple of weeks at work so now i'm off on maternity i may just stick to lying down instead of taking the codeine. I did take one today though as I was walking about in agony. I wont take it at all after 38 weeks though.

 

[pinkneon]

I think it depeds what dose of codeine you were given depends on if the baby will become addicted. I was also given codeine for SPD but it's only a low dose, and am only allowed to take 1 at a time and can take up to 4 a day (so that's roughly a 6 hour gap inbetween each one). I asked several million times if it was safe to take and was assured it was. I've had codeine for other things during my pregnancy too (can't have other painkillers). I never take 4 codeine a day which is probably why my SPD feels like it's getting worse but the doctor can't prescribe something unless it's safe

 

[2016]

I have had severe SPD since 16 weeks and can't walk most of the time. Been to three different doctors and 3 physios and not one will give me anything other than paracetamol and BELIEVE ME I have asked!
I think the biggest issues with codiene are that any opiates are highly addictive for both mum and baby and can make the baby sleepy in labour. Still I don't think they'd give it if it weren't safe but 3-4 a day is quite a lot! I only took 1 or 2 a day while recovering from major surgery and that was only for the first 3 days.
I think my doctors theory is that you shouldn't just be taking something to mask the pain as moving too much with SPD can cause irrepairable damage in the long term. So here I am, stuck on the sofa most days very swiftly losing my mind!

 

[dd29]

hello i have spd and sciatica it started at 10 wks and i cant even walk now bacause the pain is so bad. i was perscibed cocodamol 30/500 and the dr reashored me they were safe im aloud 8 in 24 hours. i have also asked at the hospital and again been told there fine to take. i have heard its best not to take any 2 wks b4 labour as can cause baby to b drowsy. thing is tho with my last labour they gave me codiene in the early stages im sure the drs wudnt perscribe them in pregnancy if they were not safe. i was on codienethroughout my first pregnancy 8 a day due to a overion cyst and my daughter was comp normal and fine she is now 7 and is intelegent and bright.

i also feel guilty wen taken these tablets with this pregnancy but i have asked so many doctors at the surgery and the hospital even the delivery suit and they have all said that its safe.

i do worry tho es wen u read or hear horror stories it really makes u panic. ive got physio on wed and been told i will need crutches i really hope the pyso helps so i can stop relying on the painkillers. xxxxxxx

 

[pip holder]

Hi,
I took codeine and paracetamol daily from around 17 weeks last pregnancy - full dosage as I too couldn't walk and was on crutches.
It is very safe to do so, the recommendation is to reduce your dosages from about 36/37 weeks gradually as any opiates can cause slight respiratory depression for newborns, although this is a precautionary measure only.
You will NOT become addicted to it at the correct doses - nor will bubs, just watch out for constipation
Please do not leave yourself in pain for google reasoning!!!

 

[Jojo-Mummy]

I have been prescribed solphadol 30mg codeine 500 paracetamol for my SPD. I only take 2 each night to help me sleep as they do knock me out x

 

[Armywife]

Hi, just wanted to say i took co codamol 30/500 from 16wks right the way through my last pregnancy and was on about 6 per day by the time i had Poppy. No one ever told me they were unsafe in late pregnancy (although i have since read that) and Poppy was fine, no withdrawal or breathing problems at all xx

 

[Linzi]

I had coedine from 32 weeks I think & had to take it most days. I found it made me quite sleeping & also think it made LO sleepy to as his movements reduced a bit but he is ok.

Where are you looking online for information? Just be careful where you're drawing information from hun make sure its a really reliable source

xxx

 

[2016]

Am I the only one round here who CAN'T get anything stronger than paracetamol????? I already can't walk most of the time. How bad do I have to get?

 

[bekki_d18]

My midwife told me to take it as it was safe when I was having cramps in my stomach and was exhausted. She said it is as safe as Paracetamol

 

[ellaandcallum]

I was prescribed codeine/codomol 30mgs during the second and third trimester due to severe headaches. The consultant at the hospital said they were fine to take and the baby would not become addicted. Even when I had a couple of nights in the hospital due to false labour/high bp if I wanted any pain killers it would be codeine they give. My baby is 7 weeks old and she is fine, she had no problems with her breathing nor was she addicted. If you are in pain and you have been prescribed them then take them

 

[angelic_one]

thanks so much! See i'm only on a really low dosage so i guess it'll be okay. I'll just take it when i have to until i see the midwife on tuesday and i'll check what she says, a couple of people have said it needs lowering near the end, well i'm 37 weeks on fri!!
I feel a lot better about taking it now i guess as long as your careful not to overdo it, and as i'm on a low dose, it'll be okay!
The constipation isn't fun though, especially as im also on iron! :-S