taking codeine in pregnancy

[glittergirl30]

hi, im really worried im 25 weeks pregnant and since week 16 i have been taking codeine for migraines given to me by the doctor. the doctor has told me they are safe but i still can't stop worrying. nothing else touches the pain. i wanted to know if anyone else has taken then and have healthy babies? thanks

 

[SurpriseMom2B]

I haven't personally taken it, but my doc did tell me it was safe. I have been having horrible headaches and he told me if they got worse he would give me a RX for some.

 

[Princess Lou]

Before falling pregnant I was taking codeine for migraines as, like you, they were the only thing that helped, even if they did just take the edge of so I could sleep. However, my fertility specialist and GP pulled me of them as they said there wasn't any evidence to support the claim that they were safe. There isn't anything to say they aren't either but they would rather I didn't use it. I agree with them though, unless there is concrete evidence to say a drug is safe to use in pregnancy I refuse to take it but that's more to do with what we went through and I can't afford the emotional risks.

Honestly though, if your doc is okay with it, then I would trust him/her.

 

[..marie..]

I was in hosp last week for server spd pain I was put on this every 4 hours and was told by doc I wasn't allowed home while on such a strong dose as they wanted to monitor baby,bare in mind hospital ones are very strong but it didnt seem to affect my baby at all just made me very sleepy hope this has helped

 

[Gemie]

I've taken them through out my last pregnancy and this one for spd nothing else works also for headaches early on. Coding is thought to be safe in pregnancy, I do try and alternate with paracetamol but I may as well pop a smartie for all it helps.

 

[Bella1185]

Just saw this is from a few days ago - but wanted to lend some reassurance incase it'll help! I had to take codeine around 20 weeks for a couple weeks due to heartburn/hiatal hernia- and I was FREAKED OUT! however, just had a look at baby yesterday and everything looks totally fine. Obviously she is not born yet, but the medicine hasn't seemed to affect her at all! Alot of physicians feel codeine is safe. I was so against taking it but my doc basically said that the stress of the pain I was in/lack of eating/limited mobility was way worse for baby then small doses of a painkiller.

Try not to stress!!! Your little one is just fine!!!

 

[geordie_gal]

I have SPD and have been prescribed paracetemol and coedine, so it must be fine x

 

[Feathers]

I have codeine for SPD. I try and limit it but take it when needed. My GP told me that it make baby sleepy (much in the same way it makes me sleepy) so to only take it when I need to, but that it is safe to take.

 

[lovebabyhopes]

OP- Have you been taking the codeine daily from week 16-25? Sporadically should be fine, but if you get into a daily habit, it's the withdrawals that can prove to be troublesome during pregnancy. Just be cautious not to form a habit, codeine is an opiate, and it's metabolized by the body as morphine.

 

[OurLilFlu]

Just wanted to pipe up... Withdrawals in baby once they're born may be a bit more concerning so hopefully you will be able to lessen what you take in the weeks leading up to delivery. I work on a postpartum unit and we do drug scoring on those kids and I have had to send one baby up to NICU because its scores were too high when mum was on Tylenol #3s (acetaminophen and codeine)

But while pregnant they are like a pp safe to prescribe for the most part but I would try to avoid it if you can cope. Also, recently our hospital docs have gone away from prescribing them in postpartum because of a rare case that a baby in Toronto who breast fed wasn't able to absorb it properly and it just accumulated and the baby died.

I don't mean to scare you but with many narcotics there is not much known about studied risks etc. yes we know they don't cause miscarriages or deformations etc in pregnancy but its still a pretty potent drug.

 

[KhalessiBJ]

I'm on paracetamol and codeine for back pain caused by Scoliosis. My doctor said its fine to keep taking it while pregnant. I just cant take endone (oxycotin) if my back pain gets too much. Thank goodness codiene and back rubs from OH work for my back pain

 

[Boothh]

I took codeine (prescribed) pretty much all the way through my last pregnancy and my baby is a totally perfect 17month old now x