char23

hi all
im currently 40 weeks pregnant with 3rd child!
Spoke to nhs last week as had severe spd and sciatia nerve pain (had physio for)but had developed severe pressure pain in pubic bone area. The doctor phoned me and put me on codeine. Without asking any questions about my pregnancy.
Anyway went for my 40 week midwife appointment and was shocked when i told her i was on codeine stating the pain is because my baby is deeply engaged and i should accept it to be painful as its my 3rd child and to stop taking the codeine as its dangerous in late pregnancy? Altho in pain with spd aswell as sciatia nerve and now this she still refused to give me a membrane sweep or help me along!!

my question is do i stop the codeine??

thanks in advance

anothersquish

I wouldnt take codiene close to birth, its known to sometimes cause breathing issues and withdrawal in baby however if its the only thing that reduces the pain enough for you to function then the potential for good outweighs the bad. I know when my SPD gets bad I would take ANYTHING to relieve it a little.
If in doubt go back and speak to your doctor, you wont exactly be taking it long term, potentially only for a few more days, certainly not more than two weeks.

purpledaisy2

I didn't know you shouldnt take codeine towards the end ?

I've been prescribed it for headaches, will mention it at Adu tomorrow now !
x

char23

i didnt till midwife said apparently not in early pregnancy or in last few weeks!!

Sausage

I got given codeine when I went into hospital at 35 weeks with suspected early labour, they also gave me a supply to take home to ease the pains of the contractions I've been getting on and off.....my friend who recently went into be induced was given them at the start of the proccess to ease her back pain. I think as long as your not in full labour then taking the odd tablet is fine, remember that the drugs they give you whilst in labour to ease the pain (pethadine, epi etc) have risks but they still use them.
I would say take them if the pain is too much to bear, just not regulary.....severe levels of discomfort can be more stressfull to you and bubba anyway,
hope this helps xxxxx

third time

I'd heard not to for the first 12 weeks and the last 4 weeks, and not really advisbale in between

Jolinar

If your doctor has prescribed then it's fine. I asked my consultant, if the the benefits outweigh the risks and a doctor has told you it's ok then take it if you need to. As someone else pointed out the drugs they give you in labour carry more risks.

It's always worth querying these things at the time when it's prescribed with a medical professional rather than going away wondering and relying on info off the internet.

baby_maybe_825

When I was pregnant with Kaleb I was prescribed Tylenol#3 with codeine and wasn't sure if I should take it so the doctor went up to the maternity ward and asked the OB on call and they said for the duration I was going to be on it, it wasn't going to hurt baby at all and that baby wouldn't develop any addictions. I was also only around 18-22 weeks along so the might have had something to do with it. I would talk to your OB about it all and see if they can clear some things up for you... I know the pain of SPD and for your sake I hope it's okay for you to continue until delivery to help with the pain hun! Also sciatica sucks and ouch!! Sure hope baby comes soon!!

babybaillie

Ive been on it all the way through the pregnancy, and been told its ok. Also was given it when in the labour ward in early labour last time

Emma1980

When not pregnant i take codeine every day for arthritis, as soon as i told my doc i was pregnant, they withdrew my prescription, they told me i cant have it back until either the baby is born or if i choose to breast feed, when i'm done with that!

it is weird how all docs are different, they should stick with the same guidelines.

I did to some research on the net about it and the general consensus is that it is fine to take in pregnancy but not in 3rd tri