Seeking Advice on Being on Hydrocodne While Pregnant

I am a nurse on a postpartum unit in Madison. the doctors and nurses have patients that are on pain medication and pregnant all the time. After the baby is born the nurses and pediatricians may do what is called Abstinance scoring on your baby. Basically it is a number rating for different signs and symptoms of withdrawal in the baby from narcotics...Things like excessive yawning, sneezing, high pitched cry, poor feeding , excessive spitting up and jitteriness. If the baby scores high on these, then further evaluation is done by the NICU. Also, I dont know if you plan on breastfeeding but that helps the baby from withdrawing since they are getting a small amt of the medicine they were getting prenatally through the umbilical cord, now through breast milk. I would make sure to tell your concerns to your OB and peds so they too can answer your questions...hope this helps:) Your baby will be fine:)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi there L.,

Though I was not on hydrocodone during my entire pregnancy, it was prescribed to me towards the end because of a painful ovarian cyst flare-up. I was on 5/325 1-2 pills every 4-6hrs. This too was necessary because of pain. My dr felt that was the safest "non" over the counter drug to take during my pregnancy. Maybe they can lower the dose some. But my son was born with no ill effects from the medication. I was on it for about 4 weeks straight before I had him. Fortunately, though it was quite painful when it happened, the cyst burst before I gave birth--so at least that didn't complicate things for me. Anyway, I wouldn't be extremely concerned. It's better to keep your stress levels down for the baby, as well as your BP.....meaning pain increases your stress/anxiety levels. Also, if you are in too much pain to get around, that is not good either. Staying active while you are pregnant is healthy for the baby. So if you weigh the pros and cons, in my opinion it is better to stay on the medication. Also, I was on percocet after I had my son and breastfeeding. He had zero long-term effects from that.

Sorry for the long-winded paragraph, but I hope this information was helpful to you.

B.

It looks like you have some good responses already, but I just wanted to give you a bit more reassurance. I had to take Hydrocodone 500mg 6 times a day from about week 10 through week 29 of my pregnancy. My ob assured me that it was totally safe. My son was not born addicted and there were no other issues with him through the pregnancy or beyond. He was born perfectly healthy and is still perfectly healthy now, 16 months later. Congratulations and good luck!

Hi L.!

I too am 4-5 weeks pregnant, and while I am not taking what you are I am on depression medication and walking through the same thing. The doctors are concerned the withdrawal right now in this early stage would be more detrimental than helpful. There are programs to wean you off slowly in the 3rd trimester to help the baby not go through withdrawal that you might want to ask about.

Of course it's not ideal to be on medication while pregnant, but luckily there are such advances in technology that we can watch the babies closely and make sure every thing's okay. If it makes you feel better, my OB said she's seen women on chemo give birth to healthy babies! :)

Just stay positive, and remember that you have to do what works for you. Not every mom, or every pregnancy is the same, and it's important that you do what you need to!

Take care!
Jenny

I was on Vicodin pretty regularly during the last few months of my pregnancy for kidney stones. The morning my water broke, I had yet ANOTHER kidney stone so I took Vicodin. When I went to the clinic they had me do a non-stress test and the baby wasn't kicking very much - pretty sleepy from the vicodin they said. SHe was bord healthy, no side effects. During my 1st pregnanyc I was hospitalized with stones too and they had me on IV morphone, vistaril, vicodin... and everything turned out fine that time too. Just try your best to decrease it but if you need it take it. Good luck :)

My doctor put me on it through my pregnancy, he absolutly forbid ibuprophin! I was shocked that a narcotic would be safer than ibuprophin, but it is.
I had no issues with my son being addicted. I did not take it as much as you may need to though. I mainly only took it at night because I only had pain when I was laying down. But for the first 4 months I took it more often, as I was laying down constantly due to morning sickness.
If you breast feed after delivery, your baby will still be getting some, so that would help with withdrawl, you can both ween off of it.
In the long run, the baby dealing with withdrawl is a lot better than dealing with an extreme premie because of your blood pressure. Trust your doctor here.

Hi L.,

Well, firstly congrats on your pregnancy! You have lots of responses but I don't think that I had read one with someone that actually experienced your situation, so I had to respond. I didn't have a situation identical to yours where I HAD to take pain meds everyday but through the course of my pregnancy I had 14 incidents where I had to take Vicodin ES and percocet to manage pain because I have a very high tolerance to medications so Tylenol 3 and such had no effects on me. So, it seems off and on my entire pregnancy I was on pain meds. My daughter was born healthy and happy. No addictions that we were aware of, no withdrawls. Our bodies have a way of protecting our babies while in utero through the roughest times I beleive. Just have faith and trust you are doing everything possible to have a happy and healthy baby. My daughter is now almost 5 and is a typical little girl! Attitude and everything! Good luck L..

E.

I don't know if you have tried a Tens unit for your pain. If not, you should ask your dr about using one. They don't help everyone, but help many many people who can't or don't want to take pain meds. I work for Empi, who sells them. I'm not trying to sell you one or anything, but it may be a very good idea to try to see if it can help get you off or atleast reduce the amount of pain meds you are taking. It is a prescription item that basically you put sticky pads on the pain areas and it give electrical stimulation on the area. If you have more questions, feel free to send me a message. Otherwise ask your dr about one!

L.,

My husband and I dealt with chronic pain and I know it isn't easy. I will be praying for you and your family, especially the miracle from God in your womb as you deal with these obstacles. I will be sending you an email of encouragement!

A.

Hi L.,

I market for a business that has some wonderful product that might help you out in many different ways if you would like to find out some more please email me at ____@____.com or go to my website www.mommieathomewithkidos.com and request information and I will get back to you right away. I would love to help you out in any way that I can.

Hi L., I have no experience with your situation but I have heard that there are things to help with lowering blood pressure with out medication... some natural remedies... not sure if this helps but keep praying and I know that God will give you the peace for the right thing to do in your situation.
:)

Hi L.,

I have absolutely no advice for you I just didn't want you to be discouraged by the lack of responses. Your situation is so unique, I don't think anyone has the ability or knowledge to give advice. Sorry.

Hopefully another reader will respond with some great advice but, if not, know that we still care!

Blessings, K.

Hello, I hope the pain doesn't get too much for you. I was on Hydrocodone daily for 4-5 months while i was pregnant with my second child for pain relief also (they also put me on bedrest). I started taking it about half way through the pregnancy. As far as my son, he is perfectly healthy with out any problems noted. His apgar scores were great at delivery. It wasn't the easiest to get off of after the delivery, yes there is pain that lingers :) but i was successful. I pray you will find the strength to accomplish it all, and have a healthy baby.

When I found out I was pregnant I was also on 3 different prescription drugs: Cymbalta, Gabapentin & Oxycodone ER for a chronic pain medical condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome or RSD basically I damaged the nerves in my left foot and they grew back twisted and even though my foot is healed the nerves still send back pain messages to my brain. My husband and I weren't planning to get pregnant because of my medical condition but it happened. Immediately, I was taken off the Cymbalta & Gabapentin but left on the Oxy for pain relief. All of my doctors were advised of my condition and being on Oxy. My due date was Oct 18 of last year. On Oct 1st my pain doctor started to wean me off the Oxy by cutting my dosage - it took 5 days. They weaned me off slowly so I would have less withdrawals, I fortunately had no withdrawal symptoms and had been on Oxy for over a year. The pain when I was off my meds was manageable and something happened with my brain chemistry, I haven't been on Oxy since I was weined off - still in pain but it is manageable. My baby was born with no complications from the Oxy and 11 months later is the picture of health. My advise call your pain management doctor and set up an appointment. Let all of your doctors know about your pain medication each time you have an appointment and get a plan in place. I was extremely scared I wouldn't be able to handle the pain and the effects on my baby but somehow your body takes care of you if you let it. Best wishes!!!!

Dear L.,
My heart goes out to you. My husband used Oxycodone years ago for a neck situation and I must say that is an intense drug. I pray your Dr.s take very good care of you and your child. I cannot answer any of your questions about how this will affect you and your baby.
L. you NEED to learn about Reliv. I have so many people you can talk to you regarding pain management, people that no longer need knee replacements (my husband is one of them), people that used Reliv as a prenatal in their pregnancy (I am one of them), etc. We don't make any claims that Reliv heals but the people it has helped is amazing. I am a huge advocate for babies so I just had to respond to you.
Call me anytime ###-###-####. It is important to at least learn how this could possible help you at such an important time of your life and your childs life.
GOD BLESS and may GOD lead you.
L.