AIBU to take co-codamol while breastfeeding a toddler?

[cocodamol]

Can anyone help me figure out if it's OK to take a very occasional dose of codeine for back pain please?

There seem to be some warnings about using it while breastfeeding, but as far as I can work out these apply only rarely, and fairly specifically to very young babies of mothers who take it over a period of several days. I'm feeding a toddler (2 years 9 months) just once a day at bedtime, and would like to take a single occasional dose soon after I've fed him, to relieve pain so I can sleep.

It would be 2 tablets x 500mg paracetamol and 30mg codeine, maybe one dose every week or so. That's not going to harm my child, is it?

I do wish there was more and better info in the "pregnancy and breastfeeding" bit of the medicines information sheets!

[citybzg]

Ask your GP. Do not take the word of randomers.

[user1471495191]

Contact The Breastfeeding Network on Facebook. They are very knowledgeable about medications and breastfeeding!

[funnelfanjo]

No, don’t ask your GP, ask a pharmacist. They are far more up to date on drug guidances and side effects.

[prettymess]

Ask a pharmacist or GP.

[user1471495191]

I’ve found pharmacists really unhelpful and unwilling to recommend (or even agree to sell) the most basic of medicines. I have found female gps far more supportive. The Breastfeeding drugs in breast milk service is excellent.

[YerAuntFanny]

I trapped a nerve in my back when my daughter was 11 weeks and was told no, paracetamol only (which did piss all!) by my GP but that was 2013 and things may have changed.

Agree with others, ask your pharmacist.

[user1471495191]

Sorry - that should read ‘The Breastfeeding Network’s ‘Drugs in Breastmilk’ service is excellent

[myfannyhurts]

It’s fine. Really. I took stronger stuff than that when I was BFing, with the approval of my doctor and pharmacist. As long as it’s occasional you won’t have a problem. I ultimately had to stop BFing because I needed even stronger pain meds to function on a daily basis.

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

You can if you truly need it but generally only for short periods of time and without any other paracetamol or codeine based products. You should look out for side effects in your baby (and yourself if you've never taken it before).

I'd double check with your GP first, can you call your surgery and book even a telephone conversation with your GP?

[DailyMaileatmyshit]

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/

Then click on "analgesics and breastfeeding"

It basically says not with young babies, not unless necessary with older children and in small doses, watch for side effects.

After reading the factsheet, I would, and did take it feeding my 22month old.

[DesignedForLife]

After horrific CSection it was the one thing I wasn't allowed because of breastfeeding. I could have diclofenac though, have you tried that?

[cocodamol]

Thanks everyone.

There are kind of long and complicated reasons I don't particularly want to ask my GP (nothing dodgy, no addiction issues or anything!), and I'm pretty sure a pharmacist will just look at the advice for "breastfeeding" on the packet which I can read myself, rather than consider that I'm feeding a 2 year old only once a day rather than feeding a newborn every hour.

I've sent a message to the Breastfeeding Network on FB as I'm told they have pharmacists available who know about breastfeeding, which sounds like exactly what I need.

I have taken it before and I know it does make me quite drowsy, which is a possible indication of a potential issue... but is also why I would particularly like to take it!

[SparklyLeprechaun]

I was given co-codamol after my c-sections and I was breastfeeding.

[TheEagle]

The Breastfeeding Network is the last word on this. Check the link posted above.

With codeine, it’s very difficult to say how it will affect the infant because it’s to do with how the mother metabolises the drug.

It may be safer to choose a different painkiller if that’s possible.

[MegEmski]

If you are feeding them last thing and only then and you take it after you've fed them, there can barely be any left in you surely by the time you feed again?

[cocodamol]

If you are feeding them last thing and only then and you take it after you've fed them, there can barely be any left in you surely by the time you feed again?

That's exactly my thinking, but I don't know how much, or how much is likely to cause any issue.

And if there is still enough to cause an issue, then how about if I DON'T feed him the night after so it's more like 48 hours between taking it and feeding him?

[cocodamol]

I'm waiting for a Breastfeeding Network pharmacist to get back to me.

[userabcname]

I was given co-codamol after childbirth in hospital while breastfeeding my newborn. They even gave me a pack to take home when I was discharged a week later and I was ebf.

[WhyamIBoredathome]

I take it. I am bf a 2 yo. But I do only take it at night when I've done bedtime bf and won't bf again until the next morning so I figure it should be mostly out of my milk by then anyway. I take it for back pain when paracetamol and ibuprofen haven't helped at tbh it's the only thing that allows me any sleep when my back is bad.

[Lovelybigboots]

I was told to take codeine for my post birth stitch pain and I was breastfeeding. Which I duly took.

[MysteriousSheep]

It’s absolutely fine! Post cs women often are given codiene or dihydrocodiene when they are breastfeeding and take it regularly for up to a week. And you are proposing to take it just after feeding a toddler. Maybe a trace would be left in your milk by next feed, but unlikely if such irregular use. And anyway, it wouldn’t really matter!
Honestly fine

[ems137]

I've been taking prescribed cocodamol for 12 years now (30/500).

I've breastfed 3 out of 4 children and am currently still breastfeeding my 6 month old. I have also taken them throughout all pregnancies most days. All GPs and consultants were aware of my medication throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.

[UrgentScurryfunge]

I was on it for a few weeks after my 3rd degree tear. Baby was BFed.
The hospital/ MWs recommended it it for me.

[PocketCoffeeEspresso]

I had diclofenac post c-section, but had incredible tooth ache when DS2 was a baby and the (female) dentist recommended co-codamol, and the pharmacist agreed but both said to keep an eye and stop if he got sleepy. DS would have been about 5 months at the time.

[cocodamol]

WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!!!

The pharmacist from the Breastfeeding Network says there is none left in your system 15 hours after taking it. So there's no possibility of a problem if I just feed at bedtime and take a single dose after that.

Oh god I want to cry, there's a whole load of backstory here which I won't go into but boils down to not being able to get the treatment I really need because I'm alone with no childcare.

I really think this will let me get just one proper night's sleep every week or two, which will reduce the amount of pain I'm in, massively improve my ability to cope with everything, and probably break a cycle of not being able to fall asleep because I'm overtired.

Hallelujah.

Thanks for all your help!