Codeine

[stargirl1701]

I was admitted to hospital 5 days after I had DD2 with severe abdominal pain. I was prescribed dihydrocodeine x4 daily, diclofenic x3 daily and paracetamol x4 daily alongside 3 antibiotics, iron and blood thinning injections. The pain was caused by uterine and bladder infections. Exactly the same happened with DD1 except I was 10 days post birth and also had blood poisoning by the time I was admitted.

I am ebf DD2 and someone said today I shouldn't be taking the dihydrocodeine. I know that the guidelines changed in the last 2 years regarding codeine and bf.

I can't walk (or cope) without it. The pain is overwhelming. The doctors think the infection has left inflammation of the uterus and possibly the bladder too. I've been advised to continue taking them until I'm told not to.

Not sure what to think. Am I harming my baby?

Who told you not to take them?

What does your dr say?

In all honesty I'd always just follow medical advice in cases like this

Hope you are starting to feel well soon xxxxxxx

I'm sure you can take diyhyrocodine while bf, have you been readmitted to post natal ward? I'm positive it's only codine u can't bf on!

I would also continue to listen to medical advice

Thanks. It was a bf support worker. She just got me a bit worried. She suggested doctors don't really know about bf and medication.

I was on the post natal ward, yes.

True that lots of HCPs aren't necessarily well clued up on bf drug safety, but I wouldn't take advice on meds from a bf support worker either.

The BfN have a drug advice helpline run by a pharmacist where you can check your prescriptions and get advice on alternatives (if you need them). Give them a call / email for a definitive answer.