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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Does anyone know if I can take Co-codamol whilst bf?

30 replies

Lucy1977 · 12/11/2006 00:01

Hi

I am still very, very sore from a minor op down below on Wednesday. I was sent home with paracetomol and have taken some nurofen as well.

I have some co-codamol in the house and was wondering if it's safe to take those whilst breastfeeding?
I am so, so sore and will phone the out of hours surgery tomorrow to get an appointment back at the hosp to get something stronger, I am not coping well with this pain at all.

Thanks

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 12/11/2006 00:03

Codeine
Codeine is commonly found in combination products for pain relief. Codeine may cause sleepiness and a fall in breathing levels, and newborn babies are particularly sensitive to this effect. However, the amount of codeine passing into breast milk is small. Breastfeeding after occasional doses of codeine may be regarded as safe, but regular, repeated or long- term use (i.e. longer than three days in a row), at recommended doses, is not advised.

from nhs direct

hth

Californifrau · 12/11/2006 00:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

soapbox · 12/11/2006 00:05

Lucy - don't take it if you have already taken Parecetemol. Otherwise, CD's advice sounds good to me

CountessDracula · 12/11/2006 00:06

watch out it makes you constipated!

misdee · 12/11/2006 00:07

its ok when breastfeeding.

terramum · 12/11/2006 01:09

How old is your LO Lucy

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 12/11/2006 10:12

Morning

My DD is 9 months old. My internet connection went down just after posting so I wasn't able to read the replies . I had a bath with tea tree oil in it and it helped to numb the area.

Oh no, I wont take them if it makes you constipated (TMI but op was in this area).

Thanks everyone, waiting for a call back from NHS direct doc.

Lucy

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 12/11/2006 10:27

Get a scrip for voltrol (diclofenac) if you can. It also goes into the breastmilk a tiny bit, but not much. It isn't an opiate, it doesn't make you dopey, but it's an antiinflammatory, and actually helps fix the underlying problem.

I'd take cocodamol to help you sleep, but not take it all day, iyswim. It isn't that constipating.

helenhismadwife · 12/11/2006 11:13

it is fine to take when breastfeeding, as someone else coedine can make you constipated so make sure you drink plenty and eat loads of high fibre food.

Hope you feel better soon

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 12/11/2006 16:28

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I went to the out of hours surgery and saw a doctor who said I should expect to experience this level of pain and discomfort for 2 wks! Wish the day surgery at the hospital had briefed me a little more, I had no idea.

NQC - he wouldn't prescribe me Voltrol, and said paracetomol is all the pain relief I should be taking [eye roll].
He gave me a presc for fybrogel sachets, I am reading the packet now and it says for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, I don't have any of the symptoms on the pack so don't think I'll take them.

Perhaps I'll go along to my Drs tomorrow and see if they can help anymore?

Thanks
Lucy

OP posts:
helenhismadwife · 12/11/2006 19:01

Lucy

glad you managed to get some better pain relief hopefully you should feel more comfortable.

We use fybrogel for patients who are constipated or some patients post c/section so they dont have to strain (tmi sorry) so if you think you might be heading towards bring constipated it may be a good idea to use it

hope you feel better soon

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 12/11/2006 20:21

Hi Helen

Thanks for your info on fybrogel, the Doctor didn't explain why he was giving it to me (I didn't complain that I had trouble straining etc). Is Lactulose a similar product? Just wondered as that's what my friend had during pregnancy. I presume it's safe to take whilst breastfeeding?

Sorry, I wasn't clear in my last post the Doctor DIDN'T give me anythink else for the pain so I'm just taking the max dose of paracetomol.

Thanks for all your help

Lucy

OP posts:
Willow2 · 12/11/2006 20:43

Might be reading between the lines here and getting it horribly wrong, but sounds like you might have had an op' following a bad tear? If you have, please don't feel embarrassed about posting about it - there are fair few of us on Mumsnet who have been there, bought the t-shirt and, invariably, someone is always around to offer advice or help to anyone who needs it. Apologies if I've got things completely wrong though - but the no voltarol/yes to fybrogel sounds all too families.

Anyhow, hope you're feeling a bit better and don't let gp fob you off if you are in a lot of pain. There is absolutely no need to have to suffer these days, so yell for more painkillers if you need them - if needs be call the hospital where you had the op'.

Willow2 · 12/11/2006 20:43

all too familiar, even!

helenhismadwife · 12/11/2006 21:05

Im sorry lucy I didnt read it properly the doctor is useless you should have used a stapler on his todger and given him a bloody paracetamol

I hope your own gp is more understanding and gives you diclofenac/voltarol it is a good painkiller and fine to use when b/f

helenhismadwife · 12/11/2006 21:06

yes lactulouse is similar

sallyrosie · 12/11/2006 21:42

Lactulose and fybogel are both safe in PG/BF, both are fairly gentle laxatives that work by softening the stools rather than stimulating your gut to work and would be helpful if you've had an op in that area IYSWIM.

You don't mention any other health problems - there may be a reason your doc didn't want to give you voltarol, but if not you could always buy some ibuprofen - same class of drug and very very cheap.

If the paracetamol isn't working then you could take the cocodamol INSTEAD but I'd definitely take the fybogel too if I were you . It tastes quite nice if you mix it with VERY cold water or orange squash.

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 12/11/2006 22:07

Thanks ladies for your advice.

I'll take the fybrogel in the morning and see how it goes.

Willow - sorry I don't mean to be cryptic about what op it was, just didn't want to spoil people's tea if they were reading at that time!

Lucy

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucy1977 · 13/11/2006 15:02

Hi

Just back from the docs, he also wouldn't prescribe Voltrol but he's give me 50mg tabs of Tramadol. He didn't seem very sure when I asked him if they were safe with bf (even though I told him I was bfing ) so I'm looking for re-assurance here that they are ok? I will pop down to the chemist once DD is awake from her nap.

Thanks

Lucy

OP posts:
Laura032004 · 13/11/2006 15:19

Lucy - don't know if this will help, but I was prescribed instilagel after DS2 was born (tear from the birth went up my bum ). This did wonders for the pain when/after going for a poo. It's a gel local anaesthetic usually used for inserting catheters for men (so it's probably much stronger than anything they'd prescribe for women . I was initially prescribed a diff type of gel, but it's unavail apparently as the factory burned down or something!

Re voltrol - I took this post c/s with DS1 & post-birth with DS2. Was bfing both times. Hope that helps

mummydoc · 13/11/2006 15:21

hi lucy - co-codamol fine for breast feeding mummies , ibuprofen and diclofenac (volterol) belong to a class of drugs called non steroidal anti-innflammatories and not generally reccomended for b/feeders. tramadol is a very strong pain killer and usually very good, my drug book says it is usually used with caution but amounts in breast milk too small too be harmful. co-codamol a better bet though as tramadol can make you quite spacey and some people feel queasy on it. i reccommend to my patients that to get good pain relief you really need ot decide on something and stick to it for a few days, such as co-codamol 2 four times a day , plus have you been able to have salt baths they can help. also a local anaesthetic spray or gel on hte area my help ( though sting alittle to start with !) you could ask the chemist for some lidocaine gel

mummydoc · 13/11/2006 15:23

oops forgot to say volterol is sometimes used as a suppository afterc/sections for first few days when baby is getting colostrum more than milk therefore not much gets into system..

Laura032004 · 13/11/2006 15:31

I think it was lidocaine that I was prescribed initially.

Original poster
Lucy1977 · 13/11/2006 16:18

Thanks again for replies

Ohh now a gel or spray I could put on the site would be great - I'll see what the chemist has, I'm off down there now.

Laura the wound is similar to your then, in the perenium and upto bottom but they haven't stitched it because apparently heals better this way so wound keeps opening with pressure from stools etc.

MD - had been having baths with tea tree and lavender oil but will try salt instead.
I'm put off taking the Tramadol if they make me spaced out - only me to look after little one.
Thanks, this is torture. Thought it was bad after having DD but with a newborn they sleep alot, now she's 9 months she's crawling and climbing everywhere and I don't feel upto much physical activity!

Lucy

MD -

OP posts:
mummydoc · 13/11/2006 16:28

one other thing i thought off, if your dd sleeps thru the night take a tramadol after she has goen to bed, if you do feel a little spacey it wont matter so much, also this is a good time ot try them out, as you don't need to driving or anything . if you don't like how oyu feel you can just sleep it off over night, it shouldn't make you completely away with the faries..