Co-codamol for pain relief?

[lurcherlover]

I am desperate to avoid pethidine and an epidural during labour (pethidine because feeling out of control/woozy really bothers me, and an epidural as I have a weird spinal condition that means periodically different parts of my body go completely numb, sometimes for months, and the thought of my legs/lower body being numb like that scares me). So it looks like it's gas and air and paracetamol! But I have some co-codamol (the 30/500 dose) on prescription from before I was pregnant, which I was given for endometriosis. It's still well in date - would I be able to take it in the early stages? It might just take the edge off long enough for me to be able to get through with gas and air. I'm going to ask the midwife at my next appointment, but does anyone know if there's a reason why I wouldn't be able to? I don't know if it would be bad for the baby - but then pethidine is effectively heroin and they let you take that, so is a bit of codeine a problem?

Yes they often give it to you anyway. I had it at 5cms in my 2nd labour. Gas and air from 7cms.

I have always had Meptid.
It has been a while but I had it with DS1 and 2 now 12 and 9 and more recently with DS3 (18 months)
It just helps with the pain without leaving you to feel so out of it you dont know whats happening.

you should check really as anything with codeine in it should not be given to close to delivery unless under supervision.

i'd be loathe to self prescribe it , esp as it can make you dozy, and sleepy. i certainly woldn'd take it if i was hoping to use the bath or a pool for pain relief

TENS or water are good pain relief options and in conjunction with gas & air it can be efective

definitely check with teh MW , opiates can depress the breathing and feeding reflexes in the newborn. so i'd only be comfortable being given it in a supervised setting

I was given it in early labour

Don't worry, I definitely won't be taking it unless I've had it cleared (and a suitable dose suggested) by mw/doc. I am very experienced with it and know exactly how much I can take before feeling woozy/dizzy, but obviously I've never taken it pregnant so don't know if it will affect me differently. I'm more concerned about effects on the baby, but as noted it's not as strong as pethidine and they're happy enough for women to have that. I'll ask mw next time I'm there.

i was given it when i arrived at mlu at 3-4cm, ahead of going into the pool at 5cm. should be fine.

Hi, just to say I second water pool and TENS as brilliant options for pain relief.

another thing to remember with codeine is that it can really constipate, so if you take it, get some lactulose as well.

I was given some when I was 2-3cm. Gave me 3 hrs kip. Never got bunged up but then again the takeaway curry I'd consumed 4hrs earlier might have over-ridden that

If anyone was given co-codamol in hospital - don't forget there are different strengths.

8/500 is the common hosp based one.

I personally wouldn't take anything without checking it with the neonatal pharmacist!

I took co-codamol in the early stages and for after pains after the birth and during early breastfeeding but beware i had the worst consipation ever! if u are going to take them get some fybogel and take it alongside the tablets. My midwife advised the fybogel but by then it was too late