Codeine in 2nd trimester

[PipPipPip]

Hi there,

I've been battling away with a rotten headache for days, and have only taken a couple of paracetamol.

When I used to get headaches like this (before pregnancy) I would take a small dose of codeine to help relieve the headache and help me get some sleep.

But I'm not sure if I can take it while pregnant. The NHS says it is okay to take "if recommended by a doctor". My pharmacist consulted his big, official book and all it said was not to take it during labour.

I just want to know - what have your doctors said about this? Has anyone been given the 'green light' to take it?

I was told the odd co-codamol was ok but not to make a habit of it, and to avoid in the 3rd trimester.

I thought it was best not to, but in my second trimester was hospitalised with a dermoid cyst which twisted my ovaries. The doctors happily gave me codeine all the time and morphine injections - when I asked if it was ok for the baby they were entirely unconcerned. So your pharmacist agrees with them!

I had headaches every day for weeks, crap isn't it

I've been okayed to take it. Ideally you want to avoid it being in your (and LO's) bloodstream at the time of birth, but that's it. And compared to the opiates used in labour like pethidine, codeine is nothing.

It's fine. I hope, because I've been on it since 24 weeks for pelvic pain and sciatica. Now I'm nearly at due date I am taking it only once every other day. As my doc said, and Japrhimel says, the opiates used in labour are much stronger in any case.

Ibrupofen generally not to be recommended in 3rd tri tho as it can cause premature closure of fetal heart valves.

Thanks ladies :)