Wee question about taking co codamol?

[Notmyselfatall]

Hiya, I'm suffering badly with pelvic pain. 27 weeks with dc3. Never had pain like this in pregnancy. It's excruciating at times. Saw GP today who sed I CAN'T take anything apart from Paracetamol! I was at the hospital weeks ago and the dr there sed co codamol was ok but my GP is still saying no! I don't get it? The thing is, I have been Gettn co codamol 8/500 from chemist's online as the pain is bad, I'm also carrying about my ds loads, he is 5 and has severe special needs and can't walk etc :( do u think
It's ok for me to
Continue taking co codamol? The GP is referring me to
The Physio. Should I say to the Physio About pain relief?

Bump

ive read that it was fine... but because my bf decided to read the gumph that comes with them i had to ask the midwife. she said its ok but they dont like us to take them esp in third tri cos itl cross across the placenta. but then my friend got given them when she was sent back home in labour.... which i assume is third tri :-D

You can take co codamol, but with this pain prevention is better than cure. It will only get worse unless you change the way you are moving, and carrying yr son WILL make it worse though i recognise you are in a difficult situation here. When you lift him, try to keep his weight central I.e. not over one hip. Keep your legs together if at all possible I.e. when getting out of car or turning over in bed. Talk to physio about pain relief by all means, but codeine is really the best you can do. Physio should be able to give you a support belt, which can really help for some people.

I had hideous toothache very early on which resulted in a root canal. The doctor said that if paracetemol wasn't working then cocodamol should be the next thing I should try. Preferable to ibuprofen.

I'd figure it would be a short term solution though and hopefully the physio will help so you don't need to take it for the next 13 weeks.

Hope you're feeling better soon x

Hiya everyone thanks for the replies. I'm hoping the Physio can help. Can't avoid lifting my ds as I'm doing this on my own. Just wondered if I can take co codamol to stop the pain. Been taking it anyway n hope there's no need to worry that I have

I was given a pack of cocodamol at the maternity assessment centre at my local hospital last week so would think its safe. I do only take it when I'm having severe pain because paracetamol doesn't touch it. Lots of sympathy for you, it can't be easy.

Hi Notmyself, I've got appalling SPD too and thankfully now at 39 weeks so (hopefully!) not long to go now. To answer your question, I was advised by NHS physio that if paracetemol don't touch it cocodamol would be the next step. As it happens paracetemol DOESN'T touch it, but I've been lucky in that I've been able to avoid taking anything stronger, just by giving up and not doing anything (I don't have any other DC) - which is pretty rubbish as obviously even sitting hurts. Anyway, as physio said it's ok I don't think it can possibly be anything you should be too worried about having already done. I went to see my GP about a month ago and she was very much of the 'paracetemol or nothing' view as well, but it's obvious those who actually specialise in the area say otherwise...

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy - I hope it doesn't get too much worse for you!

If it helps I suffer with kyphoscoliosis anyway, and it gets a lot worse in pregnancy due to extra weight & stresses.

My consultant is happy for me to take 60mg of dihydrocodeine up to 4 times a day (can't take tramadol or anti-inflammatories in pregnancy). The important thing is reducing the dose as much as you can in the final 4 weeks (so 36 weeks onwards), as it can make baby sleepy when born, so possible breathing issues, and also there's a chance baby could suffer withdrawal symptoms.

Make sure your medical staff know you've been taking it though, but I would push your MW/physio.

There is so much conflicting advice on meds in pregnancy and alot of it i belive it simply because tests havant been done so the drug companies are of course erring on side of caution.

I was told that you are ruled out alot in third tri, but poster above has said you cant take tramdol, two gp's told me I could but not in third tri....

I think asprin is an anti inflamatory - my gp said ladies who miscarry are prescribed it and allowed me one for migrane pain...but not the other stuff like naproxyn etc...

I would see another doctor and do more research....as to the whys...

I work in a pharmacy and funnily enough was talking to my boss (the pharmacist) about this today.

One of the reasons you should be cautious with co-codamol is that codeine is highly addictive and taking too much may mean that your baby can become addicted to it. This means that baby may have withdrawal symptoms once it's born. I'm no doctor but I took this to mean that taking one or two when you need it probably won't cause much harm but try not to take it frequently long term. (Any doctor's/pharmacists out there who can clarify??)

Doctors won't give most drugs to pregnant women as a lot of drug manufactures state that they don't know the risks to the unborn child (I always presume because no mother would want their unborn child to undergo medical testing!). With other drugs, doctors err on the side of caution as manufacturers state that you can take it as long as the benefits outweigh the risks. I suppose the doctor's don't want any comeback on them if something was to happen.

Just a side note too - personally I wouldn't take aspirin as it is not allowed to be given to under 16 year olds. Maybe that's just me being pedantic though!

My doctor prescribed me co-codamol for horrendous headaches I was having in 1st trimester, so you clearly can take it while pregnant.

I suffered from SPD in my last two pregnancies (and was only given paracetamol - but had sticks, straps, bands and eventually wheelchair), but so far not this one or my first two. However, I have two prolapsed discs in my back and take co-codamal for that. I'm 16wks gone. My GP advised to stop taking them at 28wks as they can affect baby's lungs and if born whilst I'm on them it can cause severe breathing difficulties at birth. I asked why I was given them when I was in labour and he said that they get given in labour as the effect has normally worn off (3-6hrs) by the time stronger pain relief is required or by the time that birth is imminent. My OB physio and physio also advised to keep taking them, but only until 24weeks in case baby is early. Midwife seemed happy with these opinions. They all said I can cut the dose in half (take one instead of two) after 28weeks. Hope this helps.