Anyone on long-term codeine during pregnancy?

[erikab922]

Last pregnancy I had severe, immobilising SPD and played the martyr and only took (useless) paracetamol. I'm pregnant with number 2 and at 12 weeks my SPD has come back with a vengeance. But since I have a 21 month old now, laying in bed is not an option.

My lovely, lovely GP gave me 15mg codeine tablets and carte blanche to take 1 or 2 up to four times a day (or maybe it's three, I'll have to check the box). I took two about two hours ago and I can't believe how well it's working. But because my SPD started so early I'm wondering if it's OK to take codeine for the next six months solid while pregnant. I know the pain is going to get exponentially worse the larger baby gets so can see me taking it more than once a day once it gets that bad.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this - I'm sure my GP wouldn't have given it to me if it wasn't safe, he called me at home earlier tonight to talk to me about it and explained that we'd start with 15mg and go to 30mg if it wasn't enough so I can't imagine he'd be thinking that way if it wasn't safe. I'm going to just try taking it once a day in the evenings. Soothe my nerves, MNers!

Hi OP, I take 15mg MST (Morphine Sulphate tablets) for a painful neurological condition and am 23 weeks. MST is in the same family of opiate analgesics as codeine. I would obviously much rather not have to take it but it is a case of needing it to function and my GP has hugely reassured me and said that it is actually one of the safer painkillers to take in pregnancy because opioids have been around for so long that they are a known entity. I was told by my GP and consultant that it won't cause any developmental issues with the baby and I have faith that they wouldn't let me take the meds if they were in any way concerned or doubtful. They have said that the baby might have some minor withdrawal effects which is a horrendous thought but that an injection can be given to remedy this. I am unsure if this is the same for codeine though as it is less strong but have a chat with your GP to reassure you.

I have decided to taper off the meds in the four weeks before the birth and then continue them when she is here so I will have a window where my system will be 'clear' and I will just have to grin and bear the pain in that time, but there is no medical pressure to do this. In fact my GP is very relaxed about it all and tells me not to worry, not to feel guilty (easier said than done) and that it is a necessity as being in severe, chronic pain would do potentially more damage (raise BP etc).

I hope this reassures you a bit; you didn't choose to be in pain, and the doctor really wouldn't have prescribed something that would knowingly harm the baby. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy.

swampusdonkus that is a wonderful reply, thank you so much - of course the part about your painful neurological condition does not fall under the 'wonderful' category.

With my first I did the birth drug-free because believe it or not the horrible labour pains were making the SPD pain momentarily stop. When I got it again this time I thought, right, if the thought of giving birth is more appealing than dealing with this SPD pain, it's time for some medication.

A lot of women have taken co-codamol in their pregnancies so your GP is right to reassure you. It is definitely preferable for lots of reason to take them and be functional, rather than the opposite. Actual withdrawal is pretty uncommon, you usually have to be a heroin user to get it but ask for further advice regarding this closer to birth if it concerns you. Nature's cure for withdrawal is breastmilk - it is wonderdully soothing for babies in a number of ways and the idea is that you often wean the baby off naturally as you stop your painkillers sometime after birth, the baby gets some through your milk (generally a very small amount) so there is no sudden stop for your baby.