Codeine and caffeine in early pregnancy... worried I've harmed baby

[CobaltRose]

Hi everyone.

I'm only 4w 3d pregnant with (hopefully) my first baby. This is my second pregnancy. My last pregnancy unfortunately ended in a missed miscarriage. I thought I was 12 weeks but a scan revealed an empty sac, so they suspected a blighted ovum. I had to have an ERPC and it was a horrific experience, both mentally and physically.

I was delighted last week to discover I was pregnant again, but have some major worries, mainly about an over the counter painkiller I take.

I unfortunately suffer from chronic migraines/severe headaches. My doctor reckons it's genetic as my dad gets them too. Normal paracetamol does not touch them. There is one particular painkiller that does help, and it contains caffeine and codeine as well as paracetamol.

I try not to take too many in a day as I know they can become addictive, and I normally take 1 or 2 tablets a day. I also try not to take them until the pain is unbearable. However, before I knew I was pregnant I had a few bad days where I had a horrific headache that would not budge and took 6/7 tablets in a 24 hour period.

I am terrified that the codeine and especially the caffeine have harmed my little bean I am especially anxious anyway due to my previous loss, and a terrible part of me suspects it was the codeine or caffeine that caused my previous loss There is no evidence of this, but that doesn't stop me from worrying about it. I don't drink tea or coffee, and I don't like cola or chocolate, so I don't get a lot of caffeine from other things, but each tablet contains 30mg of caffeine, so on the days I took 6/7 tablets I went over the caffeine limit I am cutting down on the painkillers and hoping to stop taking them completely.

I am so so scared. Everything seems to be fine with bean so far but I am utterly terrified I've harmed them already....

Congratulations!

I’ve got a feeling that what you’ve consumed is less of an issue this early because the embryo will be nourished by the yolk sac still, not a placenta.

I’m also pretty sure that lots of people exceed the caffeine quota with no ill effects.

Talk to your GP about safe medication for your headaches, and (I know easier said than done) try not to worry.

Before I knew I was pregnant I was drinking about 6 cups of coffee a day, definitely over the limit.
In the 2 weeks between ovulation and finding out you’re pregnant, all that’s happening is that the egg is fertilising and the embryo is implanting. You won’t have harmed the baby by drinking caffeine and taking painkillers in that period.

Thank you everyone. My anxiety is super heightened anyway due to my previous loss. I'm a hot mess

Hi CobaltRose. I suffer from bad migraines too. Had them all my life. I cut gluten out just over a year ago and am strict with it. I hardly get them now. I wonder if the answer lies in modifying your diet? I used to take loads of painkillers too but now I hardly go near them. Wishing you all the best x

I've been in hospital a couple of days. They kept giving me codeine for pain. It's one of the safer options on pregnancy :)

I have a pain condition and have had codeine prescribed in pregnancy you’ll be fine

I don't know much about codine but drank tea all through my three pregnancies. Before finding out I was pregnant with my first who wasn't planned I had gone on a all night drinking session two days before my Dr announced my tiredness was down to me being pregnant (was on the pill so that was a massive shock) I felt so guilty about the drinking and was sure I had damaged my daughter. I hadn't and she is now a healthy 14yr old.

Congratulations op and try not to worry to much

I was given codeine by the hospital in my last pregnancy, please try not to worry xx

Try not to worry. I took codeine for a medical condition throughout my pregnancy as well as antidepressants. Before I knew I was pregnant I also consumed a LOT of alcohol so was bricking it. DD is now a happy and healthy 4 year old.

Congratulations! X