Pethadine/diamorphine effects on baby

[MrsRose2018]

Hi ladies

Just having a think about pain meds during birth if needed.

Got some really helpful advice about epidurals but wondered if anyone had any experience/pros or cons about getting pethadine or diamorphine during labour?

My research shows that it can make the baby drunk/affect first feed but also that it can affect their breathing if given too late and therefore will require naloxone or similar to reverse effects!

Any advice or experiences you can share?

Thanks

x

I was induced on a drip and had Pethadine, it worked so well I didn't have an epidural. I don't notice any side effects with my daughter tbh.

Both of these drugs cross the placenta and can make the baby drowsy therefore affecting the first feed but I haven’t seen many cases where babies have needed naloxone..none from those drugs anyway.
Because we don’t know when the baby will be born there is never really a “too late” to have it unless you’re like 9cm it’s probably not advised. You could be 5cm then have the drug then your baby could arrive in an hour as the body will dilate how it wants to.
These drugs are more effective in the earlier stages, they don’t do much for pain relief towards the end in my opinion.

I had diamorphine at about midnight then gave birth about 10am after having an epidural as well. Expected great things of firstly the diamorphine then the epidural but both of them were big fat disappointments. My baby was a bit drowsy for the first 24 hours or so.

I had pethidine - it worked so well for me that I ended up falling asleep! The effect wore off quite quickly though!
I didn’t notice any I’ll affects to baby

Really appreciate your comments!

I’m not gonna be a martyr and if I need it I’ll have pain relief, but I don’t want to relief my pain at the costs of my baby’s health!

Maybe leaning towards epidural over pethadine etc...

x

I had pethidine and you’re not supposed to have it within 4 hours of delivery as it can affect baby’s breathing/make them drowsy but I actually delivered within that window (to the surprise of the midwives). Baby was fine, fed straight away during skin to skin then slept a lot (not sure if that was the pethidine or just what babies that have just been born do) which meant I got to clean myself up and have a nice nap! I struggled with feeding After that and for the first few days but he must have been getting something from me as he didn’t lose any weight after birth.