Dihydrocodeine in early pregnancy?

[charcb]

Hi everyone.
I started suffering from bad stomach pain in week 8 and was prescribed dihydrocodeine for it. Before starting to take it I checked the NHS site which recommends opioids such as dihydrocodeine are not taken and to seek alternatives. There's plenty of evidence against dihydrocodeine use in pregnancy. Unfortunately my pregnancy unit just gives opioids or paracetamol (and paracetamol was doing nothing for me) so I had to resort to taking the dihydrocodeine when the pain got really bad.
Now I'm worried about taking dihydrocodeine in early pregnancy and what this means for the baby so I'm quite terrified. I have so far only taken 4 tablets of 30 mg and the pain is subsiding thankfully but I can't rule out needing to take it in the future if it reappears.
Did anyone else have to take dihydrocodeine or other opioids? What has been to your experience?

I’m pretty sure I was given it for a migraine when I was about 16 weeks and all was fine.

I had codeine in early pregnancy and morphine in late pregnancy. DS was fine although had to be given naloxone to reverse the effects of the morphine

I took this during both my pregnancies.
With my first I had really bad headaches and couldn't function for days, paracetamol wouldn't touch it and this helped me to function enough to be able to eat and drink.
With my second I took it for sciatica, I literally couldn't move without crying in pain, again it eased it enough to be able to manage my toddler.

I would only take medication if it's really necessary and the pain becomes too much to cope with. Most medications are not recommended for use in pregnancy because it's not tested enough, you cant use pregnant women for trials to see if it's safe.. not because they have negative outcomes when using them this is why you have to see the GP for almost everything and why then they prescribe medicines that state they aren't recommended in pregnancy.

I was given it by the registrar at the hospital after going in for pain and have been fine so far since x

Thanks all. I'm still terrified but I guess if they prescribe it it must be okay.