Prescribed codeine at 35+4

[geemeister]

I’ve been struggling with SPD since 20 weeks, tried applying for physio with no luck and was basically told “you’re young and healthy, deal with it,” by every midwife I brought it up to, since I’m unable to take paracetamol.

This morning I couldn’t get out of bed at all, my hips have been going in and out of place for weeks and it got so excruciating that I just couldn’t. It’s been really debilitating recently and makes it almost impossible to clean, cook, look after my ds and it’s been an embarrassment to me to not be able to do those things.

Anyways, I’ve been prescribed 30mg codeine tablets by my GP today after being advised to go to hospital for my level of pain (I said I would rather try pain relief methods first because I have my son and would rather avoid hospital wherever I can)
Has anyone else been on codeine so late in pregnancy? Is there anything I should worry about or any stories (either positive or negative) that anyone has to tell?
I’ve always disliked taking medication unless I really need to so I’m not planning to take it regularly by any means, but my aversion to taking medication stems from anxiety that it’ll affect the baby so I suppose I just would appreciate some input from people who’ve been in similar situations

Hi, so sorry this sounds really rough - I don’t have any answers myself but am bumping for you

I had codeine late in pregnancy for spd

Everything was fine with the baby

I was told to stop taking a week before birth (planned c section)

I also had oramorph with a different pregnancy for kidney stones, again all was fine

I also had codeine for migraines in the late stages of pregnancy - I had avoided it for the vast majority of the pregnancy but was desperate so called my GP - she said it was only believed to be risky when the baby was still developing earlier on, so I was fine to take it.

I think codeine at this stage will be absolutely fine and they should have given it to you before! They really undertreat bad SPD in my opinion. It can cause constipation so keep an eye on that and also there are some people for whom it just doesn't work (they don't metabolise it the same way or something, so it has no effect) so bear that in mind too.

I have been on codeine in varying quantities throughout my pregnancy due to bad fibro pain and awful spd/pgp. It's fine. I have spoken extensively with my GP, consultant and hospital drs and they are happy to prescribe it when required during pregnancy so please try not to panic. Get the tablets down you and hopefully the pain will ease. Would recommend making sure you have a full stomach if you aren't used to taking them as they can make you feel a bit queasy at first

I took codeine in varying doses from 6 weeks right through to the end of my pregnancy. I did try to lower my dosage in the final weeks but no doctor ever told me to do that. Baby was fine.

I hope it gives you some relief.

Yes I was given it in my last pregnancy something terrible happened to my back one day and I couldn’t move literally! Got to the gp and was given the codeine. I’d been on it a few years before hand I can’t remember what for but I knew I was ok on that one as she offered me some really strong stuff and said it will knock me out but I will be out of pain but I was too scared and I had kids to look after so I took the codeine and it helped immensely!! My back kept flaring up and going away and I was just given codeine each time. Baby was fine when born