narcotics and pregnancy

[niknurse]

I posted before but didn't get much of a response.  I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with taking narcotics during entire pregnancy (be it prescribed or not) and what the outcome of the baby was.  Any experience at all.  I've had to be on them for a medical condition and I'm terrified for the baby to be born addicted.  I've heard it totally depends, some are some aren't.  My doctor seems to think the baby will be fine, but that is not good enough for me.  I just want to hear from people that have been or are going through it.  Please any story will be helpful.  

[Mikeinthesouth]

I feel your'e fear. All Id suggest is to pray for the lil perso. I have heard and read stories withboth outcomes. Hang n there I'd be willing to bet the longer time you have clean gives yer baby more of a chance not to be addicted.

[GoingToMakeIt]

PM (private message) 1234betterlife. She is an RN specialized in OBGYN
http://www.medhelp.org/user_profiles/show/279300 She has not poted this week, but I bet she will answer your PM.

I too have heard good and bad with using while pregnant.

[newmanagment]

my wife was on a narcotic for a back problem when she was pregnant with our son. i have no clue what it was , but it was a narcotic. Our family doc prescribed them . i was freaked out , so i took the bottle to her ob doc. he assured me the baby would be fine, and it wouldnt affect him at all. she took them about 2 months or so, right thru first tri-mester and into the second. all was well, but i would still do as mike suggested, and PRAY.. my prayers are with you and yours....

[avisg]

welcome, I know one of our members is very helpful with people who are using durning pregancy her name is girlybuff ......she has alot of good info

[niknurse]

Thanks for the response.  I will PM her.  Can I ask the spectrum of what you've heard?  I'm sure a lot has to do with the amount taken and length.  I too, actually, am a nurse.  I specialize in pediatrics believe it or not.  So, I've seen w/s' in a neonate.  I think that is why I'm so terrified.  It definetley helps if the doctor is aware because they watch for it and intervene as early as possible.  My problem is I cannot go off these meds.  I've been told by my perinatologist that it is more dangerous to come off then to take them.  In cae of a bad pain crisis that will distress the baby.  I feel so out if control and so guilty.  I appreciate your response.  I know it's a taboo thing

[GoingToMakeIt]

worried878 and Jacqui805 are nurses too. We will try to round them up for you.

[niknurse]

I have read girlybuffs responses before, I was just looking for numbers.  What different experiences were.  I know girlybuff's older reponses were helpful.  I think I will Pm her.  Thank you guys.  I'm doing my best to get a low as I can on the dosage and I'm wathced VERY carefully, but I am almost 37 weeks.  So far baby is great!!!  

[niknurse]

Thank you for your help.  It is so helpful to talk to people about it.

[GoingToMakeIt]

I sent 1234betterlife a PM to comment here. if she is around, she will. Check this post later for answers too.Sounds like you are doing good. Take care of the both of you.:)

[oxygirl487]

whatever u do do not go c/t..c/t is very harmful to the baby.....i lost a baby because i stopped oxycontin c/t and i miscarried.....i have a friend who carried twins full term and she was on percosets for her back..her babies are fine and doing very well....just please dont stop c/t until u see a dr ok? i wouldnt want anyone to go thru the hell and guilt i still feel today...god bless u sweetie and i pray for u and ur baby....

[Flutterby111]

I took percocet while pregnant....pretty much the entire time.  I was prescribed them for migraines.  I couldn't take any of the other meds to take care of them...at the time, those were the safest options.  I was prescribed 5/325's.  On a very bad day I would take maybe 4 or 6 total.  Most days only 2.  I wouldn't take them every day though.  Sometimes I would go 4-5 days without.  During the last month I had alot of headaches and took 2 per day.  I delivered c-section and of course was given more and more frequently.  I also nursed for a few weeks....she was fine, and didn't seem to suffer one but.  No problems, no fussing at all....during the transission from breastmilk to formula.  She is alert, healthy and normal.  Since my use turned into addiction and abuse, I was and am of course concerned even now, but as of now, she seems absolutely perfect and she is four months yesterday!  Hope that helps! :)

[niknurse]

I'm so glad to hear from you.  I'm also very happy to hear that your little one is healthy and thriving.  My dosage now runs 50-65 mg oxy a day.  I never miss a day or I get into trouble.  I'm glad nursing worked out for you too.  I really want to nurse.  The docs actually told me it was a good thing to do.  I too had migraines and they SUCK!!!  It still makes me feel better to hear your story and so happy that she is doing so well.  4 months wow!!!!  Thanks for your story

[niknurse]

You are right that is the one think my doctors have been absolutely strict about.  Not to stop cold turkey.  I actually don't think I could.  I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriage.  You did what you thought was best for the baby.  I so appreciate your kind words.  I hope that you are doing ok.  I have read some of your older posts and they have been very helpful.  It is good to hear about your friends twins too.  I pray everything will be ok.  You take care too, you are in my thoughts.

[worried878]

When you miss a dose, do you go into WDs?  In other words, are you physically dependent on them?  Using pain pills during pregnancy happens some times as it is necessary....If you are physically dependent on them, then there is a greater chance that your baby will be,... And even then it is not always the case...It is just more likely...hope this helps

[niknurse]

I absolutely have w/d symtpoms.  I get RLS and jitters.  I hate it.  My pancreas acts up too.  I'm on them because I have bad chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis.  I'm trying to wean but it has been difficult b/c of pain and w/d's and the docs say teh w/d can hurt the baby.  So, if I am dependent that does that mean the baby has a higher chance of being too?  I've heard so many conflicting things.  I talked to a neonatologist that said it totally depends and noone knows.  But, they must have some idea.  In fact, a nurse in know in my OB office told me the other day there was a woman who was taking tyl #3 not everyday and never more than 3 (way less than I take) and the baby had to go the NICU for w/d and had to be medicated.  She also said though that , that is very rare with that dose and that drug and that she may not have been honest about her usage.  If she claims she's not dependent how can the baby be?  

[worried878]

I do not mean to scare you...but think about it...if you are physically dependent there is a better chance your baby will be as well...They do an abstinance score on the baby and will medicate with ativan if needed to help the baby...the WDs are very similar as an adult...diarrhea and anxiousness...crying   Let your doc know the whole picture...sounds like you have  H e needs to know and help you safely taper and this will help the baby tremendously...Gosh it is hard for me to say this as I feel bad that I have said it...I do not want to scare you but you need to take this seriously

[niknurse]

Oh believe me seriouly is an under statement for how I'm taking it.  In fact, I feel all my doctors aren't taking it seriously enough.  I've seen some neonates in w/d in the ER (i'm a pediatric er nurse)  and it's awful.  I know a score over 8 calls for pharmcological intervention.  I've researched the heck out of it.  I think I just wanted to hear more stories about people that have had to take them and knowing that I thought it would give me abtter idea of the chances.  One of the things I read said that the molecular weight of narcotics is higher than that of like tylenol an dis not absorbed as readily thorugh the placenta, so even if you are dependent there is a chance b/c of the weight that the baby isn't getting hardly anything.  Truthfully, I don't think anyone knows.  I am on a tapering schedule per my doctor, but they don't want me weaning any lower than I am.  I really want ... so I don't know what to do.  I swear you could know every study and every biological element to this and I still need to hear from people to be prepared.  When all your docs keep telling you it's gonna be ok and then you think it will be you are not prepared when or if it's NOT ok.  Does that make sense?  But, I thank you for your honesty.  Ihope I don;t sound like I don't take it seriously because I actually have been losing sleep over it adn can't atop researching it. You are not scaring me I need to hear all aspects and opinions.  It just helps me deal and be ready for anything.

[Flutterby111]

Can I ask what you take it for?  Is it a pain you feel you can handle with some other drug?

[worried878]

I can tell you are taking it serioulsy and you will be a wonderful mom...pray and do the best you can with these circumstances...I believe God always has a plan and I trust hime when I need guidence like this...keep posting

[niknurse]

You are so sweet and your kind words mean a lot.  I thank you for all your advice.  I  agree with you,I need to put it in God's hands and do my best.  Sometimes you just need to hear it.  I will keep posting.  God bless and thank you

[spacecadette]

Well I have been reading all of these comments and reading that you are a nurse, I must say I am surprised you are not more informed.  Of course your baby is going to be born addicted sweety!!! I'm sorry to be the first to drop the ball.  But lets think philosophically for a minute.  I can imagine how scared you are.  Remember all of those anatomy and physiology lectures? Pharmacology? If you are a pediatric nurse, than I"m sure you have taken all of these classes.  And if you have taken these classes, than think back to everything you have learned.  However, they now have gentle ways of weaning baby's down from opiates.  I'm not sure where u are living, but I am aware of a place called PICC.  Pediatric Interim Care Center. Go to www.picc.net and it will tell you all about it.  I believe it is the only one in the nation which deals with infant withdrawls.  Hospital withdrawls sessions can cost tens of thousands of dollars. I believe they treat babys from all over the U.S.  but it can be done.  U are in an amazing field. Medicine.  Your doctors will guide you and you are taking it for pain.  So in that aspect you should not feel guilty.  Life throws curve balls and sometimes we strike a few times before we get our chance to nail one.  check out the site...keep posting

[spacecadette]

Well I have been reading all of these comments and reading that you are a nurse, I must say I am surprised you are not more informed.  Of course your baby is going to be born addicted sweety!!! I'm sorry to be the first to drop the ball.  But lets think philosophically for a minute.  I can imagine how scared you are.  Remember all of those anatomy and physiology lectures? Pharmacology? If you are a pediatric nurse, than I"m sure you have taken all of these classes.  And if you have taken these classes, than think back to everything you have learned.  However, they now have gentle ways of weaning baby's down from opiates.  I'm not sure where u are living, but I am aware of a place called PICC.  Pediatric Interim Care Center. Go to www.picc.net and it will tell you all about it.  I believe it is the only one in the nation which deals with infant withdrawls.  Hospital withdrawls sessions can cost tens of thousands of dollars. I believe they treat babys from all over the U.S.  but it can be done.  U are in an amazing field. Medicine.  Your doctors will guide you and you are taking it for pain.  So in that aspect you should not feel guilty.  Life throws curve balls and sometimes we strike a few times before we get our chance to nail one.  check out the site...keep posting

[niknurse]

I actually am pretty informed.  Every single neonatologist or specialist,including and anesthesiologist (my doc) has said that noone knows for sure if the baby will be addicted because you never know how much the baby is getting. through the placenta and every woman's placenta is different.  They have all even gone as far as to say that the chances are slim that the baby will w/d.  That w/d is the "exception rather than the rule"  In fact, one woman I spoke with was on WAY more than I am throughout the entire pregnancy and the baby's blood level was 'nil and suffered absolutely no withdrawal.  Again this has to do with the molecular weight of the drug being taken.  Then there is the woman above I told about the at barely took any and she was not dependent but her baby was. So knowing this your probably wondering why I'm even asking?  It's like I said you can be as informed as any physician, but statistics and numbers is what comforts me.  (or sometimes doesn't)I will go to that website though.  I've heard about it, but had completely forgotten about it. THanks

[GoingToMakeIt]

All I can say is my wife is a nurse. But sometimes when it is happening to you. You need other opinions to help you.