1st trimester and addicted to pain meds.

I'm a mother of 2 and my 3rd is on the way. I just found out last week that i'm about 6wks. pregnant. I am addicted to oxycodone. I did go to detox but relasped about 2yrs. ago. I relasped after the birth of my 2nd son when the hosp. gave me vicodin for the pain. Ever since than I have been taking oxycodone. Now, I am so scared of the well being of the new baby. I don't want to take any pain pills, but I cannot just stop. Its not that easy. I become very ill if I stop taking them. I would not wish withdrawls on my worst enemy. I have however cut back as good as I can. What I have been doing is I have been taking tyl. #3 up to 6 a day instead of the oxycodone, and I still get withdrawls but I am doing my best to ween off of the pills all together. What can happen to my baby while i'm taking pills? I have read everything from the baby being addicted if you take pain pills the last few mths. of the pregnancy, I have read that the newborn could have birth defects, down syndrome, ADHD, and mental retardation. I honestly don't know what is true and what is not. I know that taking pain pills while pregnant is wrong and I feel just sick that I have to, but like I said i'm trying to get off them by cutting down little by little everyday. I am just looking for advice on how to get off hese damn things and be the mommy that I want and know I can be. I would also like to hear what could hapen to my unborn child because of me using the pain meds. Thank you all.

[0421]

don't know how to answer any of your questions but wanted you to know I care.  I believe that you need to see your DR ASAP. this is something a DR needs to know. I used to be a pharmacy technician and I remember that some drugs cause birth defects and some make the baby be addictted and go through wds. Please call your Dr  
I know this is no help to you but wanted you to be sure you know this forum does care about each and everyone on here. good luck and prayers to you

[dominosarah]

Hi and welcome to the forum~~

Have you talked with your doctor about this?  It is always good to do that as they will monitor you and the baby while you are tapering down.  Have you thought about talking to someone about your addiction?  That will help also.  As for your questions, we really dont know the answers, only the doctor will be able to answer those for you as your pregnancy progresses.  Right now the important thing is you are doing something to prevent any troubles in the future by getting off these pills.  Keep talking with us, we are here to support you~~~~~~sara

[worried878]

Like domino said, ur dr needs to know.  If you can manage off of 6 tylenol 3s a day, it wouldnt seem as if u would become deathly ill if u stopped?  Codeine is a weak narcotic in comparison to most narcotics?
Tapering is tough for an addict, I had to hand over my pills to a friend to dole out daily and i still cheated.  Picking a quit day is important for most, and writing out the taper.  Some can do it and u have an excellent reason to want to get this done.  There is a good article in the health pages on tapering and remembering it is best to take small doses thru the day verses big doses a few times a day
It seems like many addicts have a greater aversion to pain than the normal person..the non-addict.  Seems we dont tolerate physical or mental pain as well as others sometimes.  Just what I have gathered.  We are afraid of the wrong thing often..many will keep using to avoid a few days of feeling flu-like physically when most everyone on this planet gets the flu from time to time, and they live thru it!  An addict is so afraid of feeling yucky for a bit, that they will continue to use, which is what most should be mortally afraid of!
Alot of this is upstairs...our minds are powerful and can affect how we feel.  Educating urself and making a plan can help a whole lot.  The health pages r full of great info.

keep posting..and u can do this..we can do anything we set our minds to if we want it bad enuf