Pregnant

[taraping82]

I have just found out  I am pregnant. I have been taking loracet for about 3 years. I cant stop. I am affraid of what it might to to my baby. I am about 1 month along. Is there a substitute or can I wing myself off. What do i do . I started taking them after I had my first son for pain, I liked them they give me energy so now thats why  i take them. Well I take about 6 a day. But when i dont take them I go through the shakes, i have the runs really bad, my stomash will hurt and my whole body will hurt.  If i take 1 or 2 a day i am fine. Can you help me.

[peekawho]

Pregnant users are a frequent and frustrating problem.  You would be SHOCKED how many pregnant women abuse prescription drugs.  

Taper and eventually quit.  That's my advice.  If it were only that easy, though.  

[lashamummyof2]

Hi - I just had a baby three weeks ago and was on tylenol 3 and percocet the whole time. I had it prescribed in the beginning then broke my tailbone at 20 weeks just as I had tapered off of all of it.
To make a long story short, please do not worry: naroctics do not casue birth defects, but large quantities can make the baby born addicted (although this is easily managed, it is not fair or pleasant to see an infant in distress).

My baby was born a week early, and I was in a lot of pain. I was down to between 1 - 2 tylenol 3 a day during the last few weeks ( so, 30-60 mg of codeine which is quite low...I think that's what is in loratab). I tried to stop all together at the end, and in the last week I had very loose stools and I felt terrible, I was worried it was withdrawal (from only 1-2 tylenol 3 a day, I was confused because it was such a small amount), but it turned out to be my body getting ready for the birth as even when I took the pills, I stilll felt terrible. Once i had the baby, I felt great.
The birth was easy, and the baby was born extremely healthy and with no withdrawals at all. He is three weeks old and doing very well. Go to this website and you will find many, many women who have been on pain pills for various reasons throughout their pregnancies, they will be of great support: www.babycenter.com - bulletin boards, pregnancy, pregnancy complications, chronic conditions (you'll find a thread called 'pain meds?).
I am assuming since you have one child already you have an OB, just be straight up with your doc and all will be well!
Just don't worry and add more anxiety to your life, you're early on, so you can try to stop, and if you can't, you can at least make sure your doctors know so that they can support you.
I made it and you will too! '
good luck!

[troubleinohio]

Im with the majority on this...try to taper and not go c/t.  as far as opiates go, I believe I have read that they do not cause birth defects from using in first trimester, but the problem is if you dont stop, your baby will be born addicted to the drug(s) you are taking and will have a host of medical and developmental problems. One of my best friends broke her leg when she was about 5 weeks pregnant, and she had to take vicodin and Tyel 3 for it, and she only used it sparingly and for a short period of time and stopped taking after a couple weeks. Her son was born fine with no defects or problems. He is about 3 years old now and is healthy and no developmental problems. I also know of a girl who was in a horrific car crash. SHe didnt even know she was pregnant at the time (thats how early she was like only 3-4 weeks along). She went through multiple surgeries to pack her torn liver and other massively fractured bones (including both her legs and pelvis). She was on alot of stuff then and not to mention anesthesia for the surgeries. By the grace of God her baby survived all this and was fine.   My point is, if NECESSARY you can take small amounts of pain pills when pregnant, but you cannot do it long term, and you DO need to quit takign them before the fetus gets dependant on them. A slow taper should be fine.

btw, maybe you will be "lucky" and get severe mornign sickness, and you may not even be able to keep down the pills soon anyways. Your body may end up helping you out in getting off the pills.
Good luck to you, and congrats on your new blessing.    

[serenitysaves]

Stop and think!!!  Of course you don't want to hurt the baby.  The first trimester is the most important for the developing fedus.  It's sad sometimes we don't even know we're pregnant until it's almost over or is over.

Talk to your doctors, try to be as honest as you can for the baby's sake.  What ever you do Don't try to go c/t that would put to much strees on the baby.

I'll pray for you, and it's not something I often do, but I'm working on that

Take Care of yourself

[GA Guy]

What dosage of lorcets are you taking? 6-5's a day and 6-10's a day is a big difference. What's your usual dosage and strength? Also, never say you can't quit. You can!!!

[babs_01]

I am also pregnant and had been taking percocet 5, 5 a day.  I quit taking those a few weeks ago and have switched to tylenol 3.  I was able to take 2 at a time every 4 hours and after about 9 days was able to taper down and am slowly coming off the tylenol 3.  I had very little discomfort with doing this.  Its been much easier than I would have expected.   Good Luck!

[shama]

I went throught something kind of similar. This is a very important time for a developing baby so you definetly need to taper off. Stopping cold turkey could cause a miscarriage because of the withdrawl symptoms on your body. But you need to commit to tapering off. Listen to your body in the meantime, you have been through a pregnancy before so you know what normal baby pains are and what to be alarmed by. No blood. Good luck, what a great reason to be clean.