Can vicodin cause deformaties?

[jaydee714]

Hi,
I have been on vicodin off and on my whole pregnancy and I had an anatomy scan and she was normal but could something go wrong later? That was at 20 weeks Iam now 36 1/2 weeks. I take it for sciatica and I have been taking it more frequently but never more than 4  day if Iam in severe pain..Thanks!

[babypooh]

That I know, when you are pregnant, you can only take tylenol and medicine with no aspirin.  You should really talk with your OBGYN about this, honey.  You should have asked many weeks ago! Vicodin is not recommended to be used during pregnancy because it is unknown whether it would be harmful to the fetus.  If you use it regularly, your baby may be born with withdrawal symptoms. Good luck and I hope everything turns out fine.  

[jaydee714]

Oh I was told about that but Iam wondering about physical deformaties..

[GRose]

Why are you only concerned about the physical deformities? Aren't you concerned about what you are putting your baby through now and what it will have to grow through when it is born? Not many studies have been on the effects but it is known that babies can be born addicted and will have withdrawal symptoms, it is also known to slow the babies breathing if taken near delivery, which isn't good during labor.
Did your OB prescribe these pills to you?
Have you ever seen an adult go through withdrawal from painkillers? I have and it is not pretty. I can't imagine putting a baby through that and know that it is my fault.

[jaydee714]

Well, my mother is a neonatal ICU nurse and she said that you have to be taking ALOT (like 10+) a day and tae it every single day for a long period of time for the baby to be addicted obviously the baby doesn't get as much as I do..and YES MY OB prescribed them to me I have alt of pain and she told me to use them but since I don't know much I just wanted to ask women who have taken them (or something simlar) that there babies were ok..I don't do it on purpose and Iam offended you calling me a drug user ,FYI IAM VERY CONCERNED thats why Iam asking about the physical part I know the mental

[kikicoates78]

Dear~ withdraw symptoms are not mental they are VERY physical. I think what they are saying is there are more things to be concearned with other than vanity. And 4 vicodin everyday IS alot. I understand that you need it for pain, but it is a huge risk to the baby. So I'm sorry to say dear your mom is wrong, it can be born very addicted and go through physical withdraw symptoms. I do wish you the best, but if I were you I would highly start thinking of cutting back to one a day, so the baby has time to adjust, As uncomfortable as you may be, your unborn child is worth it. Good Luck.

[GRose]

If you re-read my post I never once called you a drug "user" I simply asked if your OB gave you the pills because I was curious to see if these pills were being monitored or not. I highly doubt your OB ok'd 4 vicodin a day. As Kiki said your mom is wrong, it does not take 10 a day to make a baby go through withdrawal, you seriously need to cutt back on your dosage, I would hate for your baby to have to go through unbearable pain when it is born. That is so sad...
By the way, you asked for advice and you are getting it so don't get defensive.

[pamdaz]

is the vicodin for a nerve condition that shoots down your leg?  I went through alot of pain with nerves being pressed and pain shooting down my legs but I would have never thought about pain killers.   What kind of pain are you in?  

Heck i can't even take pain killers as an adult because it upsets my stomach imagine the baby?  I guess if i have questions in anything that my baby may be subject to i decide to hurt to save my child....to this day i would suffer before my kids at too........I just don't understand why these days woman seem to think pain is worse than it was before we even had hard pills to take the pain away?    

[melimeli]

you have to suffer a little for the better of you kids it is worth it...  I would much rather my kids have a physical deformity than a mental one... how many holes are you putting in you babies brain?  With every pill you take he is loosing a little of what he "could have" been.  You will never know the child you would of had if you had just chosen your child over yourself.  Withdrawal is the least of you worries think about the mental and developmental problems will have... ADHD would start of the list but that is also the least of you worries... think of his poor little neurons and how many are being killed by your use of a drug... we can deal with anything for 9 months, think of all the suffering in the world that people live through....  your pain is no comparision jeazzz I feel sorry for your little peanut to have such a weak mama.... ( now I will wait for the backlash) this is just really how I feel

[jaydee714]

It's better to know that it isn't a good thing, thats why I had my worries I do thank everyone for what they have said you guys are great :-) I guess having a low pain tolerance sucs when your preggo..I don't think Iam weak but sure... now I just feel attacked sorry I asked but I do appreciate the truth..

[jaydee714]

I talked to my OB and she said that it does not cause birth defects and as long as you don't take it everyday at high doses the baby will not be addicted and she recommend that I don't take anymore starting my 37th week. sooo many people take this while pregnant (and I understand everyone is diffrent) but think about it if it wasn't safe what kind of extream pain would a women with kidney stones or who was in an accident or who had arthrisits go through and like they said it's about moderation. Just because maybe most of you didn't have pain (lucky) doesn't mean not everyone is just happy and can deal with it..now that I talked to y dr. I feel better and I hope you don't make other pregnant moms feel like they are doing something bad and making them feel worse about a bad situation and I don't take them at 4 times a day only with extreme pain.Thanks!

[melimeli]

I had a kidney stone while pg and it felt like I was going to die and I didn't even take an advil... just kept thinking about my little girl and how bad I would feel if something happened to her.. hell I wouldn't even drink a coke.. we are all differen't I just chose to put her well being before mine.  sometimes the truth hurts but it doesn't change the facts.  Good luck and I hope you baby doesn't have any problems later on in life that make you wonder if your vic. use could have been the cause.  Guilt is a hard thing to live with

[jaydee714]

Your right thats why I wanted to ask people who have had pain and/or problems and thanks you for your concern. I know whats best now. Thanks, talking to people on here and my Dr. I have made a good decision thanks for all your help :-)

[GRose]

I had horrible sciatic pain my whole pregnancy with son, all I took was tylenol and even then I only took it when I was in tears from the pain. I do understand what it feels like, believe me but I would never consider taking narcotics even if they were prescribed and even though "soooo" many other pregnant women have taken it.
I hope your pain tolerance goes up a little by the time you go into labor or you are going to be in trouble little lady.

[Pearl99]

I had sciatica and saw a chiropractor up to 3x a week so as to avoid drugs. Am on second baby with this treatment and I have a BAD back and a LOT of pain, even not pregnant. Acupressure/acupuncture/massage/physical therapy can work too.

Are you going to be taking all these drugs after baby's born? I think you need to explore alternate therapies, reasons for sciatica  and the possibility that YOU are ADDICTED (it's one of the most addictive drugs in use today) --after all, you can't take them for ever and you won't be alert to take care of your own child, even if s/he comes out not obviously defective.  How would you feel if something happened while you were out of it on painkillers?