taking fiorcet or vicodin while pregnant

[justworried440]

I have had migraines all my life, but during my pregnancy they became worst and unbearable. Therefore, my ob prescribed fiorcet...I went to see the neuro, he changed it and gave me vicodin. I'm told to take it twice a day everyday, but i'm freaked out..I'm 32 weeks pregnant now and don't want it to harm my baby. But the migraines are so severe that I have no choice but to. Could sb please reply to this e-mail and tell me if they had a successful path in taking vicodin or fiorcet...I'm really worried and freaked out.

[Mom2be530]

I have lots of health problem.  I have a gastricpacer, a interstem, and a port right now...I've had feeding tubes and all that good stuff.  Not taking meds during pregnancy is not an option for me.  I had surgery at 4 weeks before I knew about the baby.  I had surgery again when I was 11 weeks.  I even had to be put under general anesthesia and the pain meds.  Percocet and Lortab are the two pain meds usually perscribed for pregnant women, I've also heard of the vicodin being used as well.  The doctors aren't going to give you anything that will hurt the baby and they will be watching you closely.  (I'm 16 weeks and I go to the OB every two weeks..and I've had 13 u/s up to this point-  baby looks great!)  If you don't HAVE to take the meds its better not to.  But don't feel bad cause I had to be on meds this whole time.  My doctors told me that it was better for me to just take the pain meds if I needed them then rather stress the baby cause I was in pain.  The benifits were better than the posibile risks.  I hope this helps.  Your almost there, just try to hanging in there. Try not to worry and If you ever need to talk, feel free to look me up.  : ) Take care!

[hopeful thoughts]

I have been on some meds during this pregnancy (not pain relievers though). I worried too, but my doctors all assured me that they can not prescribe something to you if it is a serious risk for the baby. Also, at 32 weeks, the organs are all developed and the baby is basically just putting on weight, so the risk for birth defects goes down. You have to go with your gut, but being in pain all day is also not good for the baby.

[peekawho]

Take as few as you can to get through the rest of your pregnancy without being miserable.  Though it won't "hurt the baby" per se, as with any drug, take the least amount you can get by with.

If Fioricet isn't helping much, chances are taking Vicodin once or twice a day won't help much more.  Again, it won't "hurt the baby", but the abuse potential with Vicodin (among others) is the concern, more than anything else.

Migraines during pregnancy are a big problem.  Take medication if you need it, but don't expect it to completely relieve your pain.  And don't take more than prescribed.   I feel for you.  Migraines are not fun.

[Avas Mom]

Vicodin is safe to take while pregnant, your dr. wouldnt prescribe you anything that would harm you or the baby cause then you could sue them!

[Chelly001]

Iam on Loratab, I've been on pain meds for alomost 5 yrs, I have had pain since my first child was born. I just found out about 10 min ago, that iam pregnant. Iam stressed that It could harm the baby, but I dont want to just stop because I dont want the withdrawals, or to be in pain. Would being on these drugs hurt or harm my child? Can I still be on the meds while being pregnant and have to problems with the baby? I do not WANT to harm the baby in any way, I want it to be healthy, but I dont want to be in pain either.
What should I do?

[AndiJ78]

You need to have a candid discussion with your doctor about this as soon as possible. If you have been taking them for this long, you will need to wean off of them versus going cold turkey. Call your doctor on Monday and start working on a plan to treat your chronic pain with the least harm to your baby.

[Crritter]

Chelly, you are still on pain meds 5 yrs. later?  I would be talking to the Dr. to try and get off of them, but Andi is right, don't just stop now, it could be more harmful if you just stop.  I guess I don't know your story, but I would be worried about why you are still in pain, and even if you still need the meds.  I did have more pain during my second pregnancy from the scar tissue of my tearing, but even then just stuck to Tylenol.  Talk to your Dr. and don't stop the meds without your Dr.'s supervision.  Congrats on baby and good luck.

[Chelly001]

My first daughter is almost 5 years old, I think one of the million of doctors I seen then, one of them messed up. I never had any pain before my first pregnancy, not even a back ache, after she was born, my body just didnt work the same, I have had chronic cramping daily since then, like mini contractions...Its horrible. I tore really bad with my first, and had some other female stuff going on, now they want to do a hysterectomy after this new baby is born, they think it will help. I do not like being on pain meds, especially for this long, but if I dont take anything, it hurts so bad, to the point I need to go to the hospital. Right now, Im taking the bare minimum, to get by. I called my doc yesterday to tell him I was pregnant, he said the same, that vicodin isnt the worse thing to take while pregnant, but I just dont want to chance it, but he also said that if Mom is in pain, it will stress the baby out, so to continue to take something, just not as much as im used to. Honestly, my husband and I have been trying for a baby for several years now, and im just shocked that it actually happened! I thought there was something wrong with me for the longest time. I just wish out of all the doctors I have seen in the years, that they could just fix me so I would feel better. I have had many surgerys to try to help, and they all failed. Other this is going to be a hell pregnancy, and hurt bad, or maybe it will make me feel better. I just dont want to take the chance in harming my child in any way, but if the doctors says its ok, is it? Im just kind of stressed about it...I never had to worry about this with my first child..Never had any pain..I just think its weird that no one knows what the hell to do?!?

[Crritter]

Chelly, I was kinda the opposite.  I have been on b/c for years because of heavy and painful periods.  Even on the pill they are about 2 weeks long.  I would have such bad uti's every month before my period and would even pee bright red.  I went in to the Dr. a few times with severe pain on my side and at one point they thought it was my appendix, but it wasn't.  Just whatever was going on.  I did not take pain meds, but maybe could have asked as I would throw up from cramping and did have a few scares from the pain.   I still suffer from bad cramps, got better after baby, but the other problems have gone mostly and I can handle the cramps and the scar tissue.  I tore through my rectum with my 10 lber. and have not been the same either, I found the physical therapist did help some, other than that I have gotten used to it, I will probably be going through some procedures after I'm done having babies too.  Nobody ever figured out what my problems came from, started with my period at 11 and got really bad by the time I was in high school.  I can say I was in a lot of pain with my second pregnancy from the tearing, just used ice packs though, it did help some.  Good luck, I think sometimes the Dr.'s can't find the root of the problem, at least they are helping you manage the pain.

[Chelly001]

Thank you guys for your advice! Lets just hope it gets a little easier!!