Aa
PLEASE HELP
PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE ME!
I am 20 weeks pregnant with my fourth child. I get very bad tooth aches caused by a hole I have in my molar.I went to the e.r. and was givin hydrocodone for pain which i have been taking since i was 9 wks pregnant. I only take about 3 a day no more than that. I just ran out this morning and i dont want to get anymore but i have been reading that the effects of withdrawl are worse than the side effects of the medication. I do not consider myself an addict because it was perscribed to me and i take less than the dossage on the bottle recommends. But im starting to feel the symptoms of withdrawl they are manageable but im worried what effect will it have on my baby please help!!!
I am 20 weeks pregnant with my fourth child. I get very bad tooth aches caused by a hole I have in my molar.I went to the e.r. and was givin hydrocodone for pain which i have been taking since i was 9 wks pregnant. I only take about 3 a day no more than that. I just ran out this morning and i dont want to get anymore but i have been reading that the effects of withdrawl are worse than the side effects of the medication. I do not consider myself an addict because it was perscribed to me and i take less than the dossage on the bottle recommends. But im starting to feel the symptoms of withdrawl they are manageable but im worried what effect will it have on my baby please help!!!
Best Answer
HI there, hope you don't mind me chiming in here a bit. Yes, absolutely, narcotics do cross the placenta. However, a Dr. prescribing them to a pregnant women is going to be cautious in dosage, and with proper monitoring, many women who must use pain medication do so during pregnancy without too much trouble. It is important to not just quit cold turkey, that is what can be most harmful to a fetus.. Going off of them/weaning should always be done under Dr. supervision. If there is a need to keep taking them throughout the pregnancy (and again, there are lots of women who need pain control, even during a pregnancy), the delivering hospital should be made aware of the situation so that they can be prepared for possible withdrawal symptoms in the infant. When they know, they are fully prepared and can take excellent care of your baby. When taken as prescribed, there are not usually any long lasting effects and most children do just fine. Please do not beat yourself up or worry too much. You have been taking these meds as prescribed for a legitimate reason. You are doing the right thing in working with your Dr. and you are certainly not attempting to hide anything. I have no doubt your baby is going to do just fine. I work with drug users and abusers for a living, and I can tell you there is a world of difference between what you are doing and drug abuse. So yes, it may effect the baby, but not is such a negative way as some will make out. It is always risk vs. benefit, and you are doing this the right way. I wish you well.
I was prescribed this medication after I had a laproscopic surgery. I only needed them for a week. I have not heard of it causing withdrawal symptoms if you use them as perscribed.
It shouldn't have any affect on your baby the opiates/narcotics prescribed by a Doctor (not street drugs lol) do not pass the placenta.
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