Vicodin Withdrawal and Pregnancy

[packersfan08]

I am currently 8 mos pregnant and have been taking vicodin everyday for a long time.
when i found out i was pregnant i cut down to 2 of the 10/325 everyday.  i feel ashamed for taking it during my pregnancy and worry about it everyday.  i feel so stupid and powerless and guilty about it.  i planned to stop a long time ago but would make excuses and another day, and another month would pass and here i am.
In the past couple weeks have cut down to from 2 to 1 a day and now to 1/2 a pill every 24 hours for about 5 days. (5 mgs in 24 hours)  ive been getting mild withdrawals like mood swings, anxiety and panic attacks (which im prone to anyways)  nausea, restlessness etc.
i tried to stop completly yesterday and went about 36 hours since taking the last 1/2 a pill. but my symptoms got really bad so i just took another 1/2 about 30 mins ago.
im afraid of quitting too drastically because i read that it can cause your body to go into shock and you can go into preterm labor.
I cannot tell my doctor about this because i am deathly afraid that she will report me to CPS and they will take my child away. Im sure many of you think i deserve that but i am a really good person and i love my baby and i want to stop taking this **** and just be a good mom and never look back.
i am so afraid of my baby being born with health problems or being born addicted to this horrible drug, i dont want her first days of life to be miserable.
im just trying to get support and maybe find people who have gone through this.  should i maybe wait another 46 hours to take another 1/2 or maybe another 48 hours. or should i just stop completely and go through withdrawls?
sorry for writing so much any help/advice/experiences you can give me would be wonderful. thank you.

[NautyOne]

The only problem I  see here is your  8months !  and have been taking it throughout the whole pregnancy without telling your doctor.  I hope that the very thing you were afraid of by being honest doesn't not happen because of being dishonest with your doctor.  Although, your dose is fairly low, if your child is born with withdrawal, then ....to my understanding they have to report this to CPS.  I am not positive on this, but I would check with 1234betterlife on this one to find out what the chances are of the child being born addicted.  

My prayers are with you and your unborn child

Nauty..............

[GoingToMakeIt]

You are doing a good job on your taper. My hat is off to you!
I am letting 1234betterlife know about you. She is a RN trained in OBGYN and has helped many. She will get a hold of you.

[meg52080]

You absolutely have to tell your doctor - if you are not comfortable telling your OB/GYN, then tell your Family Doctor. . .to me, it doesn't sound as though your usage would be harmful, although there may be some that disagree.  There are many different opinions (on here as well as in the medical community) as to which is more detrimental - going cold turkey or continuing to take them.  If you are unwilling or too afraid to talk to your doctor, then my advice would be to only take 1/2 when you absolutely cannot stand the withdrawal symptoms. . .hopefully you are able to quit after the baby comes. . .speaking from experience, I wish that I never even laid eyes on the stupid pills.  I did not take them while pregnant, but started shortly after my second child was born (whole long story of how that came to be - you can message me and I'll tell you all about it if you want).

MOST doctors are understanding and sympathetic, if you do decide to tell your doctor and he/she is rude and unhelpful, then seek out another doctor who will at least listen to you. . .it is very easy to be ashamed and feel guilty for this and you don't need someone else to further that guilt.

Best of luck to you - keep posting and keep in touch :)

Meg

[mr.lucky66]

I guess you didn't get the pills from the same doctor you are scared to tell or maybe any doctor. It doesn't sound like nearly enough narcotic to harm or addict the baby it more about the tylenol. You have to tell the doctor, it not like you were taking oxy or heroin although in principal it's the same.