last tri-mester and pain meds

[angel miller]

my daughter is 36wks . she has been a trooper through it all and i have watched her fight ic pain in spite of it. they have taken her off all ic meds, as well as instills twice a week. her obgyn has given her tylenol 3 -30 a month. in the beginning she did quite well and rarely had to take pain meds. now that she is at the end and the babies head is down the pressure has become un-bearable. she has had to resort to taking the tylenol 3 w/t codiene to get some relief. she went into early labor and had to be placed in the hospital to stop it. they had her on magnesium thru the drip and gave her staidol injections for the severe pain she was exsperiencing. this was for only 24 hrs. now she is on complete bed rest and has reached 36wks and they said they would not stop her labor if she starts up again. with that said, because of the pain she is exsperiencing the doctor recommended that she could go back into the hospital and they can give her staidol around the clock for pain. of course she has refused that because of the sedation it causes her wich means our baby must feel that also. she was referred to a specialist just to make sure that the baby is developed enough for delivery incase she goes into labor again. everything was fine and our baby is healthy and can deliver successfuly when the time comes. now, our main concern after seeing this specialist is pain med issue. we were reassured over and over that the tylenol-3 w/t codiene was completely safe when taken in moderation. wich was nomore than 1 and a 1/2 in a whole day. she has stayed on this dose the last 2wks straight. the specialist is now saying his concern is with addiction on the babies part upon delivery although our baby does not show any sighns of this he says we would not know until delivery. my daughter has followed all her doctors orders even though her tylenol 3 was prescribed 1 to 2 pills every four to six hrs to control her pain. she did not do this and stayed with only the 1 1/2 per day for the sake of the baby. now she is scared to death. she is in severe pain but refuses to take anything for fear the baby will have withdrawal symptoms. she has not taken a dose for over 24hrs and has not exsperienced any withdrawal symptoms herself but what about the baby? this is such a catch 22. if i call her ob/gyn she will put her in the hospital and give her the staidol around the clock and she will be sedated. or she can take her 1 and a 1/2 tylonol for the day and fight thru it. i have watched all through the night and the pain is unbearable she is really trying to go without anything for the sake of the baby. my question is if there is anyone out there that has had to take any kind of a narcotic pain reliever through the pregnancy especially tylonol 3 did your infant go through withdrawals and what are the sighns of such? this is one hard decision when one doctors recommendation is not the same. who's advice do you follow, the one that has seen her through the whole pregnancy or the other one who only saw her once. he did no exam, he only did an ultra sound and said the baby looks fine and that she can deliver if she goes into labor early again. his only concern was the pain meds.if anyone out there has gone thru this any good or bad outcome would be accepted. it just kills me to see my daughter fight this in sooo much pain. i also have ic and i truly understand the pain.

please help!
angel miller :hmm:

[Amanda]

I have never been pregnant, but I do have interstitial cystitis and have learned a lot about pain management along the way. According to the "Physician's Desk Reference", Tylenol with Codeine and Stadol are both in pregnancy catagory C (Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the fetus---teratogenic or embryocidal or other---and there are no controlled studies in women, or studies in women and animals are not available. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus).

The only pain medication I know that is in pregnancy catagory B (Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women, or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect--- other than a decrease in fertility---that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters) is OxyContin.

I am not a medical professional, this is just what the books say.

A couple ideas: I don't know if she is seeing a perintologist (a high risk obstetrician), but he or she may be more well versed on issues like these. Another idea is to see a pain specialist and see if he or she has any ideas. Your current obstertician may be able to recommend someone and may have some pull to get you in earlier (because if the first appointment you can get is six weeks from now, that won't be much help).

Best wishes.

Amanda

[work it]

Oh Angel I am so sorry that your daugter is going through so much pain on such a joyus occasion. Being pregnant should be exciting and fun espically this close to the due date. I hope she finds relief soon and I will be thinking of her and the baby. I am sorry I can't offer any more advice on this catch 22.

[TiaTia]

Angel...

I am sorry to hear that your daughter is having such a hard time. I can definitely relate, however. I am 28 weeks pregnant, and have had to take pain medication throughout. I see a high risk specialist, and this was the one medication he would not let me discontinue. My IC is severe, and he was concerned from the start that the pain would cause preterm labor. I have had contractions for the past two weeks, but Thank God, my cervix has so far remained nice and thick.
This has been an incredibly hard issue for me...that being the fear of what this may do to my baby, the thought of him going through withdrawal, etc. It has really torn me up. Anytime I have attempted to bring this up with my high risk OB, he tells me I have no choice...that it is best for my baby. My husband and I consulted six different doctors about this, as we were so upset by it. They all agree with the original opinion by the high risk OB. So...
Every ultrasound we have had shows him to be absolutely perfect, including a 4D one which was really cool. He is growing well, right on time. As far as withdrawal goes, we have been assured that if he experiences any (sometimes they do, sometimes they don't) it will be very mild (he will be sleepy, is how it was described to us), and easily managed. Of course, it is still horrible to think about. I don't know that there is anything anyone could say to me to make me feel better about it. I will just have to see and hold him and then I will feel better, you know?
I'm sorry...I don't really have anything definitive to tell you about this as I am still going through it. But I do know that all the specialists we conferred with said that the mother being in constant severe pain can be unhealthy for the baby. Something to do with the hormones we release when we are stressed and in pain. I hope everything goes well for your daughter and her baby. You all will be in my prayers...
Tia

[dancemomof2]

Like Tia said, it is a scary issue and you do worry. I took Perc throughout my whole pregnancy, like your daughter did ok until towards then end when I relied on them more and more. My bladder flares caused alot of preterm labor, and using the pain meds did seem to help with that some. I realize hos scary an infant with withdraw sounds but it is treatable. I am so happy to hear you are so supposrtive through her pregancy, everyone thought I was exaggerating my IC to get more sympathy. Thanks for being a support to your daughter.

[andcohen]

During my pregnancy I to had to reley on other meds aswell as pain relivers.
The pain med I was taking was a combo of painadine & codine but not sure of the exact strenghts. I only used the pain pill for at night time & as little as possiable. I had a beautiful healthy boy with no concerns of additition what so ever. But there was not a day go bye that the thought wasn't on my mind. As long as there in a low risk class & are used sparingly things should be fine. It's only natural to be so worried about it & when they put that healthy liitle one on your tummy & everythings fine you will forget you just spent the last nine months worring. I think having to use meds like some of us do is quiet common, all you need to do is be sensible. Which of course you are.
Best if luck to you
Andrea

[Amanda]

Angel,

Just want you to now that since I wrote in here a couple of days ago that I am still thinking of you and your daughter.

Best,

Amanda

[Katrina]

Angel, Congrats on your daughters pregnancy! I so hope the pain and the pregnancy improves and your daughter has a better time. Wish I could help. Sending your daughter lots of luck and wishing her well!!

[AmandaRN]

I was placed on demerol the last month of my pregnancy by my OB because I was having so much pain. Not from IC but severe uterine cramping. The last week of my pregnancy I stopped taking them to decrease the wtihdrawl symptoms of my baby. I was induced at 38 weeks and had a beautiful little girl who is now 2. Withdrawl sounds like an awful thing and nobody wants to put their baby through it but your daughter can't continue to suffer like she is, that isn't good for the baby either. Most narcotics will results in a sleepy baby who will be irritable for a couple of days because of no longer being exposed to the narc but will not truely suffer. If the Dr is aware at the time of the birth of the mother's pain med use the baby will be monitered more closely and taken care of. please, please call your daughters ob and discuss your options with them. There is no need for your daughter or the baby to hurt like this. good luck and best wishes.

[Nics]

I have had two babies. The second is now 4 months old. I was in hospital for 6 months because of pain and bladder spasm causing contractions. The hospital had me on morphine the whole time. Last stage of pregnancy I was taking 50ml of morphine 7 hourly. Baby was born at 38weeks 5 days - induced. Natural delivery. Am still on morphine - about 150ml in 24hours to control pain and im breast feeding. My wee boy is perfect. Absolutely no problems apart from having to withdraw him. He is healthy, bright and alert. It all works out in the end. Unfortunately no relief for me but I have two beautiful children.

[Betsie]

Oh, I am so sad for you reading this. I had two very difficult pregnancies and my first reqired migraine meds for the first trimester. then heart medication for a sudden PAT, that I developed. My refusal to take this drug was quickly admonished during a pre natal visit. The rotating Dr. said not taking it would place far more stress on my baby.

I remained on it and my heart problems stabilized 10 days after delivery, just as they promised.

My second was a high risk pregnancy as i started contracting @ 20 weeks and with eight weeks to go, I went into premature labor. I too spent considerable time in the high risk unit and 18 years later, I am grateful. the bed rest was horrid, the terbulalin to stop contractions was awful...but I delivered on my due date with high risk care and careful monitoring.

My point is this: I agree with Amanda and some others here, I learned the hard way that the stress of certain conditions is also difficult for the baby..please urge her to either check in for care and monitoring or any options all her Drs agree is safe.

I feel as though I just jumped right back to my younger days and even without IC, complications are very stressful, so I think you are awesome to come here for advice....though it is all based on personal experience...I do think it warrants her re thinking this.., bless you for being such a concerned Mom. I was good to go at 37 weeks.

Good luck to all.