Pain pills and breastfeeding.. Opinions?

angelrue522 · May 2012

Is anyone worried about taking percacet or tylonel with codeine and breastfeeding. I figure I will need pain pills for a few weeks and I am sure my milk will be in full by then. I have read that it can affect the baby. Can I get some opinions on this? Do you take the pills as normal? I don't want to go without my pain meds!

JenJH923 · May 2012

The hospital would not offer you any medication that is not okay with breastfeeding. All the pain medication given post op is okay to take while breastfeeding.

skio · May 2012

I absolutely needed pain medication and I was comfortable taking what my doctors prescribed. I didn't plan for a c/s, but shiit happens. DD latched with no issues and was breastfed for 13 months.

The biggest reported affect on a breastfed baby is drowsiness. If you're concerned, talk to your OB about alternatives, or you can try taking half the dosage prescribed to see if it does the trick for you.

vette_99 · May 2012

I took them after both of my c/s and discussed with my ob that it was safe to BF. I only needed them for about 5 days after. I did notice that it made the babies and myself drowsy, but that seemed to be the only side effect.

Daisy22 · May 2012

I took both after my c-sections and plan to take them again. It didn't bother either of my boys but I was only on the percoset for 7 days and prescription mortin for like another week.

JG362009 · May 2012

It's okay as in it won't kill your baby, but it may affect breastfeeding. I'm pretty sure it affected my baby so I won't be taking any narcotics if I have to have another c-section. The LC and my husband (who is a pediatrician) said some studies have shown that newborns have a harder time coordinating suck/swallow and a latch if mom is on painkillers. But it also may not affect your baby at all -- I'm just not taking another chance this time because when everything went to crap and I had to have a c-section, I at least wanted to be able to breastfeed.

hopkins5 · May 2012

The hospital will not give you anything that will harm the baby.

nealbl · May 2012

JenJH923:
The hospital would not offer you any medication that is not okay with breastfeeding. All the pain medication given post op is okay to take while breastfeeding.

This! Once I was home I didn't need the medication but while in the hospital they assured me what they were giving me was breastfeeding safe

pepomntpat · May 2012

Take your pain pills. As long as your OB knows you are BFing, they will prescribe safe medication. You need them. Please take them.

llizzyb · May 2012

I had a painful recovery and took Percocet and Lortab for three weeks post partum. No big deal, as long as you take them as prescribed and only as needed.

Ardmhs83 · May 2012

I was on percoset, motrin and stool softners for several weeks after my section. The percoset made me drowsy and made my son a little more sleepy too, but I NEEDED my pain pills! My OBGYN and PEDI said it was fine to nurse on them.

Mrs.Barry31508 · May 2012

while I was in the hospital I was given perocet and advil 600. it helped with the pain and I really need it. They said it was fine for baby and me while breastfeeding

honkytonk_kid · May 2012

Safe for breastfeeding doesn't mean "doesn't pass through breastmilk" or "has no effect on the newborn." The issue is risk vs. benefit.

If I had to chose between taking narcotics that might pass a tiny bit through breastmilk making LO a little more sleepy and being in surgical post-op pain with a newborn I would absolutely chose taking the meds. It's just not a realistic expectation to have major surgery and not take something strong for at least a few days. Some women can and do, but they are few and far between.

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Pain pills and breastfeeding.. Opinions?

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