I've been giving
my baby codeine to help her STTN.
Not exact matches
The
babies of mothers prescribed morphine or
codeine are as «at risk» as
babies born to mothers who are stable on methadone.
If, after exploring other options,
codeine seems like the best choice, you need to be careful to monitor the effects on yourself and your
baby, as no one else will be observing you both, 24/7.
If you have no choice but to take
codeine for an extended period, breastfeed your
baby before taking your medication, alternate between breastfeeding and bottle feeding to give the
baby a chance to process the morphine from your breastmilk and give your
baby a complete break from breastmilk containing
codeine every two to three days.
This risk can be reduced by discontinuing
codeine after two to three days of use and being aware of symptoms of potential opioid toxicity in both yourself and your
baby.
While
codeine has traditionally been considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, it is known that the drug is converted into morphine, which is transmitted through the breastmilk to the
baby, and this can lead to depression of the central nervous system and apnea, which can, in rare cases, be fatal.
More research is needed to determine the safety of
codeine in breastfed
babies, and there is also some confusion among physicians about what a high dose for an infant actually is.
Even
codeine, an opiate medication commonly prescribed to women following childbirth, has been fatal to newborns, when it has built up in the
baby's system over several days.
Thus, the risk of infant exposure to
codeine and morphine through breast milk should be weighed against the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the
baby.
There have been anecdotal reports of
babies dying after being breastfed by mothers who were prescribed
codeine as a pain medication after delivery.