Nursing While on Pain Meds

Hi A.!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Wow, bless your heart for going through that trauma and dealing so graciously with all that enatils. A true testament to character. :)

Let me put your mind at ease. Percocet is the absolutely safe to use while nursing (this is from someone with over 4 years nursing experience). I also had a terrible emergency c-section and was surprised at how painful the recovery was! I did a lot of research and consulted a great many resources just to make sure. My dd is happy, healthy and smart. I would take take your meds and avoid formula at all costs (IMO..I think its just terrible stuff..again, in my opinion, which may not count for much lol).
Anyhoo, take care, and congrats again!

Hi A.~

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter... and so glad to hear that in spite of a scary beginning, she and you are well.

I had a c-section with my now 3 1/2 year old, and I did nurse him exclusively in those days after the c-section and while on pain meds. I was prescribed Percoset and Ibuprofen, and I took them religiously due to the pain, as I'm sure you can identify. The only thing I can tell you is that I noticed no adverse effects of the pain meds on my son, neither in those early days, or now. He is a perfectly healthy, happy, active little boy. I share your fears regarding "the unknown" but maybe if you get enough reassurance, you will at least be able to calm your own fears, if only a little...

Best of luck to you with all your little ones... I am sure these days are quite a challenge, but undoubtedly equally as rewarding, if not moreso. And I am sure the fascination with your boobs will wane! lol

A.
congratulations first, second I am a pharmacist and a mother of four boys all delivered by C-sections all of my boys came away unscathed after PCA pumps with morphine and narcotic analgesics during there first few days to a week of their lifes - all are very smart no altered mental effects they range in age from 15 to 5 and the first three are all honors students so in both my personal experience as a mother and my professional opinion as a pharmacist I believe that the few days on analgesics were harmless to your baby... In fact I have seen more aggitated babies when the mother is in a lot of pain and not relaxed as she is breast feeding -no long term effects but the baby definitely is in tune with how you are feeling and seems to be fudsier when the mother is not as relaxed so the meds in my opinion benefited not only you for the pain but the baby as well! JMHO good luck and don't worry about the medicines N.

We nursed after a c-section and my son (almost 2) is fine. The meds can make the baby sleepy (the prescription ones, that is) and I had to come off of them at 4 days because of that. But Advil is totally fine. Of course, it doesn't do much for the pain, but it gives you something to do while your body heals. :-)

The autism thing is so complicated. But if pain meds through breastmilk gave kids autism, we'd know it by now. So find something new to worry about. :-) And if these "baby blues" go on much longer, call your OB.

Hi A.,

I have 3 kids and my middle was a C-Section(wouldn't turn for the big day even when they tried to manually!) who nursed from the time he was born! I remember being worried too...
But...rest assured...he is 10 now and healthy as they come! The only health problem he has ever had was a respiratory problem that was caused by chemicals in the house-don't know exactly which ones or which combos(bath, body, laundry, cleaning etc)...The MD wanted to give him steroids but we opted to start using Melaleuca(ecofriendly, safe) products and within 3 days his 'chronic' breathing and coughing problems went away..but that had nothing to do with the nursing/pain meds...that was just a freak thing along the way! So my best guess is...your daughter is perfectly fine! By the way, what kind of art do you do?

I had my first daughter via unplanned C-section 11 months ago. I have been nursing her right along (along with formula supplements). I took Percocet and ibuprofen post-C-section. I also had a couple really bad bouts with mastitis and they gave me Percocet for that as well. My daughter is completely fine- crawling all over the place and talking up a storm.

Hi A.!

Please do not worry. I had a c-section with my 2nd and although I did not nurse, my S-I-L had 3 kids, nursed them all and her last was via C-section and she took all the same meds as you and I did and her youngest boy (now 8) is perfectly healthy. I too am just like you when it comes to medications so I totally understand your fears but don't beat yourself over it. You needed the pain meds and at the most it probably just made baby a little groggy.

Congratulations on your new addition and I'm so happy that all turned out well for you! I'm expecting my third in a month and so I know how emotions can take over your brain.

Take care!

M. :)

I am very similiar to you. I won't take an asprin unless I am dying, my kids are on a "revised" vaccine schedule and I too had an emergency C section due to placenta issues. My youngest was 7.5 weeks early and I was pumping and giving him my drug laced milk while he was in the NICU ...I was really worried about it. The good news is that I had 2 c sections and nursed both boys while on the meds and they are doing great now at ages 4 and almost 2. They are smart, funny little guys and show no signs or heatlh problems or cognitive impairment. My oldest was assessed at 1 and 2 because he was a preemie and he was considered very advanced and is very tall. I tell you this only because I don't want you to worry. I am sure that the benefits of breastmilk must outweigh the effects of the pain meds.

Hi A.: Here I am! I have had 3 c-sections and my girls are 17, 15 & 12 yrs old now. The first two I did the formula thing, the last one I nursed right along with my pain meds. All three of my girls have been very healthy (knock on wood) with no reactions to the meds I took or any of their required shots over the years. Here's my little bit of advice: Don't borrow trouble! Let your common sense be your best guide. Honestly, you would know if your meds were affecting your baby. I understand your initial panic. C-sections are very scary & painfull espically the first time when you don't know what to expect. (Sick as it sounds they do get easier to deal with if you have more than one!) It's okay to explain to your other children why they really can't bounce on Mommy right now. My older two were 4 & 2 when I came home from the hospital with #3 and they were very helpfull and very gentle with me once I told them (yeah and showed them) my boo-boo from having baby. Honesty given in a calm, no big deal sort of way works everytime with kids no matter what their age is. (You just need to keep it age appropreite) please forgive my spelling along the way and Congrats on the new baby! Best wishes.

A.,

I am the mother to three all born by c-section so I have no idea how painful natural childbirth is but I do know the pain with c-section. I took the pain meds and nursed. My oldest is 5 and reads on a 3rd grade level, does 3 digit addition and subtraction problems, and is very advanced in all areas, my middle child is 4 and appears to be right on level, the youngest is 6 months and is fine. So I really think your baby will be fine! Good luck I know how hard it is with 3.

Jeannie

I have a prescription for vicodin es for a condition I have that I was born with and know for a fact they are totally safe to nurse with. My OB as well as my rhumatologist told me it is safe and my OB even said I could take up to 3 tablets a week during pregnancy but never did but did nurse on it and my baby girl is almost 4 now and totally healthy I never suplemented a thing because I felt safe in my doctors care so I wouldn't worry about a thing :) anymore questions feel free to PM me :)

I have had 2 sections and nursed after both. My 3 1/2 year old son and 2 year old twin boys are all perfectly healthy. Congratulations on your new baby girl!

Hi A., Congrats on the new family member! I have 3 boys, ages 3, 5 and 8, who were all C-sections and all breast fed. And yes, I did take the meds! All of my boys are healthy, happy, social and smart - my oldest is in the gifted program at school. I'm sure your baby girl will be just fine! You may want to try to keep the older kids from climbing on you for a while though - it hurts enough on its own! I just told my kids that they couldn't climb on mommy's tummy right now because I had a boo-boo. Since they had had boo-boos themselves, they were very empathetic and cautious - it was really a great thing to see.

.

I'm so sorry that you had such a traumatic birth! I hope that you're recovering well. I know that Arnica Montana (an herb) is excellent for c/sec moms as it helps tremendously with swelling & helps muscles to heal faster. (I took it after my sons birth (I tore) & it helped me heal so much faster!).

Are you still on any meds? I have a copy of Dr. Hale's "Medications & Mother's Milk" book, which lists practically every drug out there & tells you how safe it is to take while nursing, what the half-life is, how much transfers into milk, if there have been any pediatric concerns reported, etc....

I can tell you that generally, anything that they give to you, knowing that you're nursing, would be safe. After all, over 30% of American women give birth by c/sec today & many of theme are (thankfully) choosing to give breastfeeding a shot. There are many, many safe medications to take, especially in the short term.

Hope you're doing well!
A.
www.ThingaMaSling.com

A.
I have two beautiful completly healthy daughters that both were brought into this world via c-sections and I nursed both of them. My girls are 15 and 7 and absoulatly normal in every way. I have never had any problems with them health wise because of medications. Hope this helps.

I had two c-sections and nursed both times. I don't remember what meds they gave me but both my kids are fine and were always on or above their milestones. I'm sure if autism mainly happened to babies born by c-section they would have made that connection by now.

I had a c-section both times. My son is now almost 2 1/2 and was nursed until around 10 months (I dried up) and I was on meds after the c-section and at 1 point for a breast infection. No problems developmentally (physically or mentally) with him. My daughter is 7 months and is currently still nursing and no signs of developmental delays (physically or mentally). Hope this relieves some of your worry.

Boy, I'm impressed that you even had time to post! You sound like you have your hands full. I too have two healthy "normal" (whatever that is!) boys that I nursed through post c-section pain meds. They are 4 1/2 and 16 months. The first also got huge, and I do mean huge doses of iron the first few weeks due to my losing so much blood and being dangerously anemic. I was more worried about the 900 mg of iron I was taking than the pain meds but my doc assured me that even though I was having a horrible time tolerating it the baby would be fine. And he was. Don't worry about those few days. Take care and I hope you're able to get some sleep soon--it's so hard the first few weeks!

Hi A.,

I read your story and felt I needed to respond. I am a mother of four - my last pregnancy was twins and needed to do a c-section as one was breech. I agree with you that c-section is not easy...one of the worst things I have gone through. Regular birth is so much easier even with a 10 lb baby!!!

Anyway, as for the med while nursing...I nursed my twin girls while on medication and they are almost 2 and thriving!! Completely normal...if anything they are too smart, sneaky, etc.

I would trust that what the doctors are saying, my sister also nursed her daughter after c-section and the meds and my niece is almost 3 and completely normal.

Try not to worry...I know it is hard. Even after having other kids you tend to worry. Enjoy your time with her as soon she will be running around with the other little ones you have.

Hope I helped a little.

E.

I have been there, 3 c-sections 2 of them decleared ermerancy, I know the pain all to well. They where not my choice to have the kids that way, I have one son on the Austim spectrum and he was not nursed while i was on heavy pain meds. My other ones where nursed and so far they have come out great, But I too wounder and have that fear sitting over my head every day that i look at them.

Sit back enjoy the little gifts and try not to worry to muuch, U have your hands full already.