pain management for preganant people???

Hi Merry,

I would discuss it with your PM doctor and your OB prior to concieving so you have a good plan of action for your health and the baby's health both during the pregnancy and after.  Most PM's and OB's prefer to use methadone if the mother is going to be on pain medications during the pregnancy, and this is because there is a ton of research that has been done to ensure a safe pregnancy and minimal chances of long term complications for the baby.

You do have to know that the baby will most probably experience withdrawal . In that event, the baby is transferred to NICU so that the baby can be closely monitored and tapered off the medication slowly. It can take a few weeks, depending on how much methadone the mother was on before delivery.

Sometimes, if the baby is stable, has no other problems such as premature delivery or apneas, or things like that, they are allowed to go home , still being tapered as long as they are monitored closely by a perinatalogist.

It can be difficult emotionally for the mother watching their baby going through withdrawal but if it is done correctly, the baby will not experience too many side effects of withdrawing the oral meds since it is done in minute doses.

Anyway, it sounds like you have a good plan in mind , discussing your options with your OB and PM  before getting pregnant.

Sandi

Merrygirl,

They say methadone is safe to take during pregnancy but every person that I've known that took it during pregnancy had their baby stay in NICU for several weeks to help with their withdrawals, but they say methadone cause they've done controlled tests on it, but right now they're "thinking" Subutex is suppose to be much more safer and doesnt have as bad as withdrawals in newborns, sometimes no withdrawals BUT because their isnt enough controlled tests out yet, they cant safely say that. I know a girl that took Subutex during pregnancy and her baby went home with her 2 days after birth and had no withdrawals at all. (I hope that came out right, but this is just what I've "heard" so all that could be a bunch of bologna for all I know...as I'm just an RN, a Registered Nothing)

It's just that most every person I know thats had chronic pain before pregnany usually have even more pain during pregnancy cause of all those changes that happen to the body. So this is something you will defiently have to talk to doctors about, but I would get 2nd and 3rd opionions, and talk to women that have had your pain issues and went through pregnancy...

When I got pregnant 4 years ago I was on 75mcg fentanyl patches and I was told that was fine from my pain doctor and midwife, and I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks, i have no idea if it had anything to do with that med eventhough I was told it was due to hormone issues, (they did no tests and I asked for none) so who knows, just be very very careful. Do the research, and research your research.

-carmen

thanks everyone. I definitely appreciate all the info. I really need to slow down and think about this. I was ready to go and pull my IUD today but I do have plenty of time. I really didnt think about the fact I will likely be in more pain from the changes in my body. That is a really basic thing. SO I may be jumping the gun here. I need to relax, calm down and really sort this all out.
I think I had a few good days and I am thinking about babies. I am really happy that hubby would like another at some point.

I just found a new lyme doctor so we will see what she says.

melissa

Merry and Splash,
I also hesitate telling my own experiences with pain meds during pregnancy and delivery for the same reasons that Splash talks about, the judgement that comes from some who have no idea of the complexities that came with having to make that decision about pain meds or not during pregnancy.
My sons , both of them are wonderful, happy , little boys , who are almost 9 now and almost 10.....but it can be done and if managed correctly, the baby and you will come out the other side okay.
Merry, if you want more details, email me and I will tell you my story and experiences.
I just wanted to also tell you that not all pregnancies end up increasing pain levels, mine went down, and actually changed my RSD symptoms during the pregnancy and post partum as well.
Sandi

IF I were to get pregnant, what if anything can you do for pain when your preganant

   Dear Melissa,

 

     It is always good to hear from you. How is the family holding up? Your father and brother? I have often wondered how you are doing in that reguard. I remember seeing your post about them, and I had wanted to post to you, but have had a hard time "functioning" latly. I sure hope things have  slowed down for you.

 

     I know nothing of "pain management" while pregnant. As you know my "chronic" problems didnt start until I was 27. (am 29 now). But, I did have a rather unique set of circumstances for half of my pregnancy with my first daughter.....

 

      I doubled over in pain, but it would subside, then come back, subside and come back... I found out later I was, indeed, pregnant. But, that I had a soft ball sized cyst on my ovary. If they operated on it and removed it during the early stages of pregnancy the chances of loosing my child were greater. If it ruptured, being that size, again another chance I would loose the baby.

 

       So (alot of folks treated me like I was crazy for this) what I did was decided to wait until my 2nd trimester to have surgery (the safest possible time frame), if I was still pregnant and "if" the cyst hadnt already ruptured by that point then I would go ahead with the surgery. I was given many different kinds of "mild" pain medicines and relaxors. But, I didnt take them. The pain was very hard at times, and most times I had pillows around me everywhere, unable to walk or sleep very well. 

 

       When the 2nd trimester came, I went into surgery. When I came out, I was told that I "coded" and that there turned out to be multiple cysts of rather large size on both ovaries which had grown in the prior months, 3 of which were size of tennis balls (was weird because I had a rather small body before pregnancy and the cysts suck out further than the stage of pregnancy did *shiver*). That both ovaries required "cleaning" or "removal" of cysts. So, of course I was given many medicines while in recovery. The only problem was that, from day one with my pregnancy, I had "stomach sickness" and the recovery + medicines/IV meds seemed to make the stomach sickness go into over drive. What went in, came promptly back out! Even the shots they gave me to keep the medicines down, did very little to help. LOL. They kept me there a few days due to the circumstances. I had to take pain medicines orally for a few weeks after that aswell. No matter what any of the doctors told me, I was frightened to no end!!! That all of it had hurt my baby somehow.

 

      But!! Shes is a beautiful, healthy little lady today. Normal birth weight, normal developments physically and mentally. It really is marvelous what modern medicine is able to achieve, the differrent ways they can help with pregnancy and birth.

 

     So, that is about the extent of my knowladge reguarding pregnancy and pain medicines. If I were in your shoes, I would consult with your physician. There are so many ways that you can have a safe pregnancy these days. It boggles the mind. But, most of all, follow your heart.

 

      I hope you get a chance to relax a little bit today.

 

*hugg*

  dani