Baby Parenting Guide

How much danger is there with breast feeding while taking pain pills?

My wife just had a c-section and they gave her a perscirtion for hydracodine. She is breast feeding. Is there a risk, because we were not warned if so. Also is there a safe way to do them both?

Public Response to How much danger is there with breast feeding while taking pain pills?

1. Stop the meds until you speak to her Doctor. If s/he gives you the go ahead then continue. but stop for now just to be safe.
2. I was on vicodin and ibuprofen after my c-section 6 weeks ago and breastfeeding. They told me there would be no risk, however the baby just may be sleepy. If you have any concerns however, just have your wife call her doctor. They can give her something else or adjust her dosage. Congrats on the baby!!
3. You can check her medications out at www.safefetus.com. It will be able to tell you if they are safe for breastfeeding. I would also call the doctor to discuss the concerns.
4. I had a c section last year and was given pain pills as well I was very leary of taking the pain pills and nursing but my midwife told me that the medication would not come through the colostrum. I only took one pain pill after I got home from the hospital and just starting taking some arnica montana(homeopathic disolvable tabs for pain/trauma). Hope this helps.
5. It's completely safe for her to be taking her pain medication. In fact, not taking them will cause her unneeded stress to her body as well as her spirits. It takes so much energy to breastfeed and some pain relief will really help her recovery! After my c-section I was on something that was stronger than morphine, then I took percocet for a few days, and downgraded to vicodin. My child suffered no adverse effects. He nursed just find and is now a healthy 2 year old.
6. her doc should know that she is breastfeeding. I believe they gave me a script for the same thing after my c-section. Basically it can make the baby a little sleepier. Her best bet would be to take the lowest dose she can and try to switch to extra strength tylenol as soon as she can. i took strong meds for the first 24 hours after my c-section, then switched to tylenol to take the edge off.
7. hydracodine? I'm not sure what drug you are referring to, hydrocodone maybe? Pain medications and breastfeeding http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/pain-meds.html http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) - A peer-reviewed and fully referenced database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed. Among the data included are maternal and infant levels of drugs, possible effects on breastfed infants and on lactation, and alternate drugs to consider.