Pregnancy

[Sara1979]

Has anyone taken their medication through a pregnancy? Did it have any negative effects on the newborn?

(I know this is person specific but I just wanted to hear some other stories)

[fourcorks]

Prior to getting pregnant I was taking MSContin and MSIR for breakthrough for Chronic Intractable Migraines. I discussed with my OB before trying to get pregnant my meds and he wasn't comforable so I found someone who had worked at a huge medical center in the major city I live near and he was great!.

I did work on tapering my meds and cut them by half, but my pregnancy was so bad (not due to my headaches, just hyperemisis) that was as far as I got in my taper. I had planned to come all the way off before delivery, but my headaches were much worse coming off and my blood pressure would go way up when I was in pain. So both my OB and my Perinatoligist said it was better for me to be on the meds, than off and in pain with high blood pressure. Both the meds I was on had no effect on the baby while he was in me, just after delivery withdrawl could be a problem for the baby. But a baby born very premature due to high blood pressure they assured me would be much, much worse, and they said they could handle the withdrawls after birth.

Well anyway I had him 3 weeks early anyway because of the uncontrolled pain and blood pressure. But he came out perfectly healthy, never a moment of withdrawls and has never been sick a day in his 5 yr life and tons more healthy than my first born. I didn't have any health issues at all till after my first one was born so I was on no medications when I was preg. and he was my sick child with chronic ear infections, allergies and now ADHD at 11 yrs old.

This is just my experience, most OB's are not comfortable with pain meds, but if you think about it, pain causes high blood pressure in most and for preg. women it is very dangerous and can cause premature birth. While most pain meds are safe and have been take during preg. by lots of women the concern is ofcourse the withdrawl for the baby. For that I was terrified, I was told things by my doctors that scared me, but in my case nothing every happened and he barely ever cried a day in his life. They kept him in the NICU to watch him close, but the doctors and nurses were very happy with the outcome and I was so glad I didn't make him suffer through withdrawls. But had I not been on the meds he would have possibly been a lot worse off being a premature baby with all their issues, so it was my only option was to stay on the meds to some extent.

If you have any more questions or just want to talk, feel free to ask.

[Sara1979]

Thanks Fourcorks I appreciate you posting your experience. My blood pressure and heart rate are totally out of control with meds. From what I have been reading it looks like it is safer to stay on the narcotics and usually it means an extra day in the hospital for the baby.

[Mark N]

Sarah, no experience since I am a man but I would have concerns about the meds and be very careful, be sure to work with your doctor about the safety of your meds and the danger to you because of your heart rate and BP. Good luck as CP isn't an easy thing to deal with during pregnancy or as your child grows up. I think my kids are doing good and have shown themselves to be good kids while I have been fighting spinal problems their whole lives. I wouldn't trade having them for making my life easier, but there have been times I have envied parents that can interact with their kids without the limitations of CP interfering all the time.

I wish you the best and if do chose to become pregnant I wish you a good pregnancy.

[curiousforever]

I had daily migraines and throwing up several times a day with my last 2 pregnancies.

With my 3rd boy - I was on phenerghan several times a day - and stadol nasal spray for the migraines. No problems at all with him.

4th boy- I was on both of those, getting demerol and magnesium thru the IV during labor (induced due to migraine/pre-eclampsia). He had to have narcan when he was born - but other than needing the narcan he was fine.

[BrokenBladder]

Sara I can't addd any more information than you've already received here as I had my children years ago. However I do wish you a good pregnancy and I hope that it's not so tough on you with the CP.

Take Care,

[Sara1979]

Sarah, no experience since I am a man but I would have concerns about the meds and be very careful, be sure to work with your doctor about the safety of your meds and the danger to you because of your heart rate and BP. Good luck as CP isn't an easy thing to deal with during pregnancy or as your child grows up. I think my kids are doing good and have shown themselves to be good kids while I have been fighting spinal problems their whole lives. I wouldn't trade having them for making my life easier, but there have been times I have envied parents that can interact with their kids without the limitations of CP interfering all the time.

I wish you the best and if do chose to become pregnant I wish you a good pregnancy.


ACK! I meant to say my BP and heart rate are out of control without medication. It's too late to edit it. I got distracted this weekend.

It's hard to make this decision because DH and I (married 10 years) have always wanted kids but as my CP got worse we just really put it on the back burner as not a possibility. Even to adopt because I was in no shape to be taking care of anyone and he travels a lot.

Now that I am on a good medication program I am feeling pretty decent and I live close to a lot of family that will be very helpful. If I go off the meds for a pregnancy there is no way I could make it through but staying on the meds I feel a little selfish even though all of my meds are in a safe category. Well, as safe as they can be. I have found a group of CP Women who were on very similar meds and all had great outcomes with one baby staying in the hospital for one extra day.

Thanks for your message Curious and Broken. I appreciate it.