Mothering › Forums › Breastfeeding › Lactivism › Friend told to wean for taking Vicodin? What am I missing?
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Friend told to wean for taking Vicodin? What am I missing?  

post #1 of 41
12/12/08 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
My friend fell and broke her foot. As if that isn't bad enough, having a broken foot and a 3 year old, 17 month old, and 3 month old, now the doctor said she MUST wean because she is on vicodin. She will only be on it for a week or so.

She is very upset but is also one of those 'sheep' type people, who goes with the crowd and whatever her doctor says.

So now she is trying to care for her children, while on crutches and in pain, dealing with a baby who doesn't like bottles, AND trying to pump regularly to avoid engorgement from abrupt weaning.

I told her this is BS. Her doctor allowed her to take Tylenol 3 throughout pregnancy for a chronic condition but won't let her nurse while on Vicodin? (She is not on tylenol 3 anymore.)

Does anyone have any links to information written for/by doctors? I have the kellymom info for her, but would like to send something more 'clinical' that she can give to her doctor.
post #2 of 41
12/12/08 at 10:36am
Check Hale's guide to breastfeeding and medication. I don't have a link, but it should come up on Google. It has the safety levels of various medications listed. Even if it says Vicodin is contraindicted for breastfeeding, why can't her doctor work with her and find a medication that is ok?
post #3 of 41
12/12/08 at 10:50am
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/si...temp/~oNUVHG:2
post #4 of 41
12/12/08 at 11:40am
Tell her to ask for Motrin 800's. Vicodin is a NARCOTIC!
post #5 of 41
12/12/08 at 11:58am
vicodin is fine for bf.
post #6 of 41
12/12/08 at 12:08pm
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/pain-meds.html

has a good list of the different pain meds. Docs give narcotics all the time for post c-section patients. Not a worry.
post #7 of 41
12/12/08 at 12:16pm
I was given vicoden for c-section pain to go home with from the hospital and I was breastfeeding. I was nervous about it but everyone kept saying it was fine. Even the LC.
post #8 of 41
12/12/08 at 12:17pm
I got Vicodin after my c-s. As pps stated, it is fine to nurse.
post #9 of 41
12/12/08 at 12:28pm
Everyone has different pain killer needs, and your friend may need more than motrin. Here is a kellymom link for different pain killers. http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/pain-meds.html
Her doctor is absolutely wrong in insisting she weans. Did the doctor tell her about the added health risks to her baby from formula feeding? There is good information about painkillers out there - she just needs to find it.

(I see now that this was already posted - I'll leave it here for emphasis )
post #10 of 41
12/12/08 at 12:41pm
The hospital I delivered at regularly sends breastfeeding mothers home with Vicodin. If it's fine for a newborn, it should be fine for a 3 month old. I hope she writes a letter to that doctor's practice.
post #11 of 41
12/12/08 at 12:48pm
Vicodin is often given after birth, vaginal or c/s.
post #12 of 41
12/12/08 at 1:03pm
Show her this thread. Vicodin is fine I have been sent home with it after my sections and one had to be packed with gauze so I pretty much had it the 1st month no problems. Tell her to ask an ob or lc. Most other doctors have zero training in lactation and are ignorant. When I had back surgery with an 8 month old I had docs try to tell me the same bs and they were talking out their butt. Almost every doc you talk to has a different opinion but are not necessicarily informed.
post #13 of 41
12/12/08 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatioGardener View Post
Everyone has different pain killer needs,
: My body doesn't respond to Vicodin. neither does my dad or paternal grandfather.
post #14 of 41
12/12/08 at 4:58pm
vicodin is fine. percocet is also fine. that doctor is full of sh!t.
post #15 of 41
12/12/08 at 5:24pm
I was on percocet and motrin after my c-section and nursed him. I would either check back with the doc or get another opinion. And once she finds out that it IS OKAY, I would write the practice a letter about the physician.
post #16 of 41
12/12/08 at 5:26pm
It's so frustrating that physicians are STILL telling moms this kind of misinformation! I hope that your friend realizes she can start nursing again before it creates problems for her supply or nipple preference for her babe.
post #17 of 41
12/12/08 at 5:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysticmomma View Post
vicodin is fine for bf.
This is what I was told too. I was taking vicodin after my csection, and breastfeeding a newborn. The LC said it was fine. Baby did not have any problems from it.
post #18 of 41
12/12/08 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommato5 View Post
Tell her to ask for Motrin 800's. Vicodin is a NARCOTIC!
sometimes motrin 800 just doesnt cut it for the relief of pain. vicoden is safe to take for pain management while breastfeeding. as long as she doesnt abuse taking the medicine she should not have any problem. not all doctors know how certain meds will affect breastfeeding. she should not have to give up her breastfeeding reationship do to some dr.s ignorance.
post #19 of 41
12/12/08 at 5:48pm
of course vicodin is a narcotic but there is no reason your friend needs to wean. Her doc is uneducated about this.

I was on percocet plus 800 mgs of ibuprofen for longer than a week times 4 c-sections. Obviously the benefit of pain meds outweighed any risk, and certainly was better than formula feeding. :
post #20 of 41
12/12/08 at 6:57pm
Agree with PPs -- I too was given vicodin after my c-section.
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Mothering › Forums › Breastfeeding › Lactivism › Friend told to wean for taking Vicodin? What am I missing?