[BellyBean]

Please advise if you have any experience.

Yesterday I was taken to the ER due to unbearable back and stomach pain. The kind of pain that you can't sit still, the worst pain I have ever been in my whole life.

I was diagnosed with kidney stones and they had to give me the strongest IV pain killers just to take the edge off so I would stop crying/squirming in pain. They said there was not a risk to the baby (10.5 weeks), but I am still worried.

Anyone been in a similar situation that wouldn't mind sharing?

 

[annekh23]

They'll have given you some sort of opiate, the main problem with opiates is that they are addictive, so if you're taking them regularly during pregnancy, the baby might get withdrawal symptoms - but you're not, you got one dose, which is not a concern at all, these drugs have been around a very long time. I had a couple of incidents in my 2nd pregnancy which resulted in similar drugs being given, including several times in the last week before birth, there were no issues at all.

 

[stephanie95]

I had horrid pains from a degenerative fibroid at 17 weeks during my last pregnancy. I was given morphine through IV (not for pain, but apparently it's a laxative and we were ruling out constipation). I also was given percocet which is acetominophen and oxycodone. I've seen news stories about how very addictive oxycodone is. I only took them at night to sleep through the pain until it passed about a week later.

I was worried, but I realized I really couldn't cope with the pain and not sleeping. Kidney stones hurt like heck. My brother had to pass one. I wouldn't think twice about taking something to cope. Like the pp said, you aren't a chronic user. If you are worried, drs and pharmacists have resource books. You can ask them to double check.

Try not to worry about your little baby. Easier said than done I know. Babies are resilient and a one time IV should be OK. Your drs were aware of your pregnancy so I would think they gave you the safest medication possible. Being in that much pain isn't good either.

 

[tayndrewsmama]

I had surgery for kidney stones with my last pregnancy. I was on a morphine IV drip for two days before they could get a doc experienced with surgery in pregnancy to come up and do it. Even with the drip, it barely touched the pain. I had so much heat on my back in addition to the morphine that I have a burn scar on my back even. Nothing could touch the pain. The good news was as soon as it was all over and everything was passed I found no need to take anything else after that and I had no complications from it either. Strangely, I was on a lot of heavy duty things last time around and you would never know it if you were judging solely based on ds and his development.

I don't know if that helps you at all though.

I am really sorry you are going through this. It's absolutely miserable.

 

[Guinevere]

Big

s

I passed my very first kidney stone while pg with my now-almost-3 yo DD. I was 20 wks. along. I remember very clearly both how scary AND how awful it was.

I suppose, looking back on it, I really should have gone to the ER, but in the thick of it, all I wanted was to be in the warm water of my shower (well, and to die, just to be put out of my misery.) I was in no shape to be transported anywhere!

Since that time, it's like a switch flipped in my body and now I make stones. Lovely.

: I've passed probably 8 in the past 3 yrs., and the most recent one was last week, at 15 wks. along with this pg. So I feel your pain, quite literally!

During the worst of it, I took 2 Percoset and felt not the slightest remorse about it, btw. Short-term use of narcotic pain meds in pg is considered pretty safe; they just don't want you using them long-term, so neither you nor babe gets addicted to them. Most are a Category B, and as with all medications in pg, you need to weigh the benefit vs. risk. In both your and my case, benefit wins out here, hands-down.

There is a bright side to your ordeal, though, strange as it may sound: labor and birth will feel like a walk in the park in comparison to kidney stone pain, so one less worry to check off the list!

Hope you feel better soon,
Guin

 

[cileag]

The other main concern around opiates is that it can have a respiratory effect on the baby if given around birth, but at this point in your pregnancy, I think that the pain you were in clearly indicated that morphine was justified!

(And Stephanie--opiates are definitely NOT laxatives--in fact they make you constipated by slowing your GI tract.)

 

[Voltige]

Yes, I had a severe gall bladder attack when I was just barely 6 weeks pregnant. I was on IV Duladid (morphine) for three days until I stabilized. I was hospitalized again for gall bladder removal at the start of my 2nd trimester and had general anesthesia as well as IV morphine again.

I'm due in 10 weeks, but as far as I know everything is fine with the baby! It's never ideal, but sometimes pain meds are completely necessary and unavoidable.

 

[TzippityDoulah]

I would be every bit as worried about the leevl of pain you were experiencing as I would the meds! being in that kinda intense pain while pregnant isn't good for baby either. the cosant adrenaline rush... and what not.

Short term use of a severely needed medication is surely a fine idea. I would never use it for a headache or something, but kidney stones are killer!

 

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

I fell and dislocated my shoulder when I was 10 weeks pregnant with my last baby. I was given Demerol and Versed in the ER to have it reduced, and was on Vicodin for about 3 weeks after. I was truly concerned about it, but decided that it was better for me to be comfortable than for my baby to be constantly exposed to stressed out hormones constantly.

I had no problems with addiction/withdrawal, and neither did the baby. He was born perfectly fine with no respiratory issues.

 

[storychick]

I had Dilantin at around 28 weeks in my last pregnancy for a migraine that kept coming back -- on the 4th day of it I finally gave in to the ER. Baby is now 2 (saw this thread on the main page

) and has had no problems.

That was my first-ever IV, the nurse couldn't get over the fact that I'd had 2 children already but no IV. She couldn't imagine -- she kept bringing it up. I wanted to be snarky and say "you know, they will come out without one" but I was in too much pain. lol I will say they took my pain rating much more seriously after that, though.

 

[Etoile]

A dear friend of mine had kidney stones during, I want to say, her 3rd month. I'm sure they gave her IV pain meds and her baby is fine and beautiful.

 

[stephanie95]

cileag - That's interesting. The DR who gave it to me is the one who delivers all the babies at the local hospital. He said if that plus the enema didn't get things moving, then things weren't needing to move. To be honest, I never did any research on it after the fact. It's good to know.

 

[BellyBean]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their answers. I am still a little worried (just my nature), but I feel much better after hearing everyone's responses.

Thanks!