Is It Safe for My Baby? - Pain Medications

Over-the-counter pain medications
(e.g., ASA products such as Aspirin®, Bufferin® and Anacin®; acetaminophen products such as Tylenol® and Atasol®; or anti-inflammatory products such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®, Motrin®))

Risks During Pregnancy

• Pain medications are safe when used occasionally in recommended doses. The risk increases with higher amounts of the drug.
• During the last trimester (last three months of pregnancy), ASA preparations or anti-inflammatory pills increase the risk of unnecessary bleeding.

Recommendations During Pregnancy

• Check with your doctor before using on a regular basis.
• Do not use ASA preparations or anti-inflammatory pills (e.g., Advil, Motrin) during the last trimester (last three months of pregnancy). Use acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) for pain.

Risks During Breastfeeding

• Pain medications are safe for occasional use in recommended doses.

Recommendations During Breastfeeding

• It may not be a possibility, but ask your doctor if you can time your dose with breastfeeding times.
• Choose products with acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin).

Codeine-containing products and occasional prescribed use of other narcotics
(e.g., 222s®, Tylenol with codeine®, morphine, Demerol®)

Risks During Pregnancy

• Occasional prescribed use of narcotics is generally safe. However, if used regularly (on a daily basis), there is a risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and complications during delivery.
• The baby may have difficulty breathing, be overly drowsy and/or experience withdrawal symptoms when it is born. The risk increases with higher amounts of the drug.

Recommendations During Pregnancy

• Check with your doctor before taking codeine-containing products or other narcotics.
• If you are worried about how the use of codeine and other narcotics may have already affected your unborn baby, contact a health care provider right away.

Risks During Breastfeeding

• Products containing codeine may cause drowsiness in the baby.

Recommendations During Breastfeeding

• Occasional use may be safe. It may not be a possibility, but ask your doctor if you can time your dose with breastfeeding times.

Narcotics taken regularly or in high amounts or when NOT prescribed (illicit drug use)
(e.g., heroin, morphine, Demerol®, Percocet®, Talwin®, Darvon®)

Risks During Pregnancy

• There is a risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and complications during delivery.
• The baby may have difficulty breathing, be overly drowsy and/or experience withdrawal symptoms when it is born. The risk increases with higher amounts of the drug.
• Injecting these or any other drugs using unsterile needles raises the risk of infection (hepatitis, HIV) in both you and your baby.

Recommendations During Pregnancy

• Do NOT use.
• Seek help/counselling about how to stop.
• If you are being treated for chronic pain, talk to your doctor about options.
• Ask your heath care provider about methadone as an option.

Risks During Breastfeeding

• Even occasional use of narcotics may cause drowsiness in the baby.
• Injecting these or any other drugs using non-sterile needles raises the risk of infection (hepatitis, HIV) in both mother and baby.

Recommendations During Breastfeeding

• Do NOT use.
• Seek help/counselling about how to stop. 
• Ask your heath care provider about methadone as an option

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