Pain is, in many ways, a very common side effect of pregnancy. In fact, any number of aches and pains can occur during pregnancy, from lower back ache to headache to pain in the feet. This means, of course, that pregnant women could possibly benefit from any number of medications that are meant to relieve pain. However, it is important for a pregnant woman to realize that anything she takes into her body during the first trimester of pregnancy, or even later on in pregnancy, has the potential to pass through the placenta and to affect her baby in one way or another. For this reason, safety information and contraindications have been provided for most medications, including pain killers. This also includes a much stronger prescription pain killer, Vicodin.

Vicodin is a narcotic pain killer that is used for severe pain. Vicodin falls into a category known as “class C” in terms of its safety and its contraindications in pregnancy. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. VICODIN Tablets should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the
potential risk to the fetus. There is some research to suggest that a newborn whose mother has taken Vicodin regularly through her pregnancy, prior to delivery, may experience some symptoms of withdrawal. In addition, taken late in the third trimester just before delivery may cause the baby’s breathing to be slowed.

If you are taking Vicodin and discover that you have become pregnant, you should contact your health care provider. She will be able to help you with the latest information in terms of safety and contraindications of Vicodin in the first trimester of pregnancy. In some cases, it may be that the benefit of taking Vicodin in the first trimester does outweigh the risks involved with taking Vicodin in the first trimester. However, it is more likely that your health care provider may wish to use a different pain relieving medication, or use some other method to address your pain, rather than taking medications such as Vicodin during the first trimester.

Posted in Pregnancy

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