To  : Jeannette
Re  : Morphine


        Jeannette describes an infant of a mother who received significant
morphine during labor.  The infant appeared sleepy and difficult to arouse.

        Only minimal amounts of morphine transfer via breastmilk.  In
utero, significant amounts of morphine may pass.  But remember,  one of the
major side effects of morphine is not only sedation,  but in many patients,
constipation.  Morphine is very powerful at reducing intestinal motility.
The infant was described as providing good bowel movements,  which would
suggest to me that something else besides morphine is responsible for this
infants sedation.

Tom Hale