Well, here is another issue. Since sedated or pain-medicated moms are a
risk during co-sleeping, I wonder how many of you talk about this?
I have started to talk about this when I give my info on meds. And I am
making a mental note to mention to all my patients.

I have noticed that virtually all mothers, including post vaginal birth,
routinely receive a prescription for narcotic pain meds. Of course, I know
that some moms certainly do need it. But, often mothers come for their
early followup (around day 4) and several say to me, when I ask about meds,
"I still haven't filled my pain med yet, but I will today." To which I
reply, "Well if you haven't needed it yet, you likely won't and you
certainly can use something like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if you are not
allergic or taking something that would interact with it. The narcotics can
cause too much sedation and also constipation."

I notice that sometimes a mother actually refuses the pain med in hospital
and it is not the easiest thing for a nurse to call the doctor to write for
just a non-narcotic pain releiver. Why doesn't the dr write for either /
or? I know pain relief is important and is every patient's right, but maybe
we are overusing it? As an aside, it is important to realize that some of
these narcotic meds contain acetaminophen and the nurses have to remember
to tell them not to use too much acetaminophen if using the narcotic and
non-narcotic interchangeably or in addition.

Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC - shout out from Mississippi

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