Central nervous system depression of neonates breastfed by mothers receiving oxycodone for postpartum analgesia.

Objective: To quantify the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) depression in neonates breastfed by mothers medicated with oxycodone as compared with neonates whose breastfeeding mothers used codeine or acetaminophen only.

Study Design: We retrospectively compared 3 cohorts in 533 breastfeeding mother-infant pairs exposed to oxycodone (n = 139), codeine (n = 210), or acetaminophen only (n = 184). Standardized questionnaires were administered to mothers during the postpartum period to identify maternal and neonatal health outcomes temporally related to analgesia exposure.

Codeine-acetaminophen versus nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of post-abdominal surgery pain: a systematic review of randomized trials.

Background: Cesarean section, episiotomy, and third and perineal tears are associated with significant tissue damage, causing pain in the immediate postpartum period. The current standard in North America is to prescribe oral acetaminophen/codeine (A + C) for postpartum pain. Codeine has opioid-related adverse effects and may not be safe during breastfeeding in the postpartum period for all neonates.