Fentanyl In Pregnancy: Long-Term Effects on Babies And Mothers

If you are planning to have a baby and are using fentanyl, then it’s obvious you might have some questions and concerns about your pregnancy and baby. However, fentanyl is considered to be very potent, but still prescribed to pregnant women to deal with labour pain. But this medicine doesn’t come without risk. It has a higher risk of affecting fertility and can affect the baby while breastfeeding. Well, keep reading this blog to know more about fentanyl in pregnancy, “Is fentanyl safe during pregnancy?”, and how it affects the body during pregnancy.

Understanding Fentanyl & Its Effects On The Body During Pregnancy

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid mainly prescribed for dealing with severe pain. Also used in critical surgeries to manage pain, and used in severe health conditions like cancer. Fentanyl is considered to be very highly addictive. Also, people compare fentanyl with heroin in terms of addiction, but fentanyl is found to be 50 times more addictive than heroin and almost 100 times more addictive than its alternative medications like morphine.

Side Effects of Fentanyl

As fentanyl is highly addictive, a minimal dose can make you experience serious side effects. Some of the commonly noticeable side effects are listed below.

• Hard to breathe properly
• Stomach ache
• Headache
• Nausea
• Decreased appetite
• Skin problem
• Drowsiness
• Confusion

Side effects are not over yet. There are serious side effects too, which can be normal and can get serious, such as life-threatening. Here are some of the side effects that can be life-threatening.

• Fentanyl dependence: This means the body is getting acquainted with the effects of fentanyl and needs fentanyl to feel better and normal. To deal with these problems, you can go for some rehab programs or get some therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Reproductive problems
• Serious liver and cardiovascular problems
• Chronic constipation

In addition, your body gets mentally acquainted with its effects and craves more of it. But can harm your body very severely. To treat this addiction problem, consult your health expert and ask for treatment for fentanyl addiction.

As for Fentanyl addiction, some people ask, “Is it safe to use fentanyl during surgery while pregnant?” or “Is fentanyl safe for pregnancy?” If you have the same question, then we can clear all your queries.

Effects Of Fentanyl In Pregnancy

The effects are not clear because there are no studies or research on fentanyl and pregnancy. But fentanyl can negatively affect pregnant women and can also affect the fetus. Basically, the Fentanyl pregnancy category by the FDA is C. It means the studies conducted in animals have shown that it can lead to serious neonatal outcomes. Fentanyl is prescribed to pregnant women who are suffering from severe pain and can also use fentanyl for pregnancy labor pain. But also comes with risks like

• Fetal distress
• Meternal morality
• Stillbirth
• Neurodevelopmental days
• Premature labour
• Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)

How Fentanyl Affects The Newborn Baby?

Not only the mother, but the baby can also be affected by fentanyl use during pregnancy. There is a chance that fentanyl can cause cognitive problems in the baby. Also, the fentanyl effects inside the womb can hamper the cholesterol metabolism in the baby. And can lead to symptoms like Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. Some of them are listed below.

• Short stature
• Penile abnormalities
• Cleft palate
• Foot abnormalities
• Smaller head than normal

Effects Of Fentanyl During Breastfeeding

Fentanyl can be used during breastfeeding, but have chances to harm your baby a lot. It is only prescribed if no other option is left. So, it’s advised to use the minimum dose possible and for as little time as possible. As fentanyl can pass through breast milk even in a minimal amount, it can harm your baby a lot. Also, it has chances to put your baby under extreme sedation, and may experience serious respiratory depression. If you are breastfeeding your baby while taking fentanyl, then make sure to look carefully and seek medical help if any of these signs are visible.

• Difficult to breathe
• Drowsiness
• Limpness
• Consipation
• Skin problem 

Because of the numerous effects of fentanyl on the body, many people have questions and doubts about the duration of fentanyl in the body. Well, several factors are responsible for the duration in the body. Also depends on the usage and dosage.

Can You Discontinue Fentanyl For Pregnancy?

You can discontinue fentanyl, but you shouldn’t because fentanyl can easily pass through breastmilk, and there is a chance your baby can get addicted to it. And quitting it suddenly can hamper your baby’s health a lot by causing life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. As the effects of fentanyl on the brain are very strong, it’s very difficult to discontinue it. Always use this medication and quit this medication under a doctor’s supervision to avoid such effects. Also, if you are dependent on fentanyl, then consult your doctor and ask for another pain reliever to use in pregnancy.

Alternatives For Fentanyl In Early Pregnancy

There are other medications you can use rather than fentanyl for pregnancy. Other opioid medications, like morphine, can be used for pain management in pregnancy. Also, people compare Morphine vs fentanyl in pregnancy to find which is better and safer to use. You can also use regional anesthesia and some non-opioid options like parenteral acetaminophen. If you want to use alternatives for the addiction problem, then you can use buprenorphine and methadone. Also, you can consult a doctor to choose the right alternative. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

In Conclusion, Fentanyl can be used in pregnancy, but under a doctor’s supervision. Using it normally can severely hamper your health and also harm your baby’s health. Also have a higher risk of miscarriage and serious health issues in the baby. There are also some safer alternatives you can use to deal with pain during pregnancy. But always use medications in the prescribed manner to avoid any kind of problem.