- Reference Number: HEY1001/2026
- Departments: Maternity Services
- Last Updated: 31 May 2026
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about analgesia (pain relief medication) taken in the postnatal period and how it affects safer sleeping for your newborn baby. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your midwife but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team.
What is safer sleeping?
Safer sleeping is how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), otherwise known as cot death, happening to your baby. Four babies a week die from SIDS, and it is so very important that we reduce this number so every mother can enjoy this special time. You will have a discussion with your midwife and be given written information about safer sleeping before your baby is born, after your baby is born, and again at home. You will be asked where you intend your baby to sleep at home, please do not be offended by this, as the midwife only wants to ensure the safety of your baby and is not there to judge or see a tidy house. If you have any questions, you can ask your midwife at any time.
Why do I need to know about pain relief and safer sleep?
We know that there are some medications that can make people drowsy after taking them. We need to highlight this, so you can take into consideration the effects of medications on keeping your baby safe. Some medications pass into breastmilk, and you will receive further information about this in the hospital.
What medication can affect safer sleep?
All medication affects everyone in a different way. If you are taking over the counter medication, prescribed medication (either short or long term) or any illicit drugs which have a sedative (sleepy) affect, then you need to be very careful when caring for your baby. This also includes medication you may have been given to take home from the hospital. If you have taken illicit drugs and / or alcohol, have co-slept and your baby dies, then you can be prosecuted under the serious crime act. Always get advice from your midwife if you are unsure about the medication you are taking.
What if I have had a caesarean section and need stronger pain relief?
The advice is to always start with mild pain relief such as paracetamol and if this does not work then take ibuprofen. If you need further pain relief and have been prescribed tramadol or co-codamol try to take the lowest dose possible for the shortest time possible. It is important you and your partner are aware of the risks and it may be better to make sure baby is cared for and settled before you take the stronger form of pain relief. This advice includes your partner and any other carer for your baby.
What are the risks? What could happen?
- It could make you feel drowsy
- You may fall asleep whilst cuddling or feeding your baby
- You may fall asleep in an unsafe place for example on the sofa
- Unsafe sleep practice could result in SIDS
Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact Rowan Ward Tel: 01482 605381
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats your child, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to your child. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your child’s condition, the alternatives available for your child, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about your child
We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, information about your child will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your child’s doctor, or the person caring for your child.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you need information about your child’s (or a child you care for) health and wellbeing and their care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
Your newborn baby’s NHS number
An NHS number is allocated to everyone whose birth is registered with a Registrar of Births and Deaths in England and Wales. You already have an NHS number and your baby will be assigned an NHS number soon after birth. Your NHS number is unique to you and provides a reliable means of linking you to the medical and administrative information we hold about you. NHS numbers are allocated on a random basis and, in themselves, provide no information about the people to whom they relate.
