Special populations
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Prolonged use in pregnancy can cause newborn withdrawal. It does pass into breast milk. Decisions belong with a clinician.
Pregnancy
Morphine crosses the placenta. Prolonged use during pregnancy can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) after birth — a treatable but serious condition. Untreated severe pain is also harmful. This is a clinician-level decision, not a DIY one.
Breastfeeding
Morphine is excreted in breast milk. Short, closely monitored use (for example after a cesarean with epidural morphine) is sometimes compatible, with the infant watched for sleepiness, poor feeding, or breathing trouble. Do not use extra doses “to sleep through the night.”