These factsheets have been written for members of the public by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS). UKTIS is a not-for-profit organisation funded by Public Health England on behalf of UK Health Departments. UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since 1983 on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy. 

Morphine

Women in the UK will be offered a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. Taking morphine in pregnancy is not expected to cause problems that would require any extra monitoring of your baby prior to birth. 

Babies who were exposed to morphine in the womb before delivery will be more closely monitored for a while after birth to check for withdrawal symptoms and ensure they are breathing and feeding as normal.