Drugs after c-section

[Firsttimer16]

Hi all -
I’m considering a Vbac vs elcs after an elcs for dd1 who was breech. One thing which is putting me off is how much pain I was in after c-section and how difficult I found moving around (I fainted the day after as the pain was so sharp). However after the epidural the only drugs I was ever offered (despite asking for more!) were paracetamol and ibuprofen. Having now spoken to some other people they seemed to get harder drugs after and said they were uncomfortable but in v little pain. I have my consultant appointment soon and will check the policy but I’m interested to hear other people’s experiences and what drugs you had? It’s the pain and immobility in addition to a toddler which is worrying me. I’m in no doubt natural birth is a whole world of pain too obviously! But it’s the location of the scar and the restriction of movement in terms of picking up toddlers etc which is really concerning me.

[Wellonlyifihaveto]

I had an emcs in Feb and was given the usual paracetamol ibuprofen and also tramadol, wasn’t in any pain just uncomfortable. They were pretty good at pain relief tbh.

[Lauren83]

I didn't get any in hospital, c section was at 2pm and about 2am I went to the nurses station and asked for antihistamines as couldn't stop itching, it then came up they hadn't brought me any pain meds and they claimed it was for me to ask (not sure if that's correct) I got discharged at lunchtime the next day with codeine which I took for a few days with paracetamol

[StressedToTheMaxx]

My first section 2009 they gave you a morphine pump and I was happy as I could control my pain.
My second 2016 I tried paracetamol only (allergic to ibuprofen) and was in pain and didn't want to be a pest.
Straight away when I said they got me a stronger pain killers and it was still fine to breastfeed. I still felt pulling when I moved but it wasn't sharp and stinging.
Just ask they are great

[Bear2014]

I was in loads of pain after both of my ELCS too. I don't understand how anyone can go home the next day. I asked for morphine on day 1 when the spinal wore off and got it both times, then I had codeine on day 2 in addition to the ibuprofen and paracetamol. I definitely found that you didn't get it on time unless you asked so we set phone timers to keep on schedule, otherwise I never would have been able to get up to shower, toilet etc. I had 2 gigantic babies and both sections were a bit complicated so I was fairly beaten up.

[riotlady]

I got oramorph for a day in the hospital which was GREAT, and was sent home with nothing, just got cocodamol and ibruprofen from the pharmacy.

My best friend is an adult nurse and she was outraged that i didn’t get sent home with painkillers, she says they give them out for procedures way less intense than c sections, but it sounds like it’s standard procedure. I think healthcare professionals just don’t take women’s pain very seriously

[FairfaxAikman]

I had an emcs in April and for the first couple of days I was on morphine! Then tramadol. Can't image only having paracetamol.

[Littlebelina]

It has varied for each section for me. Section 1 I got sent home with paracetamol and diclofenac. (Hospital trust A 6 years ago). Section 2 paracetamol and dihydrocodeine (trust B last year) and section 3 (trust A again) I didn't get any pain killers to take home but had paracetamol/ibuprofen as an inpatient and oramoph if I needed it. To be honest I don't think the oramoph made much difference and paracetamol/ibuprofen (my own) controlled it when I got home. Trust A didn't give me lactalose but B did and that was probably more useful

[Ploppymoodypants]

Had c section Friday. Was offered oramorph but didn’t need it.
Had codine and paracetamol and ibuprofen. Home Saturday lunchtime.
I am now on paracetamol and a strong anti inflammatory which is fine. There is pulling and twinges but can Potter about fine.

[Firsttimer16]

This is really interesting. I was shocked they wouldn’t give me anything stronger than paracetamol and ibuprofen but it was my first and I was so dazed by life with a newborn I just sucked it up on got on with it! (Well with a LOT of moaning to my husband obviously...!) sounds like I should’ve got offered something a bit stronger at least while I was in hospital (I stayed 2 nights there) so that makes me feel a bit more confident if I have a csection next time I’ll be stronger and insist on something harder for at least the first day or so. Makes it feel a bit more manageable. Maybe my midwife had a sadistic side and liked seeing pain...!

[Elmo311]

They only gave me paracetamol and ibuprofen too! I was in hosp for 8 days as my son was jaundiced and had to have light therapy. And then i got high BP! Anyway, i remember that i could only sleep in the chair sitting up as i was in too much pain to lie down. I recall the midwife coming into the room and giving my OH evils as he was sleeping in the bed! Even then...they didn't offer anything stronger! Bitches. Haha

[SheHasNotions]

I had a morphine pump for 24 hours after each section, and was sent home with tramadol and paracetamol.

It really makes all the difference if you are able to manage your pain properly. I don’t think I experienced any pain at all, to be honest.

Worth discussing beforehand if you go down the section route and having a plan agreed with your doctors.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

I've had 2 emergency sections. Was offered oramorph on day 1 with my first and then diclofenac and paracetamol.

With my 2nd, was told I could have diclofenac and paracetamol if I needed.

Definitely worth discussing before hand. I was very lucky in that I didn't need any pain killers after the epidural/spinal wore off but I got the distinct impression that the midwives don't want to hand out pain relief unless you demand it (I had to argue for cough medicine with my 2nd despite having a chest infection).

[Orsy2017]

Hi, Don't take codeine whatever you do. It will make the constipation a million times worse when it hits a couple of days after the operation. The hospital failed to tell me that and I ended up at my doctor's surgery unable to walk a week later. My hospital were totally inept. I had to ask for pain relief. I had oromorph (liquid morphine) which was useless, codeine which I'm allergic to (I hallucinate with it), paracetamol and ibuprofen. All those drugs will give you digestive issues, unfortunately. What they don't give you is anything to counteract the effect. I demanded lactulose after enduring four days of agony. It sort of helped but the constipation came back with a vengeance some days later. As I said, the useless hospital didn't give me any information about pain relief. I was given paracetamol and ibuprofen to go home with but only after I had to beg. It was snowing and I didn't fancy having to go to the shops after being sliced in half. I was given a suppository in theatre which I am very, very angry about as I did not give consent for it. It was diclofenac. I was later told it was to provide excellent pain relief. It didn't. I was in agony less than 5 hours again after the operation. Make sure you are prepared as they don't really care about you. They just want you out of hospital asap.

[Orsy2017]

Oh, yes I forgot to mention. No way will you be able to pick up a toddler. It will rip open the wound and cause untold damage. You will be very restricted for a long time. Min was exactly one year ago and I'm still suffering for it now. Mine was an emcs, but for a completely pointless reason. Basiclally they were bored and wanted me out of the way. I was taking too long according to them. No problem with either myself or the baby, but my goodness have I got problems now!! I've gone from super fit happy and carefree to a complete wreck. I have limited movement, the scar is hideous and I have no bond with the baby whatsoever. On the flip side, they were wanting to do a forceps delivery (again, without consent), but at least I was spared having my other parts shredded. Sorry, if it sound harsh, but a section is brutal and I'm just trying to warn that the drugs can't fix the damage caused.

[lyd4165]

Hi, I had a C-Sec in May and was discharged with no pain relief after receiving only paracetamol & ibuprofen the day after the surgery in hospital. I was in so much pain in the following days (also had a toddler at home so could not do the recommended nothing) and they told me that it’s procedure to only give paracetamol & ibuprofen as things like codeine cause constipation which is an issue after childbirth and especially after a c-sec which is fair enough but I honestly think it’s ridiculous to expect women to manage the pain of major abdominal surgery on P&I!! I saw a doctor on day 2 at home who said it was ludicrous the pain I was in and prescribed me “proper” pain relief. My point being i wouldn’t have suffered if they had prescribed it in the first place. My advice is to definitely evaluate your pain level before being discharged and make sure they give you something stronger before you leave to save you struggling in the first few days at home!

[bonzo77]

3 sections. Rectal pain relief in theatre with all. Paracetamol and ibuprofen after all of them. First one I had 2 doses of oromorph. 2nd no oramorph as DS2 in nicu and I was never on post natal at drugs rounds. Third one dude of oramorph. I was discharged with dihydrocodeine but never used them (except for migraines)! I wouldn’t say I was pain free, but taking ibuprofen 3x a day and paracetamol 4x a day for a week, then reducing both was sufficient. I definitely had a worse time with my first as it was an emcs and because I didn’t mobilise early enough.

[GinaLinetti99]

I had a section under GA. When I woke up, I had a morphine pump, which I used for about 12 hours. I then went onto paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I was discharged without painkillers (hospital policy) but stopped en route home at the pharmacy for cocodamol, ibuprofen and lactulose.

[Orsy2017]

Midwives are sadists!! They honestly do not care. Unfortunately, we're merely a statistic and they want us out of their hair asap ready for their next victim.

[SurvivingCBeebies]

I had a section and was given oramorph on the ward but sent home the next day with nothing, I luckily had some cocodamol to take which I stopped when my milk came in (day 4) and from then on just had paracetamol x

[DeadButDelicious]

I was given oramorph in hospital and a medication called dicloflex to take home that reduces inflammation and pain. Along with paracetamol or codeine if I really needed it. I stayed right on top of my pain killers, I never waited until I was in pain. I was off them completely by about 3 weeks post op.

I also had a pico dressing (negative pressure pump thing) as I have an apron tummy and my consultant wanted to reduce the chance of infection. It really helped. It stayed on for a week and really made me feel like I was 'held' together, my scar healed really well.

[Enb76]

In 2008, I was on a morphine pump that I could control after an under-GA emergency section. I didn't use it at all but I wasn't in much pain. Perhaps, due to lots people like me who don't need any pain relief, they've reviewed the need for the harder stuff.

If so, I apologise, I have a massively high pain threshold.

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

Oramorph for for the post incision and wound pain but also the afterpains. They caught me unawares but were short and hellish.

Just ask for it. If they say no and paracetamol isn’t cutting it (my trust doesn’t give comcodanol as it can pass through breastmilk allegedly) they would struggle to justify the denial of stronger drugs.

[MsJuniper]

I had a dose of oramorph after having DS in 2012 and it was amazing. Got sent home with diclofenac and co codamol (I cant remember exactly in what combination)

Had DD in 2018 and I just got told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen. Couldn't believe it! But to be honest after the first few days I was pretty much fine. Still missed that oramorph though.