To not want strong painkillers after c-section?

No one can force you to have anything. I had a C-section. I did chose to have oramorph over night the first night but I could have survived without it. I then went home with Naproxen and Paracetamol. I was absolutely fine! The worst pain I had was from trapped wind, which I found peppermint capsules to help and getting up and moving early doors.

Talk to your surgeon and anaesthetist about pain relief options. They are the most knowledgeable. Especially anaesthetists, pain relief is their absolute bread and butter. Ask for a pre assessment appointment.

I got given a couple of paracetamol

A, I had the up the bum stuff for one section - it gave me bed spins, not nice at all.

It's interesting how we can be affected so differently by the same meds.

You will have to talk to the doctors, and tell them about what happened before - they always want to know about bad reactions with medications.

FWIW, when I had my sections(apart from 1) while there did administer strong painkillers at the time of the section, once they started to wear off I was on Tylenol with codeine, and that worked great for me, I could still feel some discomfort but it was very bearable, which is how I prefer it, I don't want to feel like I am able to do too much. But it will really depend on how your body responds. There are a number of options though and they will help you find the right ones.

If it's a planned section, you will go in a couple of days before and meet the anaesthetist (it's called the "Clerking" appointment). They will ask you some questions and check what pain relief you want. You can decline whatever you want!

I initially declined the Diclofenac (spelling!?) because they put it up your bum, but then changed my mind on the day and that was fine, so I did have it.

I also had a syring of oramorph, which you take orally (suck it out of the syringe). and paracetamol.

I did complain of more pain a few hours later, and they said they could give me another dose of oramorph but then I'd have to stay overnight another night, and I really didn't want to! With hindsight I probably should have, the drive home was a bit scary, our hospital's road has speedbumps and I thought my insides were going to fall out haha.

I had paracetamol & ibruprofen with some dihydrocodine when pain was particularly bad (usually once a day). Like PP said, key thing is to keep on top of pain meds so they don’t wear off.

Hey op. I’d also had traumatic previous surgery experience and felt ‘off my head’ on the morphine based painkillers too. When I had my planned csec I was nervous also but luckily the whole recovery was much less painful and from what I remember I felt relatively fine with what they gave me which was paracetamol and ibuprofen. TMI but I also had the bottom suppositories the first day which imo is most effective as relieves the pain where you want it without affecting anything else.

Defo chat to midwife/consultant and get your wishes written into your birth plan.

(obviously everyone is different so can guarantee that you won’t feel in a lot of pain but good luck)

After my ELCS I was just given dihidrocodiene, which I took at the hospital. I was given 7 tablets for if I needed them at home. I took one, but it made me feel very drowsy. I just took paracetamol and ibuprofen after that and managed just fine. Talk to the team looking after you.
Some may be fine with over the counter medication, some may need stronger. See how you feel. Just let them know if there's any medication you can't take or have had a reaction to. It's major surgery, so you may feel differently afterwards.

Best of luck.

I’ve had two c sections. I was given the standard during the surgery. I didn’t take any further morphine after either operation. The first time I was only offered cocodamol and diclofenac and the pain was extremely manageable. The second time they wanted me to take oral morphine and were surprised I refused. They would only give me paracetamol and ibuprofen as an alternative. That time I was in significantly more pain, but it wasn’t agony and I got through it.

I had 2 weeks of Oramorph after all of mine, as well as regular paracetamol and ibuprofen. No way would I have coped without it.

I managed on paracetamol and ibuprofen. I had one dose of oramorph but I didn't like how it made me feel. It was still painful but manageable.

Honestly women need to stand up more and say no.

They weren’t going to give me Oromorph to take home. I literally said no. I’m not leaving without it! And stamped my feet a bit.

Reasoning being it’s addictive. How are you going to become addicted from one 100ml bottle and even if you did where are post partum mothers going to be going to top up on their supply!

Rob a pharmacy with newborn in tow. Absolutely ridiculous.

If men had c sections they would sent home on trolleys, with community nurses and IV drivers.

I had abdominal surgery (not a c-section) and I was given Oramorph, codeine, paracetamol, and Voltarol — so not sure if Voltarol would be appropriate for a breastfeeding mum.

The stronger the painkillers the better IMO. Definitely after major surgery.

I wouldn't have coped without mine!

I had my last baby a year ago, my hospital only gave paracetamol and ibuprofen. Even at that, they wouldn’t prescribe it so I had to get some brought in. I was up and walking about pretty much as soon as the epidural wore off and had a ten minute walk to make multiple times a day to nicu, I will warn you, it’s sore, very sore but it is manageable if you take it slow and steady ☺️

Just tell them you don't want morphine. Having had 3 c-sections, 2 with no post-op morphine and 1 with, I'd definitely recommend taking the Oramorph.

Honestly, it depends on what pain you're in. I was only offered paracetamol and ibuprofen after both my C-sections. They suggested I took oramorph once with the second one because I was finding it hard to sit up, but I wasn't actually in pain, I was just a bit breathless after sitting up - I probably should have said no to the oramorph but I just did as I was told. It didn't seem to make any difference to me - probably because I wasn't in much pain!

I don't know what was in the drip I was attached to, but to my knowledge I only had paracetamol and ibuprofen after my c section and it was fine. I was given oramorph to take home with me but chose not to take it.

I was given paracetamol only after mine. I really could have done with something stronger to be honest, was quite annoyed. But to answer your question, no strong drugs here.

It’s completely your decision and they will not “make” you take anything you absolutely do not consent to. And some people are absolutely fine with paracetamol and ibuprofen so see how you get on. However just be aware that there is medical reasons to have proper analgesia. Obviously comfort is important but that’s not the only reason for proper pain relief. Being in so much pain that you aren’t able to cough, clear secretions, mobilise, and move about more freely puts you are much higher risk of chest infections and bloody clots, DVTs and PEs post op. Which you are already at higher risk of after having surgery.

I hate morphine and both times I had a section, I had oramorph on the day of surgery only. Voltarol (diclofenic) suppositories are great. I wouldn't have coped with just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I was home after 36 hours on just paracetamol & ibuprofen. I'm due a hysterectomy in the near future & hope to be able to achieve the same.

Oramorph is compatible with breastfeeding.

I would recommend taking dulcoease gel capsules after as well.

Please don’t underestimate the level of pain you might have. I full dose ibru, paracetamol, voltarol suppository and Oromorph! And it still hurt like hell. But made it more manageable.

Speak to the doctor before hand to make sure you have a plan. The doctors will need to prescribe if it’s anything different to the standard options and you don’t want to be sat there in hospital waiting whilst in pain for someone to find them.

I had to wait an extra 8 hours for a prescription of Oromorph to go home with as they had missed me off the ward round. If that had been me in day 1 pain whilst waiting I would have actually killed someone if capable.