to take a pack of paracetamol in my hospital bag

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

And, well, that's it really!

I remember having to traipse the ward in the middle of the night when I had DS, so thought it would be easier if I had my own. But I know that all "medication" is supposed to be handed in, so what do you think...?

I put some in mine as I remembered how long it took to get hold of some after dc1 .

I would. When I was in labour two weeks ago it was like pulling teeth to get any. Ended up phoning the MIL to bring me some in the end! As long as you tell them what you've taken and stick to the dose can't see the problem. I don't think they can take them off you, don't think they have time to perform bag searches!!

If you take some make sure someone knows and it is written down. You don't want to take a large dose and for the drugs round to follow shortly after with either more paracetamol or something that is contraindication for consumption at the same time.

When I was under 8, I had loads of operations on my ears. I always woke up gasping for a drink and would be made to wait unbearably and then only given a medicine shot glass and told to sip it .

Fuck that. By the time I was six I was already concealing cups if water in my cupboard for post operation. Sure I was usually a bit sick but better sick than thirsty IMO at the time.

Cheers! Goodnight ladies

Sod paracetamol, I'd have decent co - codamol and ibuprofen or diclofenac too. My post- labour pains were so bad the last time.

I brought Diclofenac with me when I went in to have my babies. My GP gave me a prescription for it. When I was in hospital last year, I brought in my own supply of paracetemol as the red tape involved in getting two for a headache can be unreal.
I'm a nurse so know about correct dosages, drug interactions etc. I wouldn't recommend that others do it in general though.

YANBU. I'm taking some in mine, if I stay in then it's there if I need it (ie they're late with the drugs rounds) - every time I had medication last time they told me what was there, if there's paracetamol in the cup this time then I can take it out if I've had some.

Hand it in? Had no idea about that. I had loads of stuff with me. They did ask me to stop taking my own blood pressure medication. They wanted to give me identical pills but wanted it 'official' so I suppose it's the same thing.

yes ibuprofen as well.

My only concern would be if you were given conflicting medication. The staff would have to be aware you were taking it for safety reasons.

I had ds4 10 days ago and during the day I was on the maternity ward, four people came round and asked if I wanted some paracetamol. None if them gave me any as I didn't have a drug chart, and none of them sorted it out, despite saying they would. I wish I'd brought some.

I took paracetamol and codeine. I told the staff I had my own medication. They cannot stop you from taking it particularly if it's been prescribed by your GP.

If you had your child at home would they trawl through your medicine cabinet? Keep it hidden away and don't let anybody else have any. Pretty much just like when you're at work.

Our hospitals here say to bring in your own medicine anyway. To avoid prescribing same drugs twice by same PCT I expect.

I took Panadeine and I did ask a couple of times for something for after pains but it was not forthcoming. So I took my Panadeine.

The MW had a bit of a whinge that I wasn't supposed to self medicate, but tough luck, should have given me it when I needed. I understand they are busy, which is why I took my own.

God yes take whatever you want in. You're an adult. tell them what you'e taken and don't be bullied into 'handing it over' or any such nonsense. The drama to get some paracetamol on a post natal ward is not worth the effort.

I would, and I wouldnt tell either, as long as you know what other medication you are on and they wouldnt interact. I too kmy own gaviscon with my last 2 DSs as I had bad heartburn, getting hold of a Nurse was always hard plus they would only measure out about 5ml when I drank gallons of the stuff

I took paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac with me. I kept a note of doasgae and times etc.

The nurses weren't too happy about it, but couldn't do anything. Had to practically force them to write 'patient self-medicating' on my drugs sheet though.

I took my own in because i'm on some pretty hefty prescription stuff and the hospital were fine with that.

I also got family to bring in food with them too when they visited :o

I was advised to take paracetemol by the midwife running our ante-natal class. She wasn't talking specifically about the hospital bag, though my note was to take some with me, rather in the context of using low-level approaches before or to avoid needing heavier interventions. She was all for it, at proper doses, on the grounds that it doesn't interefere with anything else and apparently takes more of an edge off things than we might imagine.

There is now paracetamol in my bag
Don't have to worry about ibuprofen, cant take it anyway, and I don't have anything stronger here so will have to ask for that if I need it.

I'm sure I remember the drugs taken part of the purple notes being opposite the baby feeding log (?) so not a problem to fill it in myself even.

God yes. I learnt with Ds1, when it comes to postnatal care, treat as a noisy hotel room. You have to provide everything for yourself, but don't have to do any chores and can enjoy enforced rest.

Thus for Ds2 I went with:
2 boxes of paracetamol - just as well, they lost my drug chart
6 litres of water (took full advantage of the catheter glug glug glug) - the water jug woman no where to be seen for 24 hours.
Comfy clothes
Picnic of non perishable snacks
Got DH to bring some nice food from M&S
Extra pillow and blanket
Thermos of tea
Few cans of coke
Stack of books on my kindle and a phone charger

They had to throw me out after 3 days.

If you are going in to have your second baby I think the painkillers will be handy; the after pains can be very strong, and not something you get after the first one. You don't want to be hanging around waiting. Good luck.

OP I took the same, and packs of mixed nuts and raisins, my own drinks... Like bringmesunshine I had a heaving bag of snacks and comfy things. You're an adult, you know what you might need so pack it. Hope it goes smoothly and you end up carting it all home x

I'm taking all my prescribed drugs inc paracetamol+codiene, as last time I didnt' get any codiene until 36 hours after birth (had been taking 4x daily), and when someone finally brought some it was half the dose that a) I'd been taking, and b) prescribed by their doc.

Not only was I not asked to hand drugs in, but on arrival no-one had asked me what drugs I was taking!
Stupidly I actually had some in my bag but was too anxious to take them as couldn't remember if they were compatible with bf or not and then forgot they were there.

I did annotate my chart with what I'd done on post-its, though.