c-sections

[Lilsquish]

Currently in hospital having underwent a section yesterday.

AIBU to expect/request stronger pain relief other than two paracetamol??

i mean, for christ sake, 16 hours after major surgery they are requesting that i get out of bed and shower with 2 paracetamol for pain relief???? why??

its not like you cant have anything stronger, they even have it stored on their little drug trolleys, so why not offer it? or better still, when i say im really struggling with the pain, offer the bloody morphine without insinuating that its a major deal!!!

Any midwives/doctors shed some light on this?

im getting a bit fucked off feeling like i need to beg/justify reasons for getting stronger pain relief every 4 hours.........

My ante-natal care and care in labour / OT was exceptional.

Aftercare was woeful. Nice staff, but not enough, a lack of urgency and zero assistance.

The midwives essentially just dispensed medicines for me and looked at my scar.

Zero breastfeeding assistance, zero assistance with mobilisation, zero help with the baby.

They are overworked and the assistance goes where it’s most crucial which is delivery understandably.

With my 3rd, I had to be transferred to the nearest consultant led unit, 2 hours from our home and we had two other children 5 and under because my BP was stupid high. Huge baby (who also turned out to have cord wrapped round him, no long term effects, thankfully, 'elderly' multi-para, wound up with an epidural and two lots of Labetalol, the second after they turned the screen away from me but not before I clocked the 115 at the bottom number. Ventouse and 2nd degree tear with stitches. Birth at 04.11, projectile vomited twice. Moved to the unit at 9am, missed breakfast as I couldn't reach the bloody trolley and was on my own, expected to get up and get my lunch with legs still on pins and needles (oh, and don't leave your baby, how's that work if you're on your own?). No pain relief (I'd brought mine and thankfully, some snacks and water in my bag).

Couldn't fecking wait to get out there. CS mum nearly passed out next to me all night mumbling in delirium and only given paracetamol despite crying for pain relief. They'd also sat her in a chair and left, with her baby in a cot she couldn't reach and her buzzer out of reach so the 19-year-old in the other bay and I got up and helped her out. My BP was not monitored, just the baby having jabs due to the Labatelol.

Wound up at home feeling sick and on BP meds for the next six months after the community midwife took a reading. At least then I got to go to the local hospital MLU with my baby as I was breastfeeding after they threatened to send me back to that hellhole and I sobbed so hard I was sick at the very thought.

'Care', my arse.

*maternity ward not labour ward

bloody hell, Sihtrics

Listen @prequelle

Two things:

1. Please don’t read threads like this if you are due your first and odds on for a CS! The whole thread is about the shitness of the OP having to chase pain relief post surgery, not a fun subject

1. However please do understand that a CS can be a magical and ace experience (my first one was) and you could end up on the highest high!

Just be aware that should you wish for a painkiller stronger than a paracetamol (and no guarantees you will need it, I was ok on paracetamol only v quickly with CS1) you may have to be direct to the point of instructive.

My care was very good and my EMCS was very recent Prequelle so I promise they’re not all bad, please try not to let worry about the birth ruin pregnancy for you. Are you having a planned section? I’ve only had one baby and can only speak for my experience with a CS but we ended up on all the possible wards when I was having her and they were all excellent. Kind, professional, efficient, friendly staff on midwife led, consultant led, in theatre and on recovery and postnatal wards. Help with the baby, force feeding of tea and toast for DH and me (he’d brought enough food and drink to feed an army but they insisted on giving him stuff constantly), adequate pain relief, answered any and all questions patiently, help with feeding from a proper lactation expert within half an hour of asking, didn’t discharge us till they were happy we were ready. Given her dramatic arrival and things not going to plan it could have been an awful experience but it really wasn’t at all and I felt really well cared for. We even had people we’d seen days before popping in to see the baby and make sure we were all doing okay.

@prequelle I think you'll be alright if you tell them you work in the next ward. I know they should give good care to everyone, but from what I hear from my midwife friends it does help. As a surgical nurse they are also less likely to try to deny you pain relief. My best friend was a midwife in the hospital I have birth in. I was very ill (and am not the kind of person to make a fuss about nothing). Apparently another midwife was complaining I was putting it on, luckily for me friend stepped in, gave her a rocket and had me moved room to another midwife's area and made sure they knew I was her friend and that I don't complain about nothing. Turns out I was even more I'll than they thought and treatment drastically improved in the new room. It makes me go cold thinking how it would be if she hadn't come down from her ward to see how I was.

So sorry you are struggling, the midwives are so bloody useless at understanding.
I am still seething at the midwife who said to me 'most of my normal c-section women don't even need paracetamol after their surgery'. Well whoop de fucking do for them...what this mis informed cow had failed to do was bother to read my notes which told them that I was on oramorph every hour and sustained relief morphine due to the fact I had a broken hip and the c-section surgery and looking after a new born would massively aggravate the injury.
She then went out of my room to sneer about me with her colleague, who fortunately knew the score, gave this other woman short shrift, banned her from my room and brought a dose of oramorph straight in with an ibuprofen chaser.

You need pain relief, they can sodding well do one with their sanctimonious attitude.

Anyway, rant over; for your pain.

I was discharged with paracetamol and ibuprofen but was given oramorph whilst I was in hospital. I wish I'd stayed in longer 😂

My c sec was in December at a west London hospital. I was given cocodamol for 5 days and when I requested more I was told no by a doctor.

I wish I had fought harder for it, it was a huge struggle on paracetamol and ibuprofen! However, after a week it was much MUCH less painful. If they don't give you anything else stock up on otc pain relief and know it will improve, you can do it!!!!!

And congratulations on your dear darling baby

Thankyou for your kind words paul, anne and schrodingers. It's highly likely going to be a section, but fortunately I'm not wary of being stroppy if I have to. I'm just concerned about being in such pain I make a show of myself because I can see myself saying something like 'I train people in pain management so get me some oromorph naaaowwww' or something

Yes you need more painkillers, this happened to me and the midwife who refused me stronger painkillers was disciplined after a formal complaint!

I had dihydrocodiene (I think it was called) and was in very little pain (only when moving from lying to sitting) hope they give you something that helps

My trust give you 2 lots of MST post section then up to hourly oramorph as required. Yours sounds shite.

I was given tramadol along with the paracetamol after mine and enough for about a week after I got home too. Make a fuss, paracetamol will do absolutely nothing after a c section. Congratulations on the baby!

Under any other circumstances making a 6 inch cut across someone’s stomach going through layers of tissue muscle and fat would be major surgery. Pull a baby out and it’s the easy way out apparently.

Demand everything you can get your hands on.

Congratulations by the way

Haven't read the full thread but SERIOUSLY!!! I take paracetamol for a hangover - not after major abdominal surgery After my first section, my post natal ward was brill and they made sure I had all the pain relief I needed. Unfortunately I went to a different hospital for my second and they tried to fob me off with paracetamol 'are you having a laugh' I said to them, 'I'll have some oramorph thanks', cue much tut-tutting.. then I asked for the same meds I had after first section 'no we don't prescribe that here' FFS!!! I spoke to my GP on the phone who issued the prescription for real actual pain relief so I had what I needed when I got home. GP was appalled.

Reading this is horrifying! It’s also due to so many people having negative experiences that initially interested me in going private for my daughters birth. I ended up with a horrific pregnancy and early section at midway between 33 and 34 weeks. Post operativy I had a mobile epi for pain relief. Totally pan free post section. Had that 4 days and then was on paracetamol and difflofenic for another week or so. My recovery was brilliant. It’s totally barbaric that women should beg for pain relief! Unacceptable on every level!!!

In my unit you will be given Oromorph for first 24 hrs along side Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. On day 2 you will be given Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Dihydrocodeine to self medicate. If you have a general anaesthetic you are often given a morphine PCA ( patient controlled analgesia) via a pump directly into vein.

And we give Oromorph 1 to 2 hourly.

Oh my god!

I still had my morphine that I could use at my discretion... and I was given stronger meds when they removed it. I've had 2 sections.

Every time I read a UK birthing/delivery story on here I am really happy I didn't give birth here. And I know everywhere has fucked up stats as well but the treatment I received both times were second to none and I am so happy I had that experience.

OP complain! What a disgrace!

I had a catheter, fluid drip in, and stayed in bed for 24 hrs after my c-section! I had help walking to the toilet when I first got up and I was wheeled in a wheelchair from the recovery ward to the normal ward. I couldn’t shower until the 2nd day.

It was a massive change going onto the normal maternity ward. I needed to refill my water jug and asked one of the staff. They pointed out of the ward and down the long corridor as to where the water fountain was and briskly left my bedside. I was in tears trying to get out of the bed. I had kidney damage from the severe dehydration I suffered when I was in labour and so after I felt incredibly thirsty for days. I was also told in a disapproving way that getting up and walking about would hel me heal quicker. I only had paracetamol for the pain and was in agony when I moved. I had no help trying to get my compression socks on/off before my shower and I really struggled.

Before I left I was prescribed 4 tramadol. My partner told me not to take them as they’re addictive and cause you to become very lethargic. Two weeks later he ended up taking them for his tooth ache.

The level of misogyny towards female pain makes me furious.

well im home and was discharged with............

nothing. :-D

im not really laughing, its disgraceful. No one checked my wound and i had to ask 3 times to get the cannula removed from my arm.

now that im home i have assessed my wound in the mirror and no bloody wonder im in agony.

im 5'4 and 8.5stone when not pregnant. my DC was over 10lbs. my scar runs from one hip bone to the other. iv not measured it but id estimate it being over 30cm in length.

at the moment I'd describe the pain in it as a searing pain. im awaiting the arrival of the community midwife to see what they say about it all - she's really lovely.

pain management at home last night was paracetamol, ibuprofen and a tramadol (my husbands!!! i know, i know......) plus had OH to hand me DC etc when i needed. oh the relief to be home! it really made the world of difference.

i would like to mention tho that i found the care in the labour/recovery room (post delivery) pretty good. lots of help with baby etc. however i was only in there as id lost 2ltr blood and needed a transfusion. as soon as possible i was transferred to maternity ward where the standard of care dropped considerably. so it looks like this is the problem area.

the midwives were all really friendly and i know they do a very difficult job in very difficult conditions, i really hope any midwives who have read this thread dont feel its an attack on them. i was just, and still am, shocked about the lack of pain management and physical help you receive post delivery.

do you think its worth highlighting to someone or will it be just be fobbed off?

sorry that had paragraphs when i typed it. :-/

Bloody hell op. Hope your community mw sorts you out.