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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want strong painkillers after c-section?

119 replies

northerngirly · 04/03/2025 09:01

Will I be given strong painkillers after a planned c-section? My SIL had morphine in a drip after hers and for various reasons related to past medical trauma I absolutely do not want any form of morphine - no oramorph, or any painkillers in a driver. I’ve reacted badly to cocodamol/codeine in the past and it makes me feel completely insane which I really don’t want. Will I be fine on just ibuprofen and paracetamol? Will they listen when I say I don’t want anything stronger?

I can’t seem to find a good answer online so I’ve turned to Mumsnet!

OP posts:
TwirlyPineapple · 04/03/2025 09:49

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.

SengaNaLenga · 04/03/2025 09:49

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!

Elektra1 · 04/03/2025 09:50

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.

McGregor33 · 04/03/2025 09:50

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 ☺️

Vettrianofan · 04/03/2025 09:54

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

I wouldn't have coped without mine!

CowTown · 04/03/2025 09:54

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.

POSTC123 · 04/03/2025 09:55

Elektra1 · 04/03/2025 09:50

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 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.

AttachmentFTW · 04/03/2025 09:56

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.

Cryingatthegym · 04/03/2025 10:00

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.

Hattysbackpack · 04/03/2025 10:00

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.

CrawlingOutOfTheTrenches · 04/03/2025 10:01

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.

Ghosttofu99 · 04/03/2025 10:03

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)

happytobemrsg · 04/03/2025 10:13

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.

Floofle · 04/03/2025 10:19

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.

TempestTost · 04/03/2025 10:24

northerngirly · 04/03/2025 09:01

Will I be given strong painkillers after a planned c-section? My SIL had morphine in a drip after hers and for various reasons related to past medical trauma I absolutely do not want any form of morphine - no oramorph, or any painkillers in a driver. I’ve reacted badly to cocodamol/codeine in the past and it makes me feel completely insane which I really don’t want. Will I be fine on just ibuprofen and paracetamol? Will they listen when I say I don’t want anything stronger?

I can’t seem to find a good answer online so I’ve turned to Mumsnet!

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.

TempestTost · 04/03/2025 10:25

Floofle · 04/03/2025 10:19

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.

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.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 04/03/2025 10:26

I got given a couple of paracetamol

Original poster
northerngirly · 04/03/2025 10:27

Thank you so much everyone ❤️ I will bear in mind what everyone is saying about how I may need more depending on the circumstances.

I’m so reluctant to use any morphine because I have some very traumatic memories of my Dad being on morphine when he was dying of cancer. Even the thought of it makes me feel like I’m going to have a panic attack. I am already concerned enough about my mental health being in a hospital and I know that if I have to take oramorph or any kind of morphine it will put me in a really bad headspace mentally. It’s the thing I’m most terrified of.

I’ll do some real research into my other options.

OP posts:
MissEloiseBridgerton · 04/03/2025 10:29

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.

Iheartmysmart · 04/03/2025 10:30

It’s a while since my c-section but I’m pretty sure I was only offered paracetamol and ibuprofen afterwards. Oh and the occasional heparin injection when they remembered, which wasn’t very often. DS was born at 11.30pm and I was out of bed as soon as the epidural had worn off due to a very no nonsense nurse telling me to get up if I wanted any breakfast! It wasn’t fun but the pain was certainly manageable without anything stronger.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 04/03/2025 10:32

I can't remember what painkillers i was given, but i know that they made me very constipated, so i stopped taking them.

IKnowASecret · 04/03/2025 10:33

Explain your concerns beforehand but keep an open mind, it's major surgery and you deserve to be as comfortable as possible. Side effects may be preferable to the pain. I agree with not letting pain relief wear off. Paracetamol is actually much more effective and strong than people realise if you keep taking at regular safe intervals, it's cumulative in effect. The danger is feeling "better" and skipping doses too soon.

TheSandgroper · 04/03/2025 10:42

Sorry to derail. @CowTown , are you a Cowaramup girl?

Chunkychips23 · 04/03/2025 10:45

I had Oramorph and a paracetamol drip the 1st 12hrs. At home I had some dihydrocodeine for a few days, then was just on paracetamol & ibuprofen from day 5. It was manageable.

You don’t have to have strong painkillers or opioids if you don’t want them.

RedDeer · 04/03/2025 10:45

I just had paracetamol and an strong antiinflammatory after my 2 C section. I was home the next day with my second. i wasn't 100% pain free, but could manage to move about ok.