To not want strong painkillers after c-section?

[northerngirly]

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!

Or not. For some women strong painkillers are a terrible option.

I had paracetamol, ibuprofen and some codeine in case which I used occasionally. I would recommend getting some lactolose - I was really constipated which caused almost as much discomfort as major surgery.

I can’t remember what I had in the first few days but it definitely wasn’t morphine. There are other options.

You don't have to agree to anything. If you are feeling anxious discuss it with the anaesthetist. I've had 5 sections and each was different in terms of recovery and pain levels. I loved the diclofenac suppository and tablets but I don't know if they prescribe that. I definitely did have morphine but I was told the options and I could decide. I'm a strong believer in taking paracetamol and ibuprofen alternatively rather than waiting to be in pain

I had a C-section and my baby was immediately taken to NICU for oxygen for a few days. The nurses in my ward totally messed me around (and basically forgot that I existed) as I was mostly round in NICU seeing my baby. So..... they 'forgot' to give me painkillers... I was honestly fine on just paracetamol after my surgery, but I know not everyone else would be.

They also 'forgot' to remove my staples so I had them removed while I was almost out the door with my coat still on, but that's another story ;-)

I guess what I am saying is, why not try paracetamol initially and know you always have the option to explore other pain relief if and when needed.

You may have to really, really fight for diclofenac.

Despite disclosing I’d used it very successfully after multiple gynae surgeries, and badgering midwives at various appointments before my section, they were extremely reluctant to give it to me. Finally someone said they’d put it on my discharge prescription and it didn’t end up happening, and I was too tired to stay any longer in hospital. Ended up discharged with the standard dihydrocodeine.

This was a big London teaching hospital too.

Intravenous paracetamol is insanely effective, this may be a good option for you to avoid opioids.

After both my sections I only had paracetamol and ibuprofen at hospital. I wasn’t offered anything else

i wasn't offered anything other that paracetamol 😆

Yeah same.

At home I got the combination of the paracetamol and ibuprofen and that worked really well.

As in, Australia? No, never been! 😂

I had intravenous paracetamol only after both my sections. I was fine

You'll be lucky to be offered anything more than paracetamol.
I was a weeping mess, unable to lift dc before they'd give me anything stronger. And this was 18 year's ago before the NHS current issues.

Wasn't my experience, one section in St George's, one in York.

They won't give you tonnes but they do offer.

@CowTown . Well, there you go. I got a little excited for a minute.

I don't remember having any morphine after my section, I did have diclofenac (spelling?) and that worked a treat. After 2 weeks I was just on paracetamol and feeling pretty much fully recovered. The best thing you can do is take your preferred painkiller on a schedule, even if you don't think you need it, it's much better to keep topped up than to allow pain to set in. Keep moving around and do it as soon as you can once the anaesthetic wears off but don't do too much, no lifting anything heavier than the baby! It's a big OP and having a gentle potter round and looking after the baby is more than enough in those first few weeks.

You can request that your spinal/epidural is left up for a few more hours, and that a final effective bolus is given before removal. That will buy you a bit of extra time. I too go doolally with a lot of the stronger pain killers.

As other's have said - its up to you entirely. Personal experience was that I could barely get paracetamol when it was needed, so I definitely didn't need to worry about being over medicated!

I had a diclofenac suppository inserted after the op (numb so wasn't really aware they were even putting it in!) and was comfortable and in no pain at all until about 24hrs later. Then I requested paracetamol and ibuprofen which they were supposed to give at regular intervals but this didn't happen! Dh eventually managed to speak to a senior midwife and then it worked out OK.

I was fine with just the above - the pain was only when getting up from lying down, and I was stiff when taking first several steps each time I got up for a few days. But was managable. But you need to ensure you set alarms for taking para/ibruprofen regularly to avoid breakthrough pain as its very hard to get on top of that if it creeps in.

I had a meeting with the head Anaesthetist to get a plan together for my second C-section. Your midwife or consultant should be able to request this. One thing was that I managed my own driver pain relief the second time as the 1st time I felt like the staff had kept me drugged up. I ended up using more 🤣
Anyway my point is-it was good to discuss all this prior as it helped me feel more in control having a plan.

🎯

I only had paracetamol and ibuprofen and I was fine. In fact, I had nothing for the first 24 hours because the hospital forgot to bring me any painkillers and I didn’t realise I could take some! It was only when I asked if they had anything that they realised they had forgotten me.

I had a painkiller via suppository during the surgery? But the paracetamol and ibuprofen were fine, although you need to not skip any doses even if you think you’ll be ok.

I had diclofenec and paracetamol, I think diclofenec is same family as ibruprofen but slightly stronger. I was fine with both DC on this and certainly took the full dosage for the first week and then reduced the dosage down as I felt comfortable.

I was only offered paracetamol or ibuprofen after mine!! C section in 2020

I didn't have anything other than paracetamol. I am also allergic to anti inflammatory, so I didn't have any of them. I have had 2 sections and it was grand.

No-one offered me bloody morphine!

I did get half a sheet of diclofenac, and told to go and buy some paracetamol.

TBH, after 2 days, the paracetamol was enough anyway.

The diclofenac was good though, as it lasted 12 hours so I didn't have to muck about remembering when I'd taken pills when I was already addled from newborn/labour.