Do bottlefeeding mums get afterpains?

[fqueenzebra]

Am very sorry if this is not a safe question to ask.... or if it's already been covered just refer me to the right thread...

Am genuinely curious. I breastfed all mine, the afterpains (when the womb is contracting down post-partum) were bad with baby2, and pretty grim with baby3. I'm told they get worse after each baby (so this is a good reason not to have more!!). And they were sharpest when I was actually breastfeeding (the oxytocin being produced, I believe). Only for the first week, though.

If you bottlefed from birth, and weren't otherwise on painkillers (eg., post C-section), did you get bad or even killer pains in the womb in the first week post-partum? On the other hand, does it take longer for the womb to go back to normal size if you bottlefeed from birth?

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i didn't have them with first baby, either, I think that's how it usually is.

I remember thinking with baby 2, "I got thru the birth fine without any painkillers, but could really use some pethidine now to deal with these afterpains!" The afterpains with baby3 were so bad I'm sure they were a factor in why I was transferred to hospital after the homebirth.

anyone else?

I had them with first baby, and he was bottlefed.

Never had them with dts and they were breast fed.

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Oh, God. Had forgotten about afterpains... Got them v badly with DS (the whole "you don't get them with your first baby" is a crock IME!). Pregnant again now...not looking forward to that bit!

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I had hideous after pains after having ds1 & he was bottle fed from birth.
A couple of days after coming out of hospital I was in such agony that I didn't know what to do with myself & the MW thought it was due to my stomach muscles contracting back very quickly.
With ds2 (also bottle fed) I had to ask for pain killers quite frequently while in hospital, as I was suffering quite bad with after pains again, but I don't think they got as intense as with ds1.

I breastfed both dds and didn't really get any afterpains...just lucky i guess..mind you the hospital did discharge me with some very strong painkillers this time (for something else) so maybe that's why...

i got afterpains with both dd and ds, both were/are being bottle fed. only took a few days after both for womb to go back to size too, but the afterpains were worse with youngest, he's only 13 weeks. maybe because his arrival was quite quick

Had them both times (two boys) but definately worse second time - was bfing both times. At least you can tell yourself it is a healthy pain to have and hopefully means you will get all that lochia stuff out of the way faster. Must say I wouldnt be looking fwd to them if I ever have number 3!