pain relief after birth

[Kveta]

I had DD on Tuesday evening by a rotational forceps delivery, which was pretty brutal. Noises were made.about pain killers, but on the post natal ward I was.only given paracetamol and diclofenac which.were ok until the suppositories put in by the surgeons in theatre wore off.

Hospital insisted on discharging me against my will yesterday but refused to prescribe any pain killers. Paracetamol is not touching it, so have howled at my GP and DH is.off to.pick up some.co-codamol for ke shortly.

Just wondered if this treatment of pain relief is normal, as I am very upset with the attitude of.staff on the post natal ward tbh and am wondering if I am just super hormonal and overreacting!

Thanks.

Hi Kveta, many congratulations on the arrival of your little one! Sorry to hear you are in such pain and discomfort. The co-codamol should kick in - take regularly - and you might also want to take arnica as well to help with the bruising (people are divided as to whether this works or not but my midwife recommended it to me after the birth of DD).

I think the treatment of pain relief after birth is pretty much as you describe it and being hormonal after the birth does not help! Be gentle with yourself, get as much rest as you can and enjoy every moment with you DD!

Hi,

I'd second the Arnica - it isn't a pain reliever, but it can help to bring out the bruising and can reduce the length of time that youare uncomfortable for. Just make sure that, if you choose to buy any, it has Arnica as an active ingredient.

And co-codamol got me to the pushng stage in labour - it's good stuff!!

Congratulations

I had diclophenac (sp!) and co-codamol after a forceps delivery and was given diclophenac to go home with. Hope you feel better soon and congratulations.

Bit of a warning on co-codamol - it is very good, but it does cause constipation, so if you have a tear/stitches then take a stool softener too or it might cause you more pain down the line (bitter experience talking... My God, the things I share on Mumsnet )

I took co-codamol and ibuprofen staggered doses so that as one was wearing off the other one was kicking in. Eg, two co-codamol at 2pm, then two ibuprofen at 5pm, then following packet instructions for when next dose is due. Make sure you write down what time you take each and when the next one is due, as otherwise it's easy to lose track what with sleepless nights and feeding etc.!

Firstly congratulations on the safe arrival of your DD. I had a forceps delivery with episiotomy & 4th degree tear and only had paracetamol & ibuprofen. If taken regularly at 4 hour intervals (I think it's that, double check what pack says) rather than waiting for pain to return then it can work.

Your treatment does sound rather awful, to be sent home without proper pain relief should not happen. Definitely agree with taking arnica - it helps with the bruising.

Also definitely agree with having it written down what time you are supposed to take what pill (especially if you have antibiotics and if they should be taken with food etc). It is just one less thing to think about.

thanks, am taking the co-codamol now, and it is helping. was just shocked at treatment by hospital! the midwife discharging me told me to pick up diclofenac or whatever it's called over the counter - which apparently isn't possible as it's prescription only. sigh.

just hoping the after pains combined with episiotomy will calm down over the next few days!!

thanks again :)

Congratulations on your baby.

I had a similar (by the sounds of it) delivery a year ago. I was prescribed paracetemol, ibuprofen AND co-codamol on the ward and after discharge. I took this to be routine. And needed all of it. I was in for a week after delivery (DD was injured) and got given a week's supply as I left.

My episiotomy scar became infected after a few days after delivery watch out for that.

Congratulations.

Your delivery sounds very similar to mine. I had Dicolfenic from the hospital, and took it with Paracetamol as well. Obviously double check about this, but I'm sure that's what I was taking.
I had Arnica too, I healed well. Not sure if it helped but it' not going to do any harm. For the constipation, I was taking Lactoluse (the vile drinks) - they did help though.
Second what people have said about writing it all down, you have enough to deal with at the moment! I had so many pills I'm amazed I didn't rattle. Perhaps nominate your DP to be in charge of all your medication?

Sorry you feel disheartened by your hospital treatment. It doesn't sound good.
Pretty tough going but hope you'll be feeling better soon.

I had same sort of labour and the bruising was dark purple right down my thighs, arnica is great and also lavender oil in a bath and i also poured this mixed after i had a wee to help with healing it really did work wonders.
Get some lactulose from chemist as co-codamol will give constipation. If I remember correctly you can alternate ibuprofen too (check with chemist in case im wrong)
Hoping you feel better soon.

Hi Kveta

Just popping in with my nurse hat on to say definitely take pain killers on a schedule for now, rather than when the pain returns. You can double up ibrupofen with paracetamol OR cocodamol but (sorry for stating obvious) cocodamol contains paracetamol so don't take those together.

Also second the lactulose as cocodamol will def have constipating effect. Ibuprofen is anti-inflammatory so should help swelling too.

Poor you, can't believe hospital didn't give you a 'take out' prescription! Keep on at your GP if you still feel like your pain isn't being controlled.

Hi Kveta.

Please give feedback on your discharge via pals, patient service, it only takes a minuet and you can even be annoymous if you dont want feedback etc or to deal with it futher.

Its worth registering the problem though so they can improve it and also ask them to let the nurse know that you cant get that drug over the counter.

I find them giving you a drug that causes constipation odd when you have probs down below.

You can ask for other things, I dont know if tramdol affects breast feeding, but it sorted me out instantly.

thanks :)

am on the ibuprofen/co-codamol schedule for now, and have taken stool softener this morning, so hoping I 'go' soon. will be contacting PALS next week I think, as can't cope with it today.

glad I am not just being pathetic though :)