If you had a c section recently, what pain relief did they give you afterwards?

[HumphreyCobbler]

And did it work?

I have realised that they no longer give codeine due to the risk that a woman may metabolize the drug quickly and it could get into breastmilk, thus affecting the baby. Does this mean no morphine afterwards as well?

I am anxious about this as my last two sections I did have codeine and voltorol and I still suffered a considerable amount of pain. I have been in incredible amounts of pain this time with severe spd for which I have only taken the odd paracetemol and I don't want to cope with more than I need to afterwards. I am fed up with hurting

Hopefully the alternative is just as effective?

[pinkr]

Had one three Weeks ago...paracetamol four times a day, diclofenic morning and night and tramadol as well...in Scotland...can honesty say I didn't feel much pain. Was discharged with a considerable amount as well...I have about twenty tramadol left as I cut to paracetamol and ibuprofen once the staples were removed!

[TripleRock]

After my section in 2010 I was offered paracetamol and ibuprofen. As I can't take ibuprofen I was given codeine to take with the paracetamol.

As it happens, the codeine didn't agree with me at all (mild hallucinations) so I was switched to tramadol to take along side the paracetamol. All whilst ebf.

I still had a lot of pain though. Although again, mine was a fairly late stage emcs.

[Cannotbelieveit]

EMCS nearly 6 months ago and had oramorph at first and then parecetomol and ibuprofen after that.

I found because I kept on top of the pain relief in the first week that I never experienced pain just felt mildly sore and after that if I missed some by accident it just felt tender

[HumphreyCobbler]

Gosh, there is massive variation! Thanks again for all your helpful comments. I will have a proper think about my pre-op chat, and get DH on board in case I do my usual of minimising stuff when confronted by an HCP.

I do remember the morphine making me think that if they gave A levels in babies I would get an A* for DD . Luckily the other mothers were all asleep so I didn't share this thought with them although I wanted to

[ShowOfHands]

I did NOT like diamorph. I have never been so itchy. I wanted to rip off my face to get rid of the itch. It also caused massive bp issues. I wouldn't consent to it again but have friends who loved it.

[weebarra]

The diamorph was not my friend, the dihydrocodeine on the other hand...

[PoppyAmex]

Weebarra I think the Scots go big guns on pain management.

I also got diamorphine during section, which was heaven.

[elliejjtiny]

I had an elcs in June with DS4. I had oramorph, paracetamol, codeine and ibuprofen. I was shuffling up and down the corridors all day to and from NICU which made it more painful though.

[gloti]

I had a c section 7 weeks ago and they gave me ibuprofen and paracetamol to alternate every 6 hours...

it was an emergency one after many hours of labour and making it to 9cms! but I only took these for about a week and they seemed to do the trick xxx

[weebarra]

Had 3rd section 4 weeks ago - pain relief was tramadol, paracetamol and ibuprofen. Maybe tramadol is a scottish thing?

[rallytog1]

Day 1 - morphine
Days 2-6 - tramadol
After that - paracetamol and diclofenac, neither of which even touched the sides. I didn't have codeine while trying to bf but when that failed at 3 weeks I had plenty. Still need it every so often and the emcs was 21 weeks ago.

[fairypangolin]

I had an EMCS five yrs ago that was late stage and DS was so stuck it took three doctors to pull him out with one pushing "from the other side". I must have been very bruised internally because I definitely needed cocodamol for at least a week if not two afterwards. I normally have a very high pain threshold. I'm having no 2 in the next few weeks and if anything similar happens I would insist on the same pain meds. I seem to recall that the midwives on the ward were a bit reluctant to give anything other than paracetamol (although i was prescribed stronger by the consultant) but my GP quite sensibly said you can't heal if you are in pain and prescribed cocodamol.

So I think if you are clear about it they shouldn't refuse you. DS seemed totally unbothered by any meds in my milk, he was very alert from birth.

[RubyrooUK]

I had DS2 in March 2013.

They gave me oramorph as standard during the section. I'm pretty good with pain but the mix of paracetamol and diclofenac after that didn't really touch the sides after day two. I was in screaming pain. I was readmitted to hospital after a few days in extreme pain. The doctors gave me codeine and said they were more worried by my extreme pain than any breastfeeding/codeine issues. I took codeine for another few days until the pain was manageable and then stopped totally as it spaced me out and constipated me painfully. I kept breastfeeding throughout - no noticeable problems or effect on the baby at all.

The doctors in A&E and Labour Ward said that since they no longer give codeine as standard there, the amount of women returning to hospital after sections in extreme pain was much, much higher.

Hope all goes well. The doctors all seemed shocked I hadn't sent DH out for co-codamol rather than sticking to paracetamol. They all said I should have gone to the doctor or rung labour ward long before my pain got so bad I was screaming.

[Gingerandlemon]

I had an emcs 2.5 weeks ago following about 12 hours of established labour and having got to 6-7 cm dilated. I've had a horrid recovery with two infections and a big abscess which all caused lots of pain. I'm still taking paracetamol and diclofenic and was taking codeine until yesterday and oramorph whenever they'd let me during my day and a half in hospital. I've been exclusively breastfeeding and noone ever mentioned any problems with that!

I hope you get some help with your pain and get your mind put to rest.

[HumphreyCobbler]

Thanks for your input everyone - and congratulations to all who have had babies recently.

I am in a lot of pain now and there is nothing I can do about it....possibly why I am stressing about this so much.

[Goatshavestrangeeyes]

With ds in 2010 I was given codeine regularly as well as paracetamol and ibuprofen.

With dd2 last year I had one lot of oramorph and then paracetamol and ibuprofen only. I needed the oramorph as after breast feeding I let dd sleep on my chest and tummy. Big mistake.

[PoppyAmex]

I had a csection in Scotland 17 months ago and had tramadol, which worked really well for me.

Having another c-section in a few weeks and didn't know about this recommendation. Thanks OP

[ShowOfHands]

Late stage sections are MUCH more traumatic. I know dd was wedged so hard and fast that during the cs, they pulled me down the table trying to get her back up and out. The surgeon was swearing and sweating. Poor DD had quite bad muscle damage and a very sore, bleeding and swollen head. I genuinely think I wasn't in much pain afterwards as I was still numb. I had to self inject blood thinners afterwards for 7 days and I genuinely couldn't feel the needle at all. I think the combination of drugs during the cs, the spinal and the shock of it all left my mid-section totally numb for a while.

Sounds like you had an awful recovery Humphrey and I think I understand completely why you're nervous. But pain relief which is adequate and safe should be a given. You deserve to feel confident at least in this aspect of it.

You say you're in pain now too? That can't be helping.

[happyfrogger]

CS yesterday. Regular paracetamol and ibroprofen. When it was bad in the night (late on drugs rounds) they did offer morphine with no comment on risks / breastfeeding.

Good luck!

[HumphreyCobbler]

gosh, you didn't half go through it with your first SOH. Mine was so late staqe they thought they had sewn my cervix into the wound, everything was paper thin. My surgeon friend says this is known as sewing a fart to a moonbeam I had a drain in for days.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I will hope for the best SOH. And prepare for the worst.

I thought it must be recent Puddleduck. It has taken a long time to catch up, I remember reading about the issue before I had DD who is now four!

[PreciousPuddleduck]

The codeine advice is very recent OP so many in here will have had co-codamol after delivery

[ShowOfHands]

Both of mine were emcs. First time round in particular it was v traumatic and followed an 8hr second stage, episiotomy, manual rotation, ventouse attempt and final emcs. Second time round was less traumatic but labour was still 38hrs all in. The fact that I didn't need any pain relief afterwards is sheer luck. My friend had an elective cs at the same time roughly and needed painkillers for about 12 days. Total luck but there is hope and there are no certainties about how you'll feel but you should feel reassured by the staff that you won't be left in unnecessary pain.

I do know that when prepping for the attempted vbac, the team asked all about pain relief afterwards and my choices for after a cs should another one be needed. I do think you'd feel much happier if you could have this chat with the hospital sooner rather than later. I know somebody who can't take various things who had a cs recently and used oramorph. There are definitely options.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I will, thanks FlamingGallah. I have an appointment the day before. I know I am not a rapid metaboliser of codeine, like you it didn't affect my other children.