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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[weebarra]

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

[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

[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.

[PoppyAmex]

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

I also got diamorphine during section, which was heaven.

[weebarra]

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

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[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!