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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Afterpains!

13 replies

staciface · 29/12/2013 12:45

I'm 34+3 weeks pregnant with my third child, and I am terrified of afterpains, I had none after my first, but with my second, it was horrendous, like labour for another week, especially worse when breast-feeding, it was agony and paracetamol didn't help but wasn't allowed ibuprofen due to breast feeding. I plan to breast feed again, so I'm looking for effective ways to relieve the after pains, everything I've read says they get worse with each baby, is this true? I'm terrified!

OP posts:

selfdestructivelady · 29/12/2013 13:03

I like you had terrible ones after my second but after my third they weren't as bad.

RandomMess · 29/12/2013 13:05

2nd was my worst as well, I did however get given voltoral on prescription for next two times because I didn't feel that I could cope with them again!

Original poster

staciface · 29/12/2013 15:27

I've got my fingers crossed for it being better this time then! It was one of the main reasons why I stopped breastfeeding, my son was 4 days old and I had been up all night feeding him, which wasn't so bad, but it was the afterpains it caused that had me in agony, my OH woke up to me sobbing in pain so he went put and bought some formula that day, and I had a womb infection and was too weak to argue.

OP posts:

DIYandEatCake · 29/12/2013 19:46

My midwife told me that ibuprofen's fine when breast feeding (and I was given it in hospital after my elcs with dd, who I breastfed) - might be worth double checking this? I can understand your fear, I had horrible after pains second time round.

LooeyLou · 29/12/2013 20:58

I too was given ibuprofen and prescribed it after having ds to help with the pain from stitches, must be ok to take!

LooeyLou · 29/12/2013 20:58

Meant to say I am also Breastfeeding!

Original poster

staciface · 29/12/2013 21:26

Thanks ladies, I will make sure to ask my midwife, last time I asked one she said no, but she was a bit of a nightmare and everything I did was wrong apparently, so will definitely be double checking, thank you.

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iwasyoungonce · 29/12/2013 21:32

I had none of this with my first, in fact I'd never heard of them. But bloody hell, with my second DC the afterpains were excruciating when bf! I have also heard that it's not always as bad with DC number 3. So fingers crossed for you!

BatterseaGirl · 29/12/2013 21:36

I'm afraid to say that mine got worse with each one - and I've got four. It was absolute agony with the fourth - like having full blown contractions. I asked for as much pain relief that the midwife could give me (I had a home birth). It probably lasted a few days. Sorry that's probably not much help! Ask for drugs!

MissLurkalot · 29/12/2013 21:53

I've had 4 kids... and had awful after pains with 2,3 and 4. And they were all about the same degree of pain.
I was wrongly told that I could not take Ibuprofen with no2, and I suffered in silence.
I found out with no3 that you CAN have Ibuprofen whilst breast feeding.. It's Codeine they don't like to give you, as it interferes with milk production.
With no3 and 4 I asked for pain relief immediately after giving birth.. they gave me a Voltorol (longer lasting Ibuprofen) as a suppository in my back bottom. I didn't feel them 'pop' it up. That took a while to work, so took Paracetamol too and had a hot bath.
The afterpains were awful, so awful I had to hand the babies to my husband. But I knew that they were coming and got some painrelief super fast.

I never feared the afterpains, I feared the labour pain more.

RandomMess · 29/12/2013 22:00

I do remember screaming/crying with the afterpains when feeding with Number 2 (she was 10lb 6oz and the rubbish midwife made me wait 4 hours to have a pee post birth which I think made it worse) with 3 & 4 it wasn't as bad but quite possibly that was because I took the voltorol and paracetamol religiously for a few weeks!

Original poster

staciface · 29/12/2013 23:03

I am definitely stocking up on painkillers before birth this time! I don't fear labour as I know it'll end in a beautiful baby, I fear afterpains because it makes feeding said beautiful baby more painful!
How long did they last for you ladies? I can't quite remember.

OP posts:

elliejjtiny · 01/01/2014 13:13

I've got 4 DC. With DS3 I took paracetamol and ibuprofen and it was ok. With DS4 I had a C-section so I was already on paracetamol, ibuprofen and prescription strength codeine. I was still in a lot of pain from the afterpains so I had morphine as well which helped a lot. They lasted about 2 days I think. Definitely gone by day 3 when I was discharged. Expecting DC5 this summer and planning to take as many painkillers as possible.

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