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Childbirth

What pain relief were you given post birth?

85 replies

allisgood1 · 10/03/2014 19:08

Just wondering what pain relief (if any) you were given AFTER the birth. I've been told by my midwife that women are given only paracetamol and nurofen now. Two years ago when I had my second I was given co-dydramol and dicofenlac. I had an episiotomy and required (including midwife and doctor orders to take religiously) for about 2-3 weeks. This is apparently because "it can make the baby sleepy". I am obviously now really worried about recovery now (midwife said I should purchase over the counter). Is this true?

OP posts:

Report

ch1134 · 11/03/2014 19:05

I was given nothing but was in a lot of pain with episiotomy and midwife prescribed something stronger on a home visit a few days later.

PookBob · 11/03/2014 19:15

2010, natural birth with 4th degree tear, voltarol for a fortnight alongside lactulose and paracetamol, I didn't once feel any pain after giving birth. I consider voltarol some kind of miracle drug given how many stitches I needed.

2011, planned section, voltarol suppository then regular voltarol and paracetamol for a week, I was uncomfortable about 24 hrs post section as the suppository wore off and I was given codeine. Never again, as I spent the next 4 hours staring vacantly out the window.

Voltarol all the way, it's amazing :)

Tea1Sugar · 11/03/2014 19:36

3a tear in 2010 - paracetamol and diclofenac plus preventative antibiotics.
Elcs booked for 5 weeks time, bring on the hard stuff!

MrsCDNinUK · 11/03/2014 22:02

Complicated 3rd elcs last week (lasted over 90 minutes, significant adhesions causing complications with other organs, difficult baby delivery by forceps). I was told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen after 24 hours (had morphine for the first 24 hours). This was despite being told it was quite complicated and my recovery would be longer and more painful. Luckily I had some meds at home I had been prescribed after previous c-sections as I was in a lot of pain during the first 24 hours at home. I'm allergic to codeine so anything codeine-based wasn't an option.

In my opinion, if there are safe drugs that can be prescribed for pain relief while BF, I don't understand why they can't be used. Everything is a lot better and easier when pain is minimized. Before I decided to take my previous prescription I was reduced to tears I was so uncomfortable and in pain, making parenting a newborn and two toddlers much more of a challenge and felt so much better with my pain managed.

PenguinsEatSpinach · 11/03/2014 22:06

I had episiotomy first time and second degree tear second. Never even given paracetamol. Obviously had local for the stitches though.

MummyPig24 · 12/03/2014 00:38

I had a baby on Sunday and I had diclofenac twice and paracetamol for after pains.

ZingSweetMango · 12/03/2014 02:26

congrats on all new babies!

I was prescribed CoCodamol after DS4, DS5 and DD- mainly to survive afterpains that got progressively more unbearable after each child (for me anyway).
had whatever suppository is given after a C-section. (DS4 was ELSC)

ZingSweetMango · 12/03/2014 02:28

Actually I think I had Diclofenac with some of them.
I can't remember if it's stronger than CoCodamol or not so obviously started off with the stronger one.

allisgood1 · 12/03/2014 19:28

It actually makes me angry that once again women who are giving birth are made to suffer while anyone else in a significant amount of pain is given pain relief. There are suitable forms of pain relief that are safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding and yet health care professionals choose to deny women this option when they ask for it. It's inhumane.

OP posts:

Standinginline · 12/03/2014 19:41

Yes ,I remember phoning up saying I was in labour and was told to take a paracetamol. Me being naive took one thinking it would obviously help if it was recommended. It did fuck all !!

Pregnantagain7 · 12/03/2014 19:43

Ponstan (sp) for after pains was bloody brilliant! I am going to see if the gp will give me a prescription for it in advance as the midwife on post natal ward said she was only allowed to give me one!

Cariad007 · 13/03/2014 22:09

Standinginline, my contractions were 4 minutes apart and when DP rang maternity triage (I was in too much pain to talk) they said to take a couple of paracetamol and have a hot bath. I didn't have the energy for a bath and the paracetamol did sweet FA. After another hour I couldn't take it any more so went to hospital and was examined by a midwife who was extremely surprised that she could already feel the baby's head and said she couldn't believe I'd stayed at home that long! DS was then born within the hour.

Lj8893 · 13/03/2014 23:12

Yes cariad similar thing happened to me.

Contractions started about 1pm, I went into hospital at 3.30pm with contractions about 3 minutes apart but because I was only 2cm dilated they would only give me paracetamol which I threw up. I was screaming for some pain relief, and it wasent until I demanded them to examine me to see if I was ready for an epidural (which I had always said I didn't want) that they realised I was in fact 10cm and ready to push. Dd was born at 5.35pm.

LegoCaltrops · 13/03/2014 23:18

Paracetamol, diclofenac & tramadol. Epidural hadn't worked particularly well & I had a large episiotomy, large baby, forceps birth, I'm quite small. I bfed DD & she wasn't abnormally sleepy (apparently).

ThatBloodyWoman · 13/03/2014 23:19

Morphine.
Bloody marvellous stuff.

LegoCaltrops · 13/03/2014 23:20

That was nearly 2 years ago, btw.

HaroldLloyd · 13/03/2014 23:22

I only got the good stuff when my episiotomy site ruptured before that paracetamol and difolfenec.

2nd birth only got paracetamol but honestly didn't need anything else despite stitches. I was tempted to take something else in just in case after the first time.

HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 13/03/2014 23:23

After my first I had diclofenac suppositories for the repair work on my perineum, which were brilliant.

After all my births they were pushing co-codamol on me, but I didn't need it.

HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 13/03/2014 23:27

After my first I had diclofenac suppositories for the repair work on my perineum, which were brilliant.

After all my births they were pushing co-codamol on me, but I didn't need it.

Wuxiapian · 14/03/2014 12:51

LSCS.

Morphine, Ibuprofen and paracetamol.

CountDooku · 14/03/2014 13:05

DS1 - EMCS and I was given a top of my epidural for the actual OP, then a suppository followed by paracetamol and ibuprofen. And one dose of oromorph which was the day after the C- section. Nothing else was offered and I was just glad to get out of there as it was quite painful and the care in general wasn't great. Even getting paracetamol for a headache the day before I was induced took 8 hours and many requests as the key for the cabinet had been taken off ward.

DS2 - ELCS with a spinal for the op and a Voltarol suppository which was great for a few hours. Then I had paracetamol and ibuprofen to tide me over. Codeine makes me violently ill, and that was what they usually gave, so seemed stumped as to what to give me. The morning after the OP I woke up in agony and they gave me, in their words, a reduced dose of oromorph as it might make me drowsy and it was morning, and they were a bit busy so wouldn't be able to help out with my baby if I felt woozy. I went home the next day as they said I wouldn't be getting anything other than paracetamol and I may as well be at home resting than on a noisy ward. Again, even getting paracetamol and ibuprofen was a nightmare as it was in a locked cabinet so I had to ring the bell, and it took a bloody age for anyone to come.

HappyGoLuckyGirl · 14/03/2014 13:06

I had an EMCS so was given codiene, paracetamol and oramorph for the two days on pn ward.

At home I took paracetamol and ibuprofen for about 1-2 weeks.

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NovemberAli · 14/03/2014 13:06

3rd degree tear with DD and DS (bad luck there!) spinal blocks for repair (suppository post theatre) and diclofenac/ paracetamol for 4weeks after. Was offered oramorph if needed but fortunately could manage on the tabs.

onedogatoddlerandababy · 14/03/2014 13:11

DD1 episiotomy & forceps, had paracetamol and diclofenac.

DD2 normal vb 2nd degree tear & stitches. No pain relief, but didn't need anything.

jennyl131 · 14/03/2014 13:23

obviously had local for the stitches though

wasn't offered any, for stitches to episiotomy and tear after forceps delivery, despite epidural having been deliberately allowed to wear off so I could feel when to push. Each stitch was awful, but dd had been whisked off by the paeds team, so it never occurred to me to ask. Only 11 years ago. (Dd is fine!)

Offered painkillers on the ward, but not sure what they were!

ds1&2 I didn't stay in the ward long enough to be offered drugs of any sort. Used paracetamol and ibuprofen at home.

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