Afterpains?

[bittapitta]

Top tip for dealing with after birth cramps please? Feels worse than period pain - almost as bad as early labour! - and worse when I breastfeed and hold baby across me

Paracetamol, if you're happy to take it. Lying on your side to feed, hot water bottle (not too hot!) on your back? It will pass though. Congratulations

If it gets unbearable or sharp, or something doesn't feel right- call the midwife/labour ward.

They're a bastard. Get worse with each bairn too.

Congratulations on the baby though!

Here in the US as soon as you deliver they start with alternating moltrin and Percocet. Molttrin is 600mg of ibuprofen. I took 200mg and it was enough to knock the pain down to something manageable.

Are you drinking enough water etc - I find dehydration makes period pain much worse.
As others have said hot water bottle (generally being very warm helps me), pain killers and trying to relax and breath through it.

Congratulations on your baby

Thank you paracetamol seems to do nothing but I forgot about ibuprofen, will try that too. Also need to keep fluids up, thanks for reminder.

If you are able to get them Voltarol (diclofenac) are brilliant. Where I have birth (not UK) they gave them out as suppositories. First birth I had no pains and laughed at the idea of using them. Second one they were invaluable. I had no idea just how sore afterpains could be during feeding, it does only last a couple of days thankfully. If you can't get those ibuprofen is definitely best bet. Cocodamol is ok but no longer recommended with breastfeeding (and constipation is last think you need post-birth). Hope it passes soon.

Congratulations, my DS was born on Sunday so day 5 today and after pains were a bastard for first 2/3 days but not noticing them now, I just used a hot water bottle, grtted teeth and breathed through them...chanting "Ow yer bastard" under my breath seemed to help too

Hoe many days postpartum are you? If more than a week I'd speak to your GP.

No advice really on pain relief, ibuprofen, paracetamol, TENS??

I've been alternating between ibuprofen and cocodamol every 2 hours so not noticed them till yesterday as I didn't take many painkillers as I've been feeling better. So just drug yourself up!
They say they get worse with each baby but I don't think they are anywhere near as bad with dc4 as they were with dc3 but dc3 was breastfed whereas this time I'm bottle feeding from birth. I'm sure breastfeeding makes them worse.