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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Painkillers after birth, necessary?

61 replies

witchy89 · 11/02/2019 16:49

Hi guys, I am due at the end of February and have seen a few people mention stocking up on painkillers for afterwards. Assuming I don't tear or have any other 'damage' down there how likely is it that I will need painkillers? I don't really like taking drugs and I have never responded to Paracetamol, I usually have to take ibuprofen or codeine. I will hopefully be breastfeeding and would like to avoid having to take anything if possible. I obviously have NO idea what to expect. For perspective, I normally get HORRIFIC period pains and will normally have to take ibuprofen for at least the first day when I come on if I want to function normally!

OP posts:
Arkos · 11/02/2019 17:24

I have a low pain threshold but I gave birth issuing just a tens machine at the start. Afterwards i had a tear but I never took anything and I never found it painful

CountessVonBoobs · 11/02/2019 17:28

It depends. Sorry.

The meds won't affect breastfeeding - there's no need to steer away from them for that reason. And I hate to tell you, but the chances of you having some degree of tearing or even an EMCS with your first birth are fairly high.

Afterpains from the uterus contracting are usually not too bad with your first birth and get progressively worse with each birth but it depends on the woman. I actually didn't take pain meds of any kind after my first birth (uncomplicated vaginal) but after my second (ditto) you better believe I was taking the ibuprofen and paracetamol for the afterpains.

Susannach · 11/02/2019 17:30

The worst pain I had after both of my children was the constipation! (TMI, sorry Blush)

I tore with my first but I really didn’t find it all that painful once the stitches were in. A bit tender for a week or two but nothing needing painkillers.

However, I imagine it’s very individual.

swashbucklecheer · 11/02/2019 17:31

Maybe have some just in case. My ds2 arrived with only gas and air and was home few hrs later. I did need paracetamol for aching pain nothing too serious thou, bit like a cold/flu ache. I was breast feeding too and the uterus contracts much faster so can be a bit of discomfort.
Also with d's 1 I got mastitis and needed paracetamol to control temp and make me function till antibiotic kicked in.

Sexnotgender · 11/02/2019 17:33

I’m 9 days post partum and have maybe taken 6 ibuprofen and a couple of paracetamol since giving birth.

I had a second degree tear and it hasn’t given me any bother.

DonPablo · 11/02/2019 17:33

I Don't remember much pain after my first birth. I remember the intense stinging when peeing. And the feeling of flu like ness for a day when my milk came in and I remember my boons were like hot giant rocks and I leant against something a cried with the pain.

But other pain? No. Mild cramping at most.

After my second, no stinging and no milk coming in pain, but pretty bad cramps for a week.

Does that help? I guess it'll depend on a load of different things.

SweetheartNeckline · 11/02/2019 17:33

I have never needed pain relief after birth, but I've had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries and no tears / instruments used. The afterpains are worse during breastfeeding but personally I found them tolerable; pain is so subjective!

If you do need medication it's worth checking out the Breastfeeding Network Drugs for Breastfeeding website; the wonderful Dr Wendy Jones has dedicated 30 years of her career to debunking myths around what's "unsafe" for breastfeeding mums to take.

Good luck with it all Flowers

GummyGoddess · 11/02/2019 17:34

Dc1 no stitches or anything but he was back to back and pushed my coccyx out of place. That was very painful.

Get pain relief in just in case, nobody can tell how you'll feel afterwards.

SoyDora · 11/02/2019 17:35

I only needed painkillers after my first and that was because I’d damaged my coccyx in labour. Didn’t need any after the other 2.

boomboom1234 · 11/02/2019 17:37

I don't think you need to 'stock up' you can just send someone out to get some for you if you need them but maybe have a pack of each in the cupboard in case.

No one can tell you if you will need them as the only thing predictable about child birth is that it's unpredictable. Some tear some don't. Some have section some don't. Etc etc.

OhHolyFcuk · 11/02/2019 17:39

I had really bad 'after pains' with ds2 (actually felt like they'd left a baby in there by mistake and I was going into labour again!) so took some then but like pp have said, it's so subjective

Spudlet · 11/02/2019 17:41

Giant DS tore his way out through my perinium like an angry cat in a bag... I was dosed up to the max on paracetamol and ibuprofen for about a week. Kept having to send DH out for more!

Obviously I very much hope this does not happen to you, and to reassure you everything healed up just fine, but I'd have a pack of painkillers in the house. You do not want to be a sad sore lady at 3am if they discharge you at 1am the day you give birth like they did me.

I breastfed exclusively for 6 months and carried on after weaning as well, and DS is now a hale and hearty toddler so it clearly didn't do him much harm. But even with painkillers I was in a mess, without them I'd have been awful.

However I very much hope you have a better time than me! And it does all heal! Flowers

InDubiousBattle · 11/02/2019 17:45

I wouldn't bother stocking up as such just have some in (every corner shop sells them after all). I did stock up and I'm still getting through the dam things 3 years later! This is despite me taking the full dose allowed of paracetamol and ibuprofen for days after my births. With ds although I tor the stitches didn't give me too much pain, but breastfeeding feeding my tongue tied baby boy was agony so I just took everything I could. With dd I had really bad after pains so had loads if pain killers for them.

NameChange30 · 11/02/2019 17:46

"Assuming I don't tear or have any other 'damage' down there"

Sorry but don't assume! I hope all goes smoothly but there is a chance you will have a tear, episiotomy, instrumental delivery or c-section. You might as well get some painkillers just in case.

Codeine is not recommended when breastfeeding. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are fine. If you need stronger pain relief, check out the drugs in breastfeeding fact sheets as recommended by a PP.

AmazingGrace16 · 11/02/2019 17:48

I'd recommend perineal massage, it's meant to help with tearing.

Bigonesmallone3 · 11/02/2019 17:57

With my first baby I was on them every 4 hours without fail, I didn't tear but had some grazing and I was in a lot of pain and couldn't sit properly..

Second baby again only grazing but needed painkillers for the stomach pains when breast feeding..

Pregnant with third now and will be making sure I have some in the cupboard

AngelaStorm73 · 11/02/2019 17:57

You can't take codeine while breastfeeding. It's because some people hypermetabolise it into morphine which could harm the baby. There's no way of knowing if your one of the people who hypermetabolise it or not.
Ibuprofen/paracetamol, anything else would need prescribing.

Marlena1 · 11/02/2019 18:09

I think if you get horrific periods you should be well able for labour. I always suffered badly with them and thought labour was actually easier as it's short bouts of pain. I got a cut but think I just took some paracetamol. You only hear the bad stories so try and think positive!

Mrscog · 11/02/2019 18:12

With DC1 (ventose and 2nd degree tear) I took 6 hourly paracetamol and ibuprofen for a week - I was in agony, throbbing can't sit on your arse agony.

DC2 - just 2nd degree tear after a very natural delivery (left it too late to get to hospital so only got about 4 puffs of G&A) and took both sporadically for the first 2-3 days but healed/recovered much more quickly.

Original poster
witchy89 · 11/02/2019 18:52

@DonPablo yes that's helpful, thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
witchy89 · 11/02/2019 18:53

@SweetheartNeckline oh great thank you, I'll check that out!

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Original poster
witchy89 · 11/02/2019 18:54

@Spudlet oh god! You poor thing, this is what I am expecting will happen to me 😂 so fingers crossed it doesn't!!

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Original poster
witchy89 · 11/02/2019 18:56

@NameChange30 I don't mean that I'm assuming it won't happen, I mean that if I do manage to have a normal vaginal birth with no problems will I have uterus pain etc. I would definitely expect to take painkillers if I have A caesarean, episiotomy, tearing etc...!

OP posts:
Original poster
witchy89 · 11/02/2019 18:58

@AmazingGrace16 God, I tried this the other day and couldn't reach anything 😂 I can't barely wipe my own bum so why I thought I'd manage to get close enough to massage it I have no idea! Any tips?

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Sunshine1235 · 11/02/2019 18:58

With my first I was dosed up on painkillers for about a week, with my second for about 2 days I think. The hospital brought them round to me though and then I had my own at home. I’d definitely make sure you have a packet of something as there are various different pains and aches (can also help with sore boobs with bfing) that can happen

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