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Childbirth

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

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!

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Sunshine1235 · 11/02/2019 18:59

Forgot to mention one of the reasons I took painkillers so much after my first is that my muscles were so sore after a long delivery so it’s not just about tearing etc

December2018 · 11/02/2019 19:01

I think I had a few paracetamol in the days after but that was mainly to get my temperature down, a cold compress downstairs helped me, a bit of tea tree oil or witchhazel on a wet flannel and put it in the fridge in a little sealed bag it was a godsend...just hold it on your bits lol also have you ever heard of sprits for bits... also brilliant if you put it in the fridge when having stinging wees or that first poo (sorry tmi)

Rainycloudyday · 11/02/2019 19:06

I didn't need anything after my first birth despite having an episiotomy. I had some minor tearing after DC2 and a few stitches but didn't need any painkillers for that. HOWEVER, I had horrific afterpains fora few days the second time so was on painkillers for those. Just awful and I didn't know to expect them. Unlikely to be a major issue for your first birth though!

Rtmhwales · 11/02/2019 19:08

I had a tear and stitches but didn't need any pain relief. Just a bit ginger sitting down. I'd have some on hand in case you need them since you wouldn't want to be off to the shops in pain, but you may be perfectly fine.

witchy89 · 11/02/2019 19:11

@Marlena1 oh that's given me hope 😂 I have actually heard others say that too so fingers crossed!

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Drogosnextwife · 11/02/2019 19:12

After my first it wasn't too bad. Had mild contraction like pains with everything going back into place. With my second it was awful and needed pain killers for a while, it was like labour all over again! Had an epidural with my first bit not with my second bit I have no idea if that make a difference to the after pains.

Happilyacceptingcookies · 11/02/2019 19:12

Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen, even if you don't think you'll need it. Speaking as a doctor, and been through two labours with only paracetamol. Afterpains can be really painful during feeds, at the same time as trying to position your baby on your abdomen! Constipation is also not great. Tears can sting for a while. I had muscular back pain, neck pain and leg pain from pushing.

So yes, it hurts!

witchy89 · 11/02/2019 19:13

@Sunshine1235 ah yes I hadn't thought about breastfeeding pain!

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witchy89 · 11/02/2019 19:13

@Sunshine1235 yes I have heard that from a friend, she said most of her pain was just from pushing so hard!

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witchy89 · 11/02/2019 19:14

@December2018 yes dreading the first poo 😂 I need to get some witch hazel actually so I will add that to my list! Thank you!

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witchy89 · 11/02/2019 19:16

@Rtmhwales oh that's good to hear! I would assume that any tear down there would be excruciating but I suppose everything feels a bit weird anyway so you might not be too bothered by it?

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Summerfalls · 11/02/2019 19:18

I took painkillers every 4 hours for about 7 days however I had 3rd degree tearing not sure I’d have needed them without these, I didn’t stockpile before hand I was given them in hospital prescribed them when leaving along with antibiotics. I guess no one can predict if you will or won’t need them, every ones birthing and after birthing Experience is different.

witchy89 · 11/02/2019 19:18

Thanks ladies, lots of great advice and lots of different experiences. I will definitely make sure I have some in anyway. But good to know that I might not have to rely on them!

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mildshock · 11/02/2019 19:34

After both of my DC, it was the post-birth contractions that were the most painful for me. They were so much worse than the actual labour contractions.

You really can't tell if you'll be in pain or not, so it's worth having a couple of boxes of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and/or cocodomol. If they don't get used it won't really be an issue.

AugustRose · 11/02/2019 19:35

With DC2 I didn't have any pain relief during labour but nobody had told me the afterpains would be worse 2nd time round Shock so I took some pain killers for the first 24 hours as they were way worse than the labour.

Bananarama12 · 11/02/2019 19:36

I had the worst after birth pains, felt like I was in labour again.

NameChange30 · 11/02/2019 19:38

NOT cocodamol
It contains codeine which is not suitable when breastfeeding

NameChange30 · 11/02/2019 19:40

If absolutely necessary, dihydrocodeine is preferable to codeine, but it's still better to avoid both.

I won't go into the reasons but I had to do my research! The drugs in breastfeeding fact sheets were a lifesaver.

mildshock · 11/02/2019 19:40

Ah whoops, sorry @NameChange30 didn't see OP planned on breastfeeding. That'll teach me to skim read.

sycamore54321 · 11/02/2019 19:59

You sound a bit like me, rarely taking painkillers unless you absolutely need to. However if you’re unfamiliar with painkillers, it would be good to ask your medical team before discharge for a plan for your pain relief. Generally, it’s muvh better to control pain before it peaks, so taking the permitted four doses of paracetamol per day, even if you’re not in agony when the next dose is due, is better and more effective than letting it all wear off, allowing the pain to peak and then trying to battle it back down. Paracetamol is a very effective painkiller, usually under-rated as it’s so familiar and so easily available, but also because people don’t take it properly, instead holding out until it’s agony.

You have no way of predicting exactly what kind of shape you’ll be in, but it’s safe to say that even the smoothest labours are physically arduous and place huge demands on your body. I fear that if you plan to avoid painkillers, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. No need to stock up on bucketfuls if you have easy access (by you or someone else) to the shops but it would be prudent to have a small quantity of paracetamol and ibuprofen to hand in case you need it at a time when shops are closed.

Also birth injuries aren’t the only source of pain as people have already said - starting breastfeeding can give you awfully painful blisters or cracks if unlucky, breast engorgement can be very painful, complications like mastitis need something to control your fever etc.

I don’t mean to frighten you but I do think it unlikely to avoid any possible need for pain relief in the early days. And please don’t forget that your comfort and pain matter too, so if you need something, take it. And if that’s not working, ask your doctor or midwife.

Final thing - the early days with a baby can be a confusing blend of night and day and it can be easy to lose track of what medication you have taken when. I had a notepad and pen taped inside the cupboard where I kept medicines and would write down every dose. Some people send themselves a text message, etc. Think about what might work for you and set it up in advance to keep track.

Best wishes for a safe healthy delivery and recovery, whatever happens.

TheBrilloPad · 11/02/2019 20:05

Gave birth to my 3rd baby with nothing but gas & air, yet was begging for drugs for the afterbirth pains, which were horrific. I didn't have that at all with the first two. I was taking paracetamol for a good few days just because of the after birth pains I think!

witchy89 · 11/02/2019 20:16

@sycamore54321 great advice thank you. I'm definitely not trying to avoid taking painkillers if I genuinely need them, just curious about weather they were a must. I will definitely make sure I have some in the house just in case!

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Kittykat93 · 11/02/2019 20:21

I was pushing for two and a half hours and severely damaged my coccyx, and that was horrendous pain for about two weeks following the birth, so was taking painkillers every day . I also had a second degree tear but this wasn't too bad, I used witch hazel soaked sanitary pads to ease the stinging and also took arnica tablets to help heal. I also brought one of those ring cushions to sit on!

It all depends how it goes. Some people are out and about in Morrisons the day after giving birth, some take longer to recover.

Best of luck Thanks

Sugarc0atedalm0nd · 11/02/2019 20:26

You probably don't need another jumping in but hey ho!
Just because this is your first doesn't mean the afterpains will be mild. I didn't even realise they were a thing and mine were so bad I thought some placenta had been left inside me. I survived on paracetamol because we hadn't stocked up on anything else because as mentioned, I didn't know they existed and I gave birth during a public holiday in extreme weather, so health visitors were few and far between. But I was shut away in bed as I couldn't hold my baby without severe contractions and vomited with the pain. They lasted 3 days.

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