Third baby after pains

[NeitherNowtNorSummat01]

Ok, I admit I had heard of these but thought they were a bit of an exaggeration!
Babies 1 and 2 I had no after pains whatsoever.
Gave birth Monday evening to baby number 3 and am still experiencing after pains now- they are strong like labour pains and keeping me awake.
Any tips or advise most welcome!

Congratulations on the baby! Try regular tummy massages and a warm flannel or hot water bottle against your tummy as often as you can. I gave birth to my second 8 days ago and I'm still having pains, also didn't really get them at all with my first. Are you breastfeeding at all? xx

Congratulations. I'm due Number 3 in 2 weeks and I am terrified of this.
Number 2 caused me absolute agony. It was like being in labour again except this time I was trying to BF a newborn.

I had them with second baby (currently four days old!) after not having them at all with first. They were very odd - like real juddering visible muscle spasms, not just vague squeezing somewhere inside, which is what I was sort of expecting (apparently they get worse with each pregnancy). I don't think there's much you can do except normal pain relief. I'd had a section, so the spasms REALLY fucking hurt - but meant I had a good medication regime going anyway.

Apparently breastfeeding makes them worse, but they are doing a job - so however you're feeding, if they're bad you'll get to the end of the quicker than if they were milder. Which is really clutching at straws in terms of consolation, but it's all I got!

The more children you've had, the more/worse after-pains you're likely to have, as they are your uterus trying to contract back to its normal size after birth, which in turn lessens post-partum bleeding. The more children you've had, the harder your body has to work to make this happen - but it is necessary!

I've had lots of children, and the after-pains were definitely always the worst part of birth for me. I highly recommend taking alternate doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol round the clock, 24 hours a day (IIRC it works out as a dose of one or the other every four hours, but double-check with your midwife/doctor). Set alarms on your phone, and take them even if you're feeling ok at that moment.

Hot water botttles/wheat bags heated in the microwave and applied to your abdomen (or back - wherever it hurts) whilst breastfeeding can also help - just be careful not to burn the baby, whose skin is much more delicate than yours!

Painkillers.

I found them painful after my first, awful after my second but not bad at all after the third - so those if you expecting third child, you never know!