Pain relief after a section

[Mumof3almost4]

I have been informed that after my section I will be advised to take paracetamol and ibuprofen.
This will not be enough after leaving hospital 24 hours after a major surgery 🙄
Please can you let me know what actually works?, I've heard a particular painkiller mentioned a few times but can not for the life of me remember what it is!!
Thanks

I agree, paracetamol and ibuprofen will not be sufficient. I can't remember the name of the "good pills", sorry.

Good luck with the birth, try not to be scared, you're in the hands of professionals who do it all the time.

I had ibuprofen and paracetamol after my c section and it was fine

You could also take codeine but it has a side effect which is constipation and even after a section you won’t want that as you’ll feel like your stitches are going to fall apart (which they won’t obviously, but you do feel abdominally very weak)

That's ridiculous! The hospital discharged me with a week's supply of painkillers it was like 2 different ones to take every 4 hours or so and then a booster one as and when I needed it. If I were you I'd push to get some to take home. I'm sorry I can't remember their names but my God I needed them.

Thanks for the replies.
@ShirleyPhallus you're a stronger woman than me! I'll need the good drugs!
I'm going to call my gp and hopefully have them ready before I go in. I just need to know what I'm asking for.

Thank you for the kind wishes x

How do you known it won't be enough? Have you had a c section before?

I had one 5 years ago and was only given paracetamol and ibruprofen to take at home

I'm due another one in 2 weeks for twins and my pre op notes state they don't even send you home with that anymore and to get my own

I've been in hospital all week on the post natal ward (no beds available pre natal) and the c section ladies were given oromorph (low dose morphine) first 24 hours and then they were weaned off that on day 2 onto paracetamol
Only

I had morphine for 48 hours after both my sections but after that paracetamol and ibroprufen were fine; I kept on top of it so that I was alternating them over 24 hours and never going too long without pain relief. I think you’re a bit limited with what you can take after 48 hours of you’re breastfeeding but codeine may be one of them.
Have you had c sections before? If so can you remember how long you had other pain relief for?

I was discharged with diclofenac and had to take it for 2 weeks along with paracetemol. To be honest it was the best one in terms of managing pain but by the end of the 2 weeks I was fine with just paracetemol. So hopefully you get that too! Agree codeine not great as you really don't want to make going to the loo any more difficult

I found paracetamol and ibuprofen enough. 2 of each every 4 hours. They gave me an opiate in hospital but it made me feel funny.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen was absolutely fine for me, but I know everyone's different.

I suspect that those are the basics, but if you're in pain you'll be given stronger stuff (but check and push for it!).

I can't take ibuprofen so they anaesthetist agreed to prescribe me tramadol for 5 days on discharge. I didn't take it after 3 days though and had paracetamol for another day or so and then nothing after that. The two nights in hospital were the worst when walking but I was on oramorph which helped. By the time I was discharged it was already much less painful to walk.

I had diclofenac and paracetamol to be taken on a schedule. I think they gave me 2 weeks worth but I stopped the diclofenac early. Was also offered oramorph in hospital but declined as didn’t need it. At no point did I feel in pain, sore definitely but no actually pain so clearly it did the trick.

Have you had a c section before?

I am an absolute wimp, but have had two c sections and ibuprofen and paracetamol were absolutely fine both times. The first time I had some pain in the first 24 hours, but obviously was in hospital at that point anyway. The key thing is to take them on a schedule (set your phone alarm) and keep taking them beyond the point you feel you need to. I took both for about a week, then reduced over the second week. By week three I just took an occasional dose if I had any pain.

They gave me liquid morphine both times in hospital and to take home with me

I had one dose of morphine on postnatal ward and after that it was just paracetamol and ibuprofen and I wasn't sent home with any painkillers at all. Just stocked up on my own.
I wouldn't say it was pain free but I didn't feel I absolutely needed stronger stuff.

I had a emergency c section 4 weeks ago and was sent home with iron tablets and the injections to reduce risk of blood clots but no pain relief at all. Was in hospital less than 24 hours after delivery.

Thanks everyone
Yes I had one section years ago but stayed in for around 4 days. This time I'll be out in around 24 hours, long car journey home then up a fair few stairs. I know I won't manage on just paracetamol and ibuprofen.
I'll be given nothing to take home so have to organise it myself, I'll take advice on board to religiously take it for the first few days.
I have had diclofenic in the past for my back, that's a good recommendation!

I'm in the US and had a week of oxycodone prescribed. It was amazing - I have fond memories of being absolutely cracked off my tits and staring dreamily at my baby through a fug of opioids .

Second section 2 weeks ago, paracetamol and ibuprofen, iron and blood thinner injections and laxative. Nothing stronger.

Oramorph! I was given it in hospital and about 100ml to take home. It was brilliant.

@allfurcoatnoknickers that sounds Marvellous, I want that

After my first (EMSC) I had dihydrocodeine on to of the paracetamol/ ibuprofen. It was very good but did make me and DS (breastfeeding) drowsy. I only took it a few time, so I could get some sleep for the first nights. The night shift midwive was great with pain relief, she came round asking if you had any pain and when I said I was ok she told me you don't get a meddle for going without and left me some pills incase I changed my mind (I did). The day shift were less enthusiastic, and just brought the paracetamol/ ibuprofen when asked. I was discharged on day 3 with dihydrocodeine, but didn't actually need them by that point, there still in a draw somewhere. Unfortunately it's prescription only, so you won't be able to get that for yourself.

second baby was an ELCS, and I had far less pain, I only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen, despite them asking if I wanted anything stronger. I was home the next day with no problems.

Take away message would be
1 - all births are different, including sections, so you might be ok.

2 - not all midwives live up to the reputation of being stingy with pain relief. If you need something stronger, ask and keep asking.

I've had three sections and was never in awful pain afterwards. More a bit of stiffness and a bit slow getting about on the first day but not bad pain . I do recommend getting peppermint oil as you can get bad trapped wind. That was actually the worst thing of all. I always took my prescriptions for painkillers but never needed them.

I had a section 6 months ago, I had a dose of dihydrocodeine in hospital as the spinal wore off then just paracetamol and ibuprofen and it was fine I took them for a week (can’t say the same for recovery from a episiotomy) a hot water bottle is useful, laxatives and mobilise little and often as soon as you can the worst thing you can do is stay still for too long.

OP - you really don’t want oxycodone and you won’t be given it. It’s highly addictive and part of the reason for the US prescribed opioid addiction epidemic.
Lots of hospitals give dihydrocodeine to take home alongside the ibuprofen and paracetamol. Diclofenac has more side effects than ibuprofen and can be bought over the counter so we tend to recommend ibuprofen. Dihydrocodeine is safe when breast feeding but codeine phosphate isn’t.
If you are still in enough pain after 24 hours that you need oramorph they will be very reluctant to discharge you.

My top tips (anaesthetist and had 2) - get up and get moving as soon as you can.
Sit and stand up straight - it feels better to begin with to be slumped but you’ll end up with very sore back and shoulders.
Don’t let yourself get constipated - prunes work.
Peppermint can help with the wind pain. I like peppermint tea but you can buy peppermint oil capsules
Painkillers regularly. And don’t stop them when you begin to feel a bit better on day 5 - you’ll be a sobbing mess by lunchtime.

Good luck.

Gosh I’m surprised at this. I had diamorphine that was injectable via a needle into the back of my hand, and it hung round my neck, I hated it with a vengeance and asked them to take it off me, they kept refusing so I was refusing to use it. They then removed it on the second day becayse I was threatening to do it myself, and they gave me pain killing suppositories instead. I’m fairly sure they said they were also diamorphine, just a different way of administering it,,,and I bloody loved them, it was like a warmth radiating in my tummy and I could feel the pain melt away.

I was in hospital for a month, but the c section pain killers they were giving me for a good few days.

I think if you’re in pain and what you get isn’t helping op ask on discharge, they should give you something else to go home with.