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 was home about 28 hours after my section and those tablets were fine. Just make sure you don't ever miss a dose. And get some windeze and take it ALOT. The trapped wind was honestly the most painful thing for me.

Please don't waste your GP's time over this. Your midwife/team will make sure you have the right pain relief on discharge.

I've had 2 sections.

With my first which was an emergency I had combos of paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac and codeine. But stopped the codeine pretty quick as the last thing you'll want is constipation.

My second was also an emergency but not as much as the first. I had oral morpheine for a bit. It's pretty shit. Wears off so quick. But once I was on my feet 24hrs later paracetamol and ibuprofen was fine.

Haven't had a section but after a very very traumatic birth and an extremely substantial tear and stitches I was discharged with diclofenac. I thought it was great! Honestly never had any pain.

I'm sure if you're in pain they will give you something stronger. Don't be afraid to ask!

Paracetamol was fine for me. It only really hurt if I stretched the wound, standing up straight was tricky for a while for me. I had 3 sections.

Nothing needed here. Not even paracetamol

Thanks again for tips and advice. Dihydrocodine was what I was trying to remember!!!

I'll stock up on prunes, peppermint capsules and suggestions to get moving.

I've been told by my midwife they do not discharge with any medication and she advised that I get my own which is why I'm getting organised in advance.

You can ask for oramorph, which is great. They will not give it you unless you ask though! You can be sent home with codine too, though if you bf you shouldn't take it.

It is advisable to bring your own paracetamol and ibuprofen with you as the midwives will take forever to bring it to you when they're so busy.

This infuriates me! Anyone else except a new mother would be sent home from major abdominal surgery with All The Drugs.

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

Agreed. I didn't actually get anything for the first 8 hours or so due to a mix up and it was a bit painful but sort of ok (although I thought I had had something so it was probably a placebo effect!)

It does work. I had dihydrocodeine on the first day while still in hospital but otherwise just paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly in hospital then after discharge and it was ample and I was quite comfortable as long as I kept moving.

@Sheleg

This infuriates me! Anyone else except a new mother would be sent home from major abdominal surgery with All The Drugs.

But All The Drugs aren’t necessary, for many of us ibuprofen and paracetamol are fine. Absolutely fine too if you need something stronger but it’s not a given that you will

Ibuprofen and paracetamol may be enough. Agree with pps who've said be strict about taking on time.

I made a chart and set alarms so I remembered to take them in the first few days. If I accidentally snoozed or missed an alarm, I felt it fast!

I had my 3rd c-section in Oct 2018, was back home after 1 night in hospital. I had paracetamol/ibuprofen whilst in hospital and then advised to pick up my own from the chemist. I think I took it for the 1st couple of days and it was fine for me. Mind you I was back walking the school run with my middle daughter 6 days after my section (30 min round trip). Everyone is different though.

Paracetamol and Diclofenac both times here- 48hr and 24hr discharge respectively. It worked fine as long as I kept up the dosing regime. (and both are suitable for breastfeeding)
Better than opiate based pain relief as it doesn't cause constipation. It's important to get bowel function normal to aid the uterus and other internal organs returning to their non pregnant positions. Also keep up the fluids to help that side of things.
You will most likely have been given a mega strength Diclofenac suppository in theatre that will tide you over the first day too.

I had 2 doses of tramadol whilst still in hospital and then just paracetamol and ibuprofen. It was fine.

I only had paracetamol as I'm allergic to ibuprofen. It was hard but if you can rest it gets easier. The pain comes from attempting to do too much imo, it's not so much a static pain. I hope you have DP who can help you and basically do everything round the home apart from feed the baby for the first two weeks. If so then you'll be alright.

Its been 7 years since I had my daughter by section, but I was given Dihydrocodeine to take 4 times a day. I never took the full dose, 1 or 2 a dat qas enough!

Co-Codamol was what helped me paracetamols don't help at the best of time for mild aches.
Tramadol didn't help me either

Actually I found a c-section much less painful than having my gallbladder out.
Only had paracetamol as I can't take ibuprofen.

The reason they only give you paracetamol and ibuprofen is that anything stronger gets into your breastmilk and affects the baby. It makes them sleepy and makes establishing breastfeeding difficult. Plus obviously it's not good for their developing brains.

If you really need something stronger then you'll be given it, but paracetamol is fine for most mums (myself included). & most mums want to put their baby's health first, even if that means being in slightly more pain or discomfort themselves.

Just make sure whatever you take you run it past your midwife first.

Ibuprofen and diclofenac are both NSAIDS and I'm fairly sure shouldn't be taken together.

@SpaceBlanket

The reason they only give you paracetamol and ibuprofen is that anything stronger gets into your breastmilk and affects the baby. It makes them sleepy and makes establishing breastfeeding difficult. Plus obviously it's not good for their developing brains.

If you really need something stronger then you'll be given it, but paracetamol is fine for most mums (myself included). & most mums want to put their baby's health first, even if that means being in slightly more pain or discomfort themselves.

Unhelpful post.

@Covidcovid yes you're right I wouldn't take both of those together.

Just been checking out peppermint capsules, there's different strengths, can anyone suggest which ones are good and which dose?

Emergency CS - home after 4 days with d-codeine, iron tablets, blood thinning injections and told to follow on to co-codamol & ibufrofen for a few days after completing d-codeine tablets course.