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

@ivfbeenbusy - I'm not suggesting forcing women to- but that the options fir stronger analgesia are not discussed freely. Your procedure for me still falls under the same category- female related surgery and pain I really feel is not taken as seriously as other surgeries.

@stackhead

I had one dose of oramorph but it made me feel horrible, the pain was better.

Paracetamol and iburpofen, alternate every 2 hours.

That said I wouldn't have been able to tackle stairs on day 2 I don't think - I was in the hospital for 5, so maybe something stronger to get you up the stairs but then back to the little drugs.

It's every 3 hours, not 2, as taking anymore than 8 paracetamol in 24 hours is really dangerous for your liver

@SD1978

I person ally think it's disgusting the lack of pain relief given to women after a section. Any other major abdominal surgery and you would automatically be on opioids. Have a baby? Nah- that's not 'real' surgery/ couple of paracetamol and everything is fine..............it makes me so flipping angry!!!!!!! And ask for stronger? Get the you are drugging your babies milk as it's excreted through breast milk chat............... sections are babrbaric in their lack of after care and concern (I saw this as someone who has one) personally, kicked up a well mannered stink, got given a very small supply of BD opioid tablets (2 days) and some PRN ones for a week. Worked well. Please don't let them railroad you into accepting nothing if you're not comfortable doing so. Not having adequate analgesia after a section isn't a competition. Others may have been happy on paracetamol or fresh air- same as labouring women only using a whale tape and not using pain relief- it doesn't work for everyone and doesn't make you 'less' because you don't want to hobble around with low grade analgesia after major abdominal surgery. Discuss the options and stand your ground.

Personally I think it's disgusting that women would rather harm their newborn baby with strong neurochemicals than at least TRY to cope with safe painkillers for a day or two first.

I’ve had 3 sections and every time paracetamol and ibuprofen was ample. Took for around 5 days then nothing.
Why do you think it won’t be enough?

Spaceblanket:

Genuine question, I have re read the thread and I cant see that she is breast feeding- I may be missing it?

Or have we assumed? (Honestly Im mabye missing it)

Also, the OP did say she has had previous sections and knows her personal threshold so it could be considered wise to be prepared with analgesia that is appropriate to her own limits so that she is able to do everything she wants to for her newborn without being in agony?

X

@DarkChocolateMint

Spaceblanket:

Genuine question, I have re read the thread and I cant see that she is breast feeding- I may be missing it?

Or have we assumed? (Honestly Im mabye missing it)

Also, the OP did say she has had previous sections and knows her personal threshold so it could be considered wise to be prepared with analgesia that is appropriate to her own limits so that she is able to do everything she wants to for her newborn without being in agony?

X

It's a reasonable assumption that she'll be at least trying to breastfeed those first few days, as most mums do. Although of course if that assumption is wrong then yes my point is irrelevant for OP but still stands for breastfeeding mothers.

It's also reasonable to assume that she hasn't actually tried to cope with safe painkillers & was automatically given strong ones with her previous c-section(s), as this was more common previously. We have better evidence for how harmful they are now and guidelines have changed even just in the last couple of years.

Thought I'd update after my section.
I had my baby on Tuesday, everything went well. I was given ibruprofen and paracetamol quite soon after and then I kept taking it together every four hours. They were a bit sporadic offering it in hospital so I took my own regular doses.
I got up less than 12 hours after the section, walked around, went to the toilet etc and I was ok, much better than my last section. I think I had a positive and proactive mind set and was aware I needed to get up and this helped.
I asked for something stronger to get home so was given tranquil and some extra for at home. I took it for the journey and it helped but haven't needed it since.
I over did it a bit yesterday as I felt good, getting on the floors r to do a change which was a mistake but have been really sensible otherwise.
I think tomorrow, day 4 I will probably will start reducing my doses.
All in all I have been fine. Advice on here has been great. Moving, meticulously taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, getting up and pottering about has all helped. I also do recommend peppermint capsules.

Tramadol not tranquil!!!

I took Ibruprofen and paracetamol after all 3 sections and even then not that much. It doesn't hurt as much as you'd think. The only time you really need painkillers is that first time you stand up after they take the catheter out...ask for morphine for that. It's not so much that it stops it hurting, more that it stops you caring about the pain. Good luck!

@Mumof3almost4

Thought I'd update after my section. I had my baby on Tuesday, everything went well. I was given ibruprofen and paracetamol quite soon after and then I kept taking it together every four hours. They were a bit sporadic offering it in hospital so I took my own regular doses. I got up less than 12 hours after the section, walked around, went to the toilet etc and I was ok, much better than my last section. I think I had a positive and proactive mind set and was aware I needed to get up and this helped. I asked for something stronger to get home so was given tranquil and some extra for at home. I took it for the journey and it helped but haven't needed it since. I over did it a bit yesterday as I felt good, getting on the floors r to do a change which was a mistake but have been really sensible otherwise. I think tomorrow, day 4 I will probably will start reducing my doses. All in all I have been fine. Advice on here has been great. Moving, meticulously taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, getting up and pottering about has all helped. I also do recommend peppermint capsules.

Hooray!! Congratulations 🥳