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Childbirth

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

Original poster

What do afterpains feel like?

26 replies

RGPargy · 14/12/2007 13:58

Do they feel like period pains?? I've had a tummy ache all day and the pain is like having a bad period!!

Ouuuuch!!!!

OP posts:
Domesticgodlessyoumerrygents · 14/12/2007 13:59

after no. 2 they were worse than early labour!

littleboo · 14/12/2007 14:00

Yes can be really painful, as womb is closing so still contracting to a degree. ( sadly get worse with subsequent babies.
Need some strongish pain killers

Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 14:00

I've just had number 2. Does it sound like after pains then? I know i can take paracetamol for it.

How long do they last?

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Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 14:01

Ah bugger. Wouldn't consider paracetamol very strong but i cant take anything stronger!

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littleboo · 14/12/2007 14:01

How long since baby was born?

MerryPIFFLEmas · 14/12/2007 14:01

yep bloody awful
no 1 was not to bad, but crampy but ok
after no2 had drug free labour and birth, but had to take co codamol for the afterpains
And after no 3 I just took paracetamol straight after labour (again drug free)

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 14/12/2007 14:01

I had really bad after pains after dd2's birth, but I think they mainly stopped after about a day or two days. It was still painful bfing though.

Maybe you've got a bit of an upset tummy?

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 14/12/2007 14:02

Piffle - I also had two drug free labours and birth - but I really needed ibruprofen and paracetamol for the after pains.

littleboo · 14/12/2007 14:03

Could you take cocodamol, over counter only small amount 8mg of codeine ?

Domesticgodlessyoumerrygents · 14/12/2007 14:04

same here with the drug free labour. I had had enough when it came to the afterpains and wanted whatever they could give me.

I think I still had afterpains for 2 days after the birth especially when bfing.

Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 14:05

DD is 9 days old today and this is the first day i've actually noticed any pain. I've had the odd sharp pain now and then and just assumed that was it lol.

Also had a drug free labour and birth but dont want to take anything stronger than paracetamol due to BF.

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tortoiseSHELL · 14/12/2007 14:05

After 2 and 3 they were terrible - worst after number 3. I had to take paracetamol for them they were SO painful (and I managed labour with no pain relief at all!). Lasted 3 or 4 days, worst when feeding. the worst bit of their births imo!

littleboo · 14/12/2007 14:07

Yes as BF can't really take much else, try heat, nice hot water bottle

MerryPIFFLEmas · 14/12/2007 14:07

ibuprofen is ok when bf as well. Co codamol is also ok if used sparingly.
If it is only coming on now then most porb not afterpains?
the afterpains only ever came with me when i was feeding from immediately following birth to about 10 days

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 14/12/2007 14:07

I'd have thought it was a little late to suddenly get after pains.

Can you phone your midwife and ask her opinion?

Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 14:20

Yes it's only happened today and i'm also freezing cold. My stitches were itching yesterday too. Oh please god dont let it be some sort of infection. I cant give up BF now - it'd kill me!

I wonder if i haven't felt them earlier because i had abdominal surgery 13 years ago and haven't fully regained the feeling in my tummy. Maybe they've been rumbling along and are now at their crescendo but i've only just noticed coz they're quite painful?

MW is coming tomorrow so if i'm still in pain i'll ask her about it.

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littleboo · 14/12/2007 14:22

I you're feeling freezing cold sounds like it might be a bit of infection although it is mighty cold today. Could be something like a urine infection perhaps. The itching is usually the stitches/ skin healing

POOKAingwenceslaslookedout · 14/12/2007 14:24

Even if it is an infection there are lots of antibiotics that can be taken while breast feeding.

Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 14:28

It doesn't help that this bloody house is freezing too. Got the heating up to 20 but there are no carpets downstairs (only crappy laminate flooring - previous owners' choice, not ours!) and there are drafts along the floor, which could be why my feet are freezing.

I thought that the stitches itching was healing process too. Fingers crossed.

Is there anything i can do in the meantime to ward off any possible infection? I have just taken two parrots for the pain.

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Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 14:28

Pooka - phew for that!!

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POOKAingwenceslaslookedout · 14/12/2007 16:45

When I got infected stitches after dd, I didn't feel cold or shivery - just felt very much like where the stitches were was throbbing and as if the stitches were pulling. Wasn't especially itchy either. Keep an eye on it (not literally, unless you are way more post-natally flexible than me), maybe ask your midwife or GP to have a look see.

Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 17:05

I'm feeling really rough now. Sooooo cold!!! Is it every four hours for parrots?

OP posts:
JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 14/12/2007 17:09

RGPargy - definitely get in touch with your GP/ midwife. You simply could have a virus (unrelated to giving birth), or it could be birth related.

Original poster
RGPargy · 14/12/2007 20:16

got mastitus. hoiw long do massage for?

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JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 15/12/2007 06:41

until it's gone! Get plenty of rest, I took ibruprofen and paracetamol for mastitis as those were the only things that stopped me shaking, and are safe whilst bfing. It's very painful, and makes you feel very very ill. (as you're finding out).

It should go in 24-48 hours - if not, you may need antibiotics.