C Section Pain Killers

[SleepNeededZzz]

Hi !

Please could anyone that’s had a c section tell me how long they continued ibruprofen & paracetamol for once home? Days, weeks?

thank you!

[Sprogonthetyne]

Religiously on a schedule for about a week, as needed / when I remembered for another week after that. Then occasionally if I'd overdone it that day for another couple if weeks. But it's not a competition, just keep taking until it stops hurting.

[Mydogatemypurse]

At least a week and suppositories for about 4 days after too. They send me home eith something called D118s or something. I didnt take too many they upset my tummy. I took co codamol or paracetemol.

[GoAround]

I had stronger prescription stuff which I took religiously for about 10 days. Then just ibuprofen as/when I felt I needed. Nothing at all after 2 weeks.

[addler]

I had paracetamol and something stronger which I can't remember what it was, because I can't take ibuprofen and I refused to leave with just paracetamol, but I was off the strong stuff after 4 days and paracetamol sporadically until 6/7 days.

[DappledOliveGroves]

I was very lucky and only needed painkillers for maybe 3 or 4 days post-elective section. I had very little pain at all.

[NewYorkLassie]

Took whatever they gave me at the hospital for about a week I think. There was definitely one with codeine in and then alternated with paracetamol I think.

[plixy]

I took both ibuprofen and paracetamol for a week. Max dose allowed each day. I wasn't actually in that much pain but I wanted to make sure it didn't start to hurt!
I then carried on with one or the other for another few days. Stopped completely by end of second week or so.

[PrimroseWharf]

I took paracetamol and ibuprofen for around 6/7 weeks on a religious schedule! I really struggled with the pain and was also given 5 days of stronger painkillers when I left hospital.

[LabradorFiasco]

I think it possibly depends on whether you have an elective or an emergency. In an emergency situation (especially a cat 1/2 where baby must be out within 30 mins or so), things are unplanned, fast, baby is typically engaged or even descending as mum is at full dilation) so there is a lot of trauma to the abdominal area. I say this having had a vaginal birth with DC1 with a big episiotomy and tears, which needed painkillers (dihydrocodeine for 3 days, paracetamol and ibuprofen for 2 weeks). My EMCS with DC2 required morphine in hospital for 24 hours, followed by 2 weeks of dihydrocodeine and diclofenac and a further 3 weeks of ibuprofen and paracetamol. At 6 weeks I dropped to just taking it as needed, a few times a week.
Just offering this experience in case you or anyone is in this situation. I never dreamed I’d have a c-section and have been astonished by the recovery time, found it really tough. PP who had electives seem to recover really quickly though!
Good luck.

[Hugasauras]

@DappledOliveGroves

I was very lucky and only needed painkillers for maybe 3 or 4 days post-elective section. I had very little pain at all.

Ditto.

[Tallulasdancingshoes]

Only carried on for a couple of days once home. I had a suppository during the c-section then had 1 dose of oramorph later that night but it made it really sick so I refused any more. Managed on paracetamol and ibuprofen after that. I didn’t find the pain too bad really. My pain was far worse after dc1 where I had a forceps delivery, episiotomy and 3rd degree tear.

[Hugasauras]

I did take them for longer with my EMCS. But my elective was pretty painless.

[Pollywoddles]

I was prescribed Difene and Paracetamol for two weeks after I went home and had Difene, Paracetamol and Oxynorm in hospital for 5 days. Took it all and didn’t feel a thing.

[110APiccadilly]

I had an EMCS but it was a pretty calm and relaxed one - no immediate danger to baby, they just decided she wasn't likely to come out vaginally!

I went home two days later with paracetamol only IIRC and I think I was off that about a week later.

But I think I did get lucky and I could have needed something stronger or for longer.

[JenniferBarkley]

Stepped down to paracetamol and ibuprofen from paracetamol and diclofenac after about a week, and then a few days after that started stepping down those doses. I'd say I was taking something for at least 2-3 weeks.

[Nat6999]

I was on morphine for 48 hours after in to a peg in my stomach, then diclofenac & dihydracodeine for 10 days & then paracetamol & Ibuprofen up to 28 days, I took them when I should up to 21 days after my emcs & then just when I needed it.

[hurtyb]

I was quite surprised to not get anything stronger after mine. Discharged next day with paracetamol & ibuprofen, took for about a week & then sporadically for a few days. Found it much harder than my VB.

[Salamander91]

I took paracetamol and diclofenac regularly for 4 days maybe and then just took them when needed for a few more days. I was lucky not to have too much pain.

[DinosaursEatMan]

ELCS and only took them for around a week. Had much less pain than with vb.

[Dyra]

The correct answer is for as long as you feel you need to.

As you can tell, women have needed painkillers for very differing amounts of time. No need to worry that you're taking them longer than some, or if you don't need them for long at all. As long as you're happy and comfortable is all that matters.

For my part, I think I alternated paracetamol and ibuprofen religiously for about a week, then took as needed for another week or so. I had an "emergency" C-section. Baby and I were both fine, it was just evident by that point eviction via sun roof was the only option baby was leaving my body.

[Loki01]

I had both, EMCS (crash 1 section so proper emergency) and a planned one. Got ibuprofen and paracetamol only with both. I took them for about a week with both. I felt better after the planned one (I think I knew what to expect and the surgery caused less trauma).

[ShowOfHands]

I had a cat 1 emcs with a lot of trauma after other intervention attempts and a much calmer emcs a few years later after a long labour but without the panic.

I didn't need painkillers after either! Only pain really was trapped wind and that was a sore shoulder and solved with peppermint. Luck of the draw entirely.

[StinkerTroll]

With dd1 I had an emergency c section, I was given something strong and exciting while I was knocked out then codine and paracetamol afterwards, I was given lactulose because of the codine, oh dear god, it did terrible things to my innards!! After I left hospital I took paracetamol for a few days. With dd2 I had an elective c section with an epidural, I refused the codine (would have taken it if I needed it but only if I needed it) and just took paracetamol for a few days

[SleepNeededZzz]

Thanks for all the comments! I have been taking paracetamol and ibruprofen religiously for two weeks now. I don’t feel like I need to continue with so many pills, I definitely feel some pulling where the scar is every now and again but I’m not sure if this is just standard. The only reason i’m not dropping my pain relief yet is because I am worried I will get into a lot of pain without them :/

[SBAM]

About ten days to two weeks on scheduled (paracetamol and ibuprofen) then more as I felt I needed after that. Elective c-section. Why not try just stopping one painkiller and keeping up with the other for a day or two and see how you go?