What medications to buy for after c-section?

[HowBerryPeachy]

Aside from the obvious paracetamol/ibuprofen.
I've heard peppermint is good to relieve gas but in what form, is there a tablet/capsule I can buy? Peppermint tea?
What stool softener would you recommend?

Please help me out as the trauma of my precious EMCS has wiped my memory 😩

And also when to start taking them please

You can get Lactulose from hospital before you leave if you ask them! Although can buy it OTC, it's a very gentle stool softener. Are you planning on breastfeeding as you'll not get a lot of stuff OTC if you are. Your midwife will be able to get stuff for you as well.

After my CS last year, I had 1g paracetamol 4 times a day, 50mg Diclofenac 3 times a day at meal times, then I had dihydrocodeine 30mg if I needed it, maybe used it once or twice a day for the first few days then just if I had overdone it and needed a wee top up after that but only for around a week. That did me really, I still had a small amount of pain but very manageable. Still up and pottering about really. I breastfed exclusively, and those were safe for me then. I didn't use Lactulose but I used to be a nurse so I know that is a good one. Peppermint tea is good for gas, I only had problems with that the first night at home but then was absolutely fine after that!

All the best. Ooh and big pants so nothing resting on your wound and obviously, rest!!!!!

@TheRookie thank you sooo much for your helpful reply 🥰 I remember being sent home with a huge pharmacy bag last time so yes hospital must've prescribed me quite a few things to take home! I'm trying to get as much ready now for when I come home... best I can anyway. I hate peppermint tea so hoping to find an alternative, a capsule maybe?

I think there's a lot of IBS treatments that use peppermint, so check those?

You might have to have blood thinner injections, I had to have 10 days worth, so that might be what was in the big pharmacy bag last time.

I managed fine with paracetamol and ibuprofen but I was advised to take it consistently, so take paracetamol every 6 hours round the clock as it works more effectively if it’s kept in your system.

Colpermin peppermint capsules, you can buy OTC but they are expensive.

Mainly ibuprofen and paracetamol. Also used the peppermint capsules mentioned by pp. got given a big bottle of lactulose to take home but wish I’d taken it straight away after the section rather than day 3 so either request it or bring some with you.

Windeze or rennie deflatine

I had a c section earlier this week. I was sent home from hospital with iron tablets (because I had a PPH), codeine, ibuprofen, blood thinning injections plus stool softener drink and I was advised to take paracetamol, but that I would have to buy this OTC myself. I bought both paracetamol and ibuprofen in my weekly shop in the few weeks leading up to c section date so I had a little stash at home, but you can buy boxes with bigger quantities at the pharmacy.

Re peppermint, Holland & Barratt sell peppermint oil capsules which I've been taking too - I have no idea if they have helped though!

I also agree with PP who advised to get large knickers! I bought the 'full brief' style in the size up from what I normally wear and they are working well for me.
Hope that helps & good luck!

Besides painkillers, which the hospital
usually gives you, I'd get the the following: peppermint tea (to help with gas), chewing gum (to help with gas), lactulose (stool softener, for obvious reasons - start taking it the day or two
before the operation), silicon gel or sheets (to use on the wound once the stitches are out to help minimize scarring).

PEPPERMINT CAPSULES! Sorry for caps but they are the magic potion to abdominal surgery recovery 😆 Trapped wind has been the worst pain for me by far, so much worse than the wound.
They'll give painkillers, laxatives, blood thinners. The laxatives will help you go as it all feels very numb and slow down there, and in turn it will also relieve the trapped wind.

Thank you everyone.

I've got my hands on some Dulcoease (I had these last time round) along with the typical painkillers paracetamol & ibuprofen. I've managed to find the peppermint capsules online too thank you @CookPassBabtridge! As the thought of peppermint tea makes me want to vomit 😂

Couple of people have mentioned taking these before or same day as the op?

They only give peppermint water at my hospital and it was 🤢 and didn't work.. Get ready for a fart attack but the relief will be immense 😆

Just check the peppermint capsules are suitable if your planning to breastfeed. They are often used to dry up milk supply which won’t help you if you don’t want that

I bulk bought prunes - along with lactulose. Very helpful. Also saw the pharmacist the other day who reminded me that you have to drink shed loads of water to make the lactulose effective.

Also, I was sent home with diclofenac (which I can't take as I have gastritis and don't get on well with NSAIDs) and NOTHING ELSE. What the hell? All you lucky people and your codeine! Very envious...

Fybogel and start taking it on the same day as the operation is done.

I got codeine after my womb removal but only paracetamol/ibuprofen after c-sections 😢