C Section pain relief

[Glittertips]

I’m due to have a c section in 4 weeks time and I’ve read that many women are discharged with only paracetamol and ibuprofen. This scares me as I have quite a low pain threshold!

What pain relief should I be pushing for please? I would like to try breast feeding so I’m not sure if this makes a difference. Thanks

I was sent home with a decent supply of Co-drydamol whilst breastfeeding. It worked really well. I dropped to ibuprofen and paracetamol when I felt ready, about 4-5 days after the op.

I've been discharged with a weeks worth of dihydrocideine and told I can get more from GP easily if needed. Last c section I also was given Diclophenac as well but not this time (no idea why and don't feel like I need it). EBF both times x

I have had 2 sections and each time I had oramorph (morphine), diaphene and paracetamol for the duration of my hospital stay--5 nights for first baby, 3 nights for second. I was sent home with 10 day prescription for diaphene and paracetamol. Im in Ireland though so its possibly different here. I did feel like I really needed the morphine for the first few days, so ask for that :) it didnt interfere with breastfeeding. Good luck :)

Also not pain relief but request Lactulose asap (or buy in advance from pharmacy) as is not automatically given and a god send x

Not saying this to gloat at all but I’ve had two sections. The first one I didn’t need any pain killers at all, the second I maybe had one or two doses of Voltarol (which they gave me). I’m only saying this because everyone’s experience is different and it maybe not as bad as you think.

I had one dose of morphine in hospital, and discharged with a weeks worth of dihydrocodiene. Worked really well.

I was home the next day and wasn’t in pain at any point.

With my first (emergency cs) I had dihydrocodiene while in hospital. I was discharge with 10 days worth, didn't finish the pack.

Second time round (elective) I was actually fine with the paracetamol & ibuprofen. I'd definitely have asked for more if I'd needed it, but it genuinely wasn't that bad.

The key is to take it religiously, to a schedule, so the pain never builds up. If your later with a dose and it starts to hurt, it's much harder to get the pain to stop.

Thank you, that’s helpful! I’ve had a horrendous pregnancy with lots of complications (placenta previa and vasa previa) and it’s expected that I’ll lose a lot of blood. My experience so far has made me think that I’ll probably struggle a bit pain wise as I’ve more or less been on modified bed rest for months and don’t have the same fitness as before.

I’ll make sure I keep on top of the pain relief and get the good stuff if I need it!!

With regards to the lactulose, would you recommend I take this in the days leading up to the section or only after?

Honestly its fine for most people.
I hate pain and have had two elcs

They'll give other stuff, it was oramorph and co-drydomol i think i had...

Re lactulose its post birth. Neither of my first bowel movements were as terifying as i was led to believe so dont be too scared.

Take earplugs - good ones..and pray you are discharged after 24 hours. The maternity ward was hell on earth both times for me
I couldnt wait to leave that place....

I was meant to be sent home with dihydrocideine but they ran out so I was told to buy some paracetamol and then go back 3 days later when they had been delivered. When I went back they refused to give me any as I ‘should’ have been ok by then. In fairness I was fine during the day but at night it would have helped me sleep to have said something stronger tbh .

You might be ok, aside from one dose of morphine in the hospital I took ibuprofen and paracetamol and was fine so try not to worry too much. But of course, everyone is different and some c-sections heal better than others so if you need something stronger of course push for it.

I had Oramorph in hospital and was given more when I requested it while there. I didn't want it on my second day there though as it did make me feel quite high and together with the tiredness it made me feel worried I was going to drop my baby or something awful. I was discharged with just paracetamol and ibuprofen and honestly that's all I needed. It hurt if I tried to do too much but my pain wasn't too bad after the first two days. A friend was in too much pain and was prescribed diclofenac from the GP.

Oh and I'm another one whose post birth BMs weren't too bad at all. I ate a lot of dried fruit which helped, no need for medication for that.

For my elcs I had oramorph for the first 24 hours, codeine for a week and paracetamol/ibuprofen for about 8 weeks I think.

For my emcs they told me rules had changed and I couldn't have codeine because I was breastfeeding. I was in hdu so I could have oramorph for the first 3 days that time and then paracetamol/ibuprofen for about 3 or 4 weeks.

My elcs baby was in nicu/scbu for 4 weeks which meant the pain was a lot worse as I was rushing around. My emcs baby was only in nicu for 5 days so after that I mainly just looked after the baby for the first 6 weeks so I got a lot more rest and only needed the paracetamol/ibuprofen for 3 or 4 weeks.

@TemuSpecialBuy unfortunately I’m being admitted to the antenatal ward for 4 weeks prior to my c section 😅 I’ve got ear plugs, sleep mask, headphones galore packed!

I was given 2 paracetamol every 4 hours after dd. It was hell. I had to fight to get cocodamol.

I had a planned cesarean.

trusts vary massively on the pain relief they routinely give after CS.

you can get it written into your notes before the birth that you will be given certain pain relief after delivery. I did this after an EMCS with my first baby and was only given ibuprofen and paracetamol to go home with on the second day. It was awful.

my NCT friends in neighbouring trusts had way more pain relief to go home with than I did.

after my second EMCS I had better pain relief as I insisted on it and referred the midwives to my notes.

I was fine with paracetamol and ibuprofen as long as I took it regularly, and by fine I mean not in any pain. If I didn’t take paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly I was in pain. Needed them for about 2 weeks.
I do think stronger painkillers should be easily available to those who need them

Re the Lactulose, I don't think it's essential to take before delivery unless there's a specific need, but the sooner you can take post op then the better in terms of getting things moving (I think that the codeine based painkillers don't help with this either but for me was definitely needed) x

I should add that I'm one week pp and my most painful days were the ones in hospital and then the ones at home where I've essentially overdone it. Staying mobile is good for recovery, but find that moving too much equals lots more pain at the end of the day. I'm a wimp and after one week feel ready to ditch the strong painkillers if that gives you any kind of reassurance 😊

Unfortunately they don't give Diclofenac anymore... I can't remember why! When I had my second CS (10 years ago) despatched my DH to the GP to get some for me as soon as I got home, as the hospital sent me home with smarties paracetamol and I was in a lot of pain.

If you take any derivative of codeine please for the love of God take care of your bowels. I have never meant anything so seriously in my life.

All the water.
All the fruit and veg.
Ella's kitchen prune pouches.
LAXIDO/LACTULOSE daily.
Gentle movement.

Seriously. Make sure you do the above religiously.

I was surprised that I was fine with paracetamol and ibuprofen. Stocked up before the birth. My recommendation is to get a midwife to work out your dose times with you when you’re discharged, and set them as recurring phone alarms. Take them religiously for two weeks, don’t stop because you think you feel ok.

The main thing is to keep moving but don’t overdo it. For me that meant minimising the number of times I got up/down, but when I was on my feet I’d stay up and slowly wander round the house for a bit.

One midwife on my ward was really stroppy about giving anything else, another came round saying to women “why aren’t you taking anything stronger?!” So it varies and don’t be afraid to be pushy if you do need more.

They didnt give morphine to me for either of mine. First one i was given diplofenic and paracetemol.
Second paracetemol and 2 codine. I was in pain.
Couldnt push to poo after 1st but was on iron tablets. Ended up with suppositories. It hurt when catheter removed too.
2nd time no issues going toilet or with catheter.
I cant take ibroprofen. Don't let the pain meds run out. Like others said.
Interestingly men who have vasectomy are sent home with morphine.