Pain Relief Post C-Section

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I was discussing a c-section with my midwife when it came up in conversation that, as standard, women get discharged home with paracetamol and ibruprofen.

I asked if she meant a higher dose (possibly prescription dose only) when she said no, just the standard dose you can buy in the shops.

Now I am ignorant in this department but my jaw nearly hit the floor. Aren’t there 7 different layers of tissue cut through for a C-section? don’t they classify it as major surgery? How can Superdrug paracetamol even touch the pain post surgery at home?! My Midwife assures me it does but I’ve had headaches that paracetamol doesn’t shift.

Have you had a C-section? Were you only reliant on paracetamol post operation?

Yep, paracetamol and ibuprofen in alternating doses. As you long as you take it continually rather than using it as breakthrough pain relief it's honestly fine.

Yes I took paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly. I wasn't actually in that much pain and they covered it fine.

I can't take ibuprofen so I was prescribed tramodol but I barely took any as the paracetamol was enough after the first day. Some people suffer more than others but most people I know were fine with otc pain relief.

I had a junior doctor (male) confidently tell me that a c-section "isn't that painful".

Wanker.

I heard that some people get dihydrocodeine prescribed and I intent to push for that after my c section.

I was prescribed 800mg Ibuprofen in the US, but couldn't take it as I am prone to stomach ulcers and have bowel disease. They also prescribed oxycodone, but I only took twice as it knocked me out for hours (which I realised wasn't simply tiredness after the second dose).

I had to just take paracetamol, which wasn't the best, but did help. I recommend two of the 500mg tablets, rather than the regular 300mg ones.

I had diclofenac with my first section in UK, but they must have changed protocol since then.

I’ve just had paracetamol and ibuprofen after my 2 CSs, and it was fine. By the time the spinal has worn off it seems to feel stiff and bruised, rather than actively painful.

It surprised me, in a good way!

I had diclofenac after mine thank god. I can’t imagine there are many other major surgeries where you tootle off home with a paracetamol… it’s like it’s ’only a section’

I was discharged with paracetamol after my section 12 yrs ago. The visiting midwife was horrified and arranged a prescription of diclofenic for me. It honestly wasn't needed, paracetamol was fine.

I live in Scotland, I’ve had 2 c sections and was discharged with a weeks worth of dihydrocodeine . I was encouraged to follow the same pain relief pattern that I followed in hospital of taking tablets every 2 hours- paracetamol and ibruprofen and dihydrocodeine every 4 hours.

When the midwife came out to visit she checked how I was doing pain relief wise and asked if I needed anything stronger . Genuinely surprised that people are discharged with so little!

Personally after my first c section I only needed paracetamol and felt okay. The second c felt more painful but I think this was due to chasing a toddler around!

I had diclofenac and cocodamol prescribed but that was 18 & 15 years ago

I didn't get that much pain from the surgery though and went onto paracetamol and ibuprofen the day after once I was up and about

The trapped gas however - ouch!!!
Make sure you have peppermint oil and drink it in hot water regularly

Yeah it's a joke. Any other major surgery and you get oramorph as standard 🤷🏻‍♀️

15.5 years ago I was sent home with diclofenac

I think it also depends on how long you are in hospital after your surgery. Discharged the next day and you might need something stronger to take home but if you are in for a week after surgery, paracetamol might be enough for you by then

Two c sections in two different hospitals - dihydrocodeine as standard both times.

yep, I took just paracetamol and ibuprofen and it was fine, no pain at all.

My first was an emergency, very premature c-section and I was really very well and mobile basically hours after it. Didn't feel much pain to the point I would forget I even had pain meds to take when I was in the NICU most of the day and the ward would call down to ask if I wanted any painkillers! I went home after 5 or 6 days and felt totally fine.

The second section was planned and while I felt the actual wound area was a little more tender than the first time, it wasn't massively painful. I was discharged home the next day with paracetamol and dihydrocodeine although I didn't take the dihydrocodeine much because I felt it made me constipated and the cramps caused by that, coupled with the horrific after pains which are apparently common after second and subsequent births (that nobody warns you about), was much more painful than the actual c-section site pain itself!

Fuck no. I had dicolefenac with paracetamol for one and ibuprofen with dihydrocodeine for the other. And an oramorph prescription ready and waiting whilst I was in the hospital so I could have it if I felt it was needed- didn’t take it with DC1, had it once with DC2.

With my first c section I was sent home with paracetamol and codeine. With my second, I was sent home, in less than 24 hours and didn't realise until I got home that they had only given me paracetamol. We called 111 to get an emergency prescription and was told by 3 different pharmacists over the phone, that paracetamol is fine (I can assure you, it was not), until I finally spoke to a female pharmacist who apologised profusely and had it available at the pharmacy within half an hour. She said that it happens all the time and drives her crazy.

For my first and second c sections I just had paracetamol.

For my third last year I had to be up and about immediately (NICU baby) so I had paracetamol, ibuprofen, oramorph and codeine during my 2 week stay on the postnatal ward.

Many years ago, (DS now in his 30s) i had two pain relieving injections (presumably opiod/morphine of some kind) after my CS, the first on the night of the surgery, the second on the next night.
They were ace. I slept really well and I'm sure it helped me to get up and about very quickly.
But they kept me in hospital for several days after that due to infection in the wound and i just had paracetamol from then on, AFAICR. It was fine by then and I wasn't discharged with any drugs.

I didn't even get the anticoagulant injections
To be fair they did come around the next day and give me them when I mentioned on the phone I had no idea what a "sharps bin" was.

Took about 2 years to feel the muscles working fully again and it only stopped being numb after about 5.

Yes it's true, I've had 3 children two c sections, after my 2nd I was discharged after less than 24 hours. The pain did kick in the first night home, more than with my first. It was only two bad nights then the general stiffness and aches after that.

I think it depends also how you're feeding. Whatever pain medication they give you will end up in your milk. Opiods are standard after surgery but they can make your baby sleepy and not feed well etc. Also they're addictive. I personally only had paracetamol and ibuprofen and coped fine (I had to tbf, I'm allergic). A friend was bottle feeding and had oramorph and had withdrawl after she finished. Had she been breastfeeding I don't know if baby would have too. Also it can really knock you out so you may not wake as easily if baby cries or be higher risk of rolling on baby if cosleep.

If you need stronger you need stronger. Ask to be discharged with more if you think you'll need it. Just consider implications.

1st was an emergency, and took a bit longer to heal. I had stronger meds in hospital, but discharged 3 days later with just over the counter.

2nd was planned section and I only needed paracetamol & ibuprofen from the strat. Went home next day with no issues.

The only other surgery I've ever had was on my ankle. I had oral morphine in hospital for a couple of days, but by the time I was ready to be discharged it was just paracetamol & ibuprofen.

I think with a lot of ops if your in enough pain that paracetamol & ibuprofen can't shift it, then your probably not well enough to be leaving hospital.