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?

I got diclofenac prescribed with both my sections. 3 days worth. I didn't finish either. Paracetamol and ibuprofen if taken alternately every two hours covers you. Just don't forget to take them as I did and needed one of the diclofenac as it was a bit nippy.

Both of mine were electives, and I suspect emergency surgery is liable to be different give the events preceding. With my 2nd, paracetamol and ibuprofen taken religiously worked very well. However with my first, I had haemorrhaged and also got dihydrocodeine (as and when the midwives could be bothered to give it to me). I was in a lot of pain as it wasn't being managed and I had to fight to take my prescription dihydrocodeine home with me (apparently I could just pop out to the GP if I felt I needed it ... on a Sunday .... whilst I was already desperately in need of it ...). Take your own tablets with you in case the postnatal ward isn't being run properly and just write down what and when you are taking pain killers. Astonishingly this is now standard practice in my local hospital (although as you can see from my differing experiences, it does work!)

I was fine with just paracetamol and ibuprofen post op. I never felt like I needed anything more (I've had 2 c-sections)

I was given morphine as well as taking ibuprofen and paracetamol. I'm pretty rubbish with pain but I didn't feel like I needed anything more

Beyond the first 24 hours, I didn't need anything stronger but they would have happily sent me home with something more if I felt I needed it but it wasn't the kind of pain that bothered me much.

I also had diahydrocodeine prescribed , it's pretty insane that after major surgery you are given barely any pain relief, Expected to look after a baby by yourself overnight and learn to breast feed .
After my husband's vasectomy he was told to have 2 days bed rest 🙄

I was discharge with oro morph last spring after a section, l needed it and used it all. Bemused that paracetamol and ibuprofen would be enough. But it was twins and l was 43, so lots to do and my recovery wasn’t that quick

2 days bed rest 🤣🤣🤣. Spoiler: my husband realistically won’t get that after his vasectomy and l doubt it’s needed. 7 hours after my section my husband had to go home because of visiting hours and l was left with newborn twins after a c section

@TruthorDie
It's mad that you are expected to look after 2 babies by yourself ! I coped perfectly fine with the one over night although didn't sleep at all but 2 must be so difficult!

I had oramorph for a couple of days, then just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Like others have said, the most painful but really is the trapped gas! Once that passes, it isn't too bad really.

I had an c-section two weeks ago and was sent home with dihydrocodeine, and the oral morphine added to my prescription.

I haven't used all the dihydrocodeine and mostly alternated paracetamol and ibuprofen, the pain from c section area hadn't been too bad since leaving hospital but some burning nerve pain slightly higher on the right has been terrible but the painkillers don't touch it.

I was given diclofenac, which is the same group of drugs as ibuprofen. And alternated with paracetamol. My last section was just under a year ago.

Everyone is different, but for me the pain was very manageable.

Hope all goes well.

I wasn't discharged with anything, told to take OTC if needed but I found I didn't need to. Everything was numb so the scar never really hurt, and I was just really careful about movement to not pull anything. Slept sitting up to start and slowly started to lower and then side sleep but that took a few weeks. I found the recovery fine tbh, but I know that is my experience and isn't everyone's. I was really surprised. I was able to get up on my own and move around within about 18 hours or so which felt good to get up and get going, I think that helped me. The worst part is going for your first number 2 afterwards, but once that was over and done with I felt so much better.

I know right? It was a terrible night, l only got the odd hours sleep thanks to the lights going on and off all night which would wake and the twins. Then the woman opposite me was tutting because one of them was crying a bit. I controlled myself -not sure why. I should have said lm not sure what you are tutting at, yours will start at some point and obviously they did. Then at 6am she started face timing on the ward 🙄. Maternity wards are the worst

You 100% should have said something to her!

I only got paracetamol and ibuprofen, although I had some oramorph for the first 2 days in hospital. When dc5 came out of nicu after 5 days that was enough pain relief but dc4 was in for 4 weeks and I just found the pain absolutely horrific.

Had 2 c-sections, most recent one 5 weeks ago, and sent home with a weeks worth of dihydrocodeine both times and told to keep up with a regular schedule of that and paracetamol and ibuprofen. I was discharged after 24 hours so the pain was quite intense for the first couple of days but I didn't need the full weeks worth of pain relief as it does get better quickly.

The trapped wind however as PP have mentioned, stock up on peppermint tea - it's honestly excruciating!!

I got discharged with paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydracodeine and got a dose of oramorph before I left for good measure only needed the codeine for 2 days before I felt okay on just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

What nonsense.

If that had been the case, I'd have been in hospital for two weeks! Thats the other end of the scale of this.

I had diclofenac and paracetomol. I tried to take the diclofenac as little as possible, but found that if I didn't keep on top of it, the pain really did get too much. Otherwise I was absolutely fine. Just needed to take it easy, and not over do it.

I was personally in a lot of pain after both my C-sections. Some people seem to be fine but I really struggled with it. First one, almost passed out trying to shower and have catheter taken out so they gave me oral morphine. I managed to stagger out of hospital 2 days later with paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine. Second one, I insisted on oral morphine before I tried to get out of bed etc and that worked a bit better. I also brought peppermint tea to help with the trapped wind pain. Both times, I was taking tablets round the clock for a couple of weeks before I was able to function without. Both my babies were huge and in weird positions, don't know if that contributed.

I was prescribed oramorph but they took ages to get it to me before discharge and it wore off, so I know I definitely needed it. That said, I only needed it for the first three days and then I was ok with regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I'm not great with pain - some people seem to cope better.

Just to add another comment, I've had 2CSs and was given morphine while in the hospital, then discharged with ibuprofen and paracetemol. As previous posters have said, as long as you take them regularly and alternatively, it does somehow manage to keep the pain away. I now always use it is an example when people say that paracetomol and ibuprofen don't work (this used to include me)...they got me through 2 abdominal surgeries!! I should think it also depends on whether you're planning to breast feed and what is ok to pass through to the baby.

I wish I'd known about the peppermint tea...the trapped wind was almost the worst of it!!

I think what threw me more was coming home and hearing my best friends husband has been discharged after minor surgery on his knee with a concoction of prescription painkillers.

Clearly this post proves women can and do get by with just the paracetamol and ibruprofen but still- my mind is blown by it!

I was, but not sure it was worth the extra stomach issues it caused (constipation).

I only needed paracetamol and ibruprofen after my section - don’t miss a dose though!

They are both very effective painkillers, but people dismiss them because they’re so easily available.