Nervous about Oramorph when looking after baby

[Meeko505]

This might sound like I'm overthinking, but I'm having an ELCS on Friday and I'm nervous about taking Oramorph - which I'd like to if I feel I need to especially if it means I get more sleep - particularly once my partner has to leave for the night. I've heard it makes you kind of sleepy and relaxed, and I guess I'm just worried that I'll be more likely to fall asleep while feeding or holding the baby, or wake up disoriented when the baby wakes in the night etc. It's my third baby but I've never had a CS before so feel a bit out of my depth...

I've had oramorph quite a few times for back pains and also a severe foot injury

I've never taken it whilst I've been a mum but personally, I would be too spaced out to look after a baby
I take medication daily for my back that has a woosy effect on a lot of people (gabapentin + a few others) but I can function normally on these. I couldn't do that on Oramorph

Is this what you would like to take or what the docs have said they'll give you for recovery?
I haven't had a c section so not sure what painkillers they give you after (hopefully good ones as I've heard recovery can be very painful) but I think I would choose a different option if possible

I was never offered oramorph after a C section. Is that normal now? I don't think I was offered anything other than paracetamol.

I had a C section and took paracetamol afterwards. I was offered that and codeine but the paracetamol was fine.

2 x EMCS here

No Oramorph offered beyond the first day or so. Didn't make me sleepy though

After day 2/3 you'll likely just need standard pain relief and probably not for very long

Is that what you've been told you'll be given? I think I had something stronger than paracetamol for three days (but not Oramorph) and then just paracetamol after both of mine.

I've had 3 sections and only ever been offered paracetamol or ibuprofen.

I had oramorph and was absolutely fine. Not especially sleepy, and it really helps with the pain. Some women are ok without but if you need it, take it. Personally I was not ok on just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I think I had it as needed the first 2-3 days? I do wonder if it affected my baby's feeding though - he was very sleepy at first and I have read it affects them. But it all worked out ok in the end, and I had very little pain except when I forgot to take pain relief or did too much. (I do not advise lifting a full bin bag.)

ETA - day 2 is usually worse than day 1, because the drugs from surgery wear off.

I had oramorph after both my c-sections. My babies were in nicu so I didn't have to look after them as such at the beginning but I did have to wash and sterilize the pumping equipment and take the milk down to nicu every 4 hours. I did struggle because the pain was really bad if I didn't take the oramorph but I felt quite spaced out while on it and I was worried I would fall over.

If your dh is going to be with you all day you could always take the morphine during the day and not at night. It doesn't hurt as much if you are lying still.

Hmm yes, they said Oramorph is standard if you want stronger painkillers, and I've read a lot of people on MN have used it before post-section though only usually on day/night 1. But if it sounds unsuitable it's good to hear I should avoid it.

I don't think it's standard. And you can hold off it you can mange and see how it goes. It does make you sleepy yes.

In my unit we give Oromorph, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. After 24 hrs we switch from Oromorph to Dihydrocideine.

If CS is in morning you may not be out of bed until late PM or even next day.
Your call bell is there for you to summon help to fet baby in and out of cot for feeds, staff can do nappy changes until you are up and about the next day.

Oromorph is an effective analgesia enhanced by taking it with Paracetamol. You should be fine taking it OP but if you are feeling very sleepy and baby is in bed with you just call for baby to be returned to cot.

I had oramorph after my c-section last year. I took it for 2 days whilst in hospital and I felt completely fine after taking it. No sleepiness or spaced out, but it helped massively with the pain.

I had it post lumber puncture. Prior to taking it, every movement was agony and made me throw up. Got given oramorph and it made me absolutely wired. Apparently I was spouting off all sorts of Un intellectual shite to everyone on the ward. Fuck knows what I was saying. I dread to think. Oh and I also reckoned I could walk the 20 miles back home because apparently it had cured me. Told the Dr this who just laughed and said we'll see. Oh and it made me throw up twice as much. The come down after it had worn off was not funny and the Dr who I told I was going to walk home asked me if I'd changed my mind. Erm yes absolutely!! I was banned from having anymore after a second day repeat of the first.

I don’t think they offered me more than paracetamol. Though I was discharged with dihydrocodeine, for “if needed”, and I didn’t need it. I’m an absolute wuss with pain too, so it wasn’t that I was being particularly gung ho - just didn’t need it.

I'd stick to paracetamol myself

Ibeg
It depends on various factors how much it affects you but if you are opiate naive, have a bigger dose or are a thin small person, or are on other meds it's likely to have more side effects.

I personally wouldn't have oramoroh and didn't after my CS.

And I prescribe it every day!

I had it after both C-sections, didn’t feel at all spaced out and didn’t sleep a wink 😂 The baby didn’t keep me up, I just felt so uncomfortable about sleeping in a ward when I knew the nurses would be coming round again soon, I hated it. I can’t sleep on planes etc either. I ended up just waiting for the morning coming. I had another shot of oramorph before leaving with my first baby and felt fine the first day or two but with my second I didn’t have any the morning after and I found the pain a lot worse.

It’s definitely all manageable though, don’t worry. I was the most nervous csection patient ever and had never had any hospital procedure before. It wasn’t ever a constant pain like I expected and it was fine to slowly walk, the nippy bits were when I went to sit down/stand up from the sofa if I sunk too far in and had to tense my abs and trying to get out of bed with tensing. I was pathetically rolled out of bed onto my feet by my husband and it was not fun 🙈

My midwife told me I'd be offered liquid morphine while in hospital overnight (after the op) but only if I felt I needed it, after that it'll be just paracetamol and ibuprofen once discharged. Possible codine if needed but they don't recommend it due to causing constipation (which isn't what you went after abdominal surgery). So I don't believe your sent home with it. Infact I was told if you felt you needed to keep taking it you weren't fit enough for discharge.

I was in for a few days after my emergency section and had Oromorph for the first two days I think, it was absolutely fine, I didn’t feel at all drowsy and it was amazing for the pain. I would definitely take again. The worse thing was waiting for them to come round with the painkillers when you were overdue them, they gave me paracetamol through an IV sometimes rather than tablets as they said it worked more quickly. They sent me home with Dihydrocodeine however I was fine on paracetamol and ibuprofen by day 3.

It’s pretty normal to have oramorph prescribed as an ‘if needed’ drug after a section (and it’s also pretty normal for MWs to not offer it even if it is needed). There’s only one way to know how it’ll affect you and that’s to try it (there is usually at least one anti-emetic prescribed too) - may be best to start with lower dose to start with as you can always take more if needed. Also best to try not to let the pain get really bad before asking for it because then you’re playing catch-up and may end up needing more. It’s quite variable how much pain relief women need/want after a section so you may find you don’t need it at all, but equally it’s fine if you do. Locally we tend not to send people home with it because if you’re needing proper potent opioids then that’s often a sign you need an eye-keeping because there may be a problem brewing.
During a section under spinal/epidural there will be a long acting opioid in the injection that continues to help with pain after the numbness is gone. Most women also agree to an anti-inflammatory suppository too if it’s not contraindicated - this combo usually means that day/night 1 is fairly comfortable but as PP suggested, day 2 may be more sore as that lot wears of while you’re trying to get up and about a bit more. It’s worth remembering that uncontrolled pain is physiologically bad for you as well as being just miserable so there’s really no advantage to toughing it out if it is painful.
Standard sort of cocktail to take home for women who don’t usually take anything very potent is paracetamol, ibuprofen (if it’s not contraindicated), dihydrocodeine. The opioids do all cause pretty impressive constipation so if you don’t need them deffo don’t take them, but if you do need them take them with whatever laxative they’re dishing out so the first BM(s) are less of a near-death experience!

This was my experience too. So glad I took it as really helped with the c section pain.

You don’t have to take it if offered, but likewise don’t try to be a hero and go without if you’re in pain! It really is so subjective how it affects you, personally I can’t tolerate opioids like that and they make me sick, but my DH had it for kidney stones and it was brilliant pain relief.

I had oromoroh after having my baby and it was marvellous; completely see how people get addicted to opiates. I felt physically and mentally fantastic. Took all the pain away and I felt like I was wrapped in cotton wool. I was very jolly and chatty. Perfectly able to take care of baby. Sadly I've not had the opportunity for another go since! 😂