Best over-the-counter drugs for AFTERPAINS please?

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

After DC3 my afterpains were excruciating but by the time somebody bought me proper painkillers (I was at home) they'd almost finished. So I'd like to have them immediately available this time.

Recommendations please?

Sympathy, after DS2 I was in total agony, the after pains were worse than the labour. When I had DS3 I wrote in my birth plan that I was happy for a drug free labour but would need everything they had got for the afterpains. Think I was prescribed codrydomol (sp?) Can you get your mw/GP to prescribe something for you now to keep at home?

Actually you can buy paracetemol and codeine tablets can't you (is that what codrydamol is?)

I got my sil (a dentist) to write me an emergency prescription of ibruprofen. Those after pains were awful, just as I'd thought I'd gotton through labour without pain relief, I was in agony with after pains. (I was also at home following a home birth)

co codamol helped take the edge off for me after DS3. Although it only reduced them to a 4-5 cm kind pain from a 7-8 cm kind of pain

Thanks - I'll sort it out tomorrow.

mehga - I agree, the afterpains with my third birth were worse than labour. Still, at least I had a nice, contracted uterus to show for it.

My uterus always used to go back really fast too, my GP was always very impressed. I put it down to huge amounts of raspberry leaf tea and arnica.

I was prescribed co-codamol after DC4 (afterpains are horrendous, aren't they? Like being back in labour, and apparently worse the more DCs you've had) - I think you can get it over the counter. Otherwise I'm sure you can get a prescription in advance IYSWIM, especially if you know you're likely to suffer.

I suffered badly too!!!!

tens machine helped lots, plus a hot water bottle, plus co-codomol!!!!

good luck

Oh god duchess you have just reminded me I was absolutely terrified of the after pains when i had #6 last year. I started a thread too, i think it was Kittywise that gave me the answer.

She said take paracetemol and brufen alternately and if you can get hold of a codeine based drug. I was lucky in the end as ds was stuck and i had to have an epidural, stirrups and ventouse so felt none of the first excrutiating pains. The next few days were bad enough!

I distinctly remember using more gas and air after having #5 then for for the birth! I kept asking the midwife to check for another baby!

I am just pregnant again and had forgotten... bloody mother nature.

Yes I alternated brufen and paracetamol.

You're pregnant with your 7th child largeginand tonic? Congratulations!

Ta! Am sick as a dog and wondering why on earth after having so many my body does not just get a frickin grip

They gave me cocodamol for mine. Didn't get them after DD so they were a huge shock after DS

LG&T - congrats. No. 7!! Gah! I'm such a lightweight!

I spoke to pharmacist this morning who has given me a paracetamol/codeine combo. Says to check with midwife re: breastfeeding etc but I don't think it'll be a problem if only taken for a couple of days.

Do you think the afterpains feel worse because you're sitting up (often uncomfortably) or lying down in bed, trapped into a b/f position? I always manage my labour contractions by being on my feet and walking/swaying. I may try and do something about my positioning this time and see if that helps too.

Thanks everyone!

I had the most horrendous afterpains with dd. Turned out to be gallstones that had shifted with the birth. Was prescribed something mega ultra strong, and told that side effect on breastfed dd would just be constipation and more sleepy than usual. Her (then undiagnosed) milk intolerance made sure that neither of these happened!

My MW also told me that letting the placenta come out naturally rather than having syntco watsit lessens after pains. I only did this with DS3 but took pain killers anyway as I was so worried after DS2. So the after pains may have been lessened but I wouldn't have kbnown .

What have others experienced with regard to this?

they pescribed me voltarol to take home with me, although the afterpains with dc3 & 4 were nowhere near as bad as dc2

Definitely paracetamol and codeine! With ds2 (number 3) the afterpains were horrific! SO painful, and they went on for about 4 days. Nightmare!

csws - poor you having gallstones on top of everything else, what miserable timing!

mehga - I've never had synto-wotsit, I expel the placenta very quickly - within 5-10 minutes. So I hate to think how bad my afterpains would be if I did had the synto-wotsit.

co codamol. Dont take nurofen apparently not sure why though. Might becto to with breastfeeding although it is offered later on. Maybe notvrecommrnded immediately post natal.
that said paracetamol worked with me ok and pains were worse with. 2nd birth than 3rd...

The para & codeine are just about keeping me going. Afterpains every bit as bad as expected. But I'm nearly a day in so hopefully it'll be over soon.

I don't know what the para/codeine dose is as the box is upstairs. I'll look tomorrow.

I asked the pharmacist what the strongest painkillers were and that's what he sold me. I then checked it was OK with my midwife too. So not really self-medicating (just as well or I'd eaten the whole box in one go after last nights afterpains...)!!!