After pains... Been told they don't happen until DC2?

[newmomma]

Hi,

A friend recently told me that after pains are something you don't experience until giving birth to your SECOND child.

I am due (DC2) in May and had no idea what after pains even were (obv. did have them 1st time round)...

She said that they were MUCH worse than the labour. I'd just said that I wasn't worried about labour too much this time round as my first experience went quite well (I can almost say I enjoyed it). So was it just to give me a kick in the teeth after me saying my first labour went ok or is she telling the truth?

And if so - is there anything I can do to prepare/stop them happening/take to ease the pain?

Thanks!

Afterpains apparently do get worse with each child, but from what I gather talking to others (I have 2 dc's) it's bearable.
I was in a lot of pain after ds2 was born and yes it was worse than labour, but I had an infection in my uterus and in my bladder. Without infection, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Good god - why do 'they' never tell you this?

You spend most of your adult female life worrying about the eventualities of childbirth and once you've done it (and it turns out to not be too bad after all) - the next hurdle appears...

Do you know what causes them - is it just things 'settling' back into place? And does anyone know why it should be so much worse with each child? Surely everything should get more used to it rather than less...?

I am expecting my 4th this week and can honestly say they do get worse as your body works harder to contract back.

They are not worse than labour itself. It's just that they do feel like contractions in that they come on, peak and then go. But unlike with labour, these last from 3 days to a week and things like the baby crying or breastfeeding brings them on stronger.

They can be hard to cope with if you are trying to feed a new baby but a hot water bottle, lots of rest and paracetamol sorts them right out.

I actually had them worse with DC1. They were dreadful - probably not worse than my induced labour, but close. Not helped by the fact I kept getting told, "but you don't get them with your first" .

So I was really worried about them second time around. The advice I got, which seemed to make them a lot better, was to have a natural third stage (ie. no injection) and empty my bladder very regularly in the days following birth. As a result, my afterpains after DC2 were significantly less painful.

I have two and afterpains with #2 were unpleasant but definitely not worse than labour, let alone much worse. I have heard that from mothers of four or five, though, but with a second DC I wouldn't worry too much. Some sitting positions were worse than others for intensifying the afterpain sensation, I found.

newmomma They can't be that bad or people would never have more than 1/2. Look at all those people out there that have 4/5/6 children!
I had quite bad infections and spent a few days back in the hospital.

Why don't you ask on the larger family topic board? I'm sure they'll be able to give you lots of reassurance

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Not worse than labour for me either-and I had two easy labours!

Just had number 2 and I can't even remember if I had them or not. Can remember the birth quite vividly though so they definitely can't be worse than labour!

For me anyway.....

Definately not worse than labour...I had a very easy labour with number 3, and the after pains were OK...my let down reflex got stronger though, so I had tingling boobs and after pains at the same time...interesting with visitors.....

I've missed something here! I've never heard of after pains!! I just spoke to DH and asked could he remember me having any. Sore boobs and sore from stiches but that was it. I've had 2DC's so I guess the answer is that each case is as unique as the birth.

I dint get any after DC2 but with DC3 they where really painful.. I kept saying to my husband.. I am sure they have left one in there. but paracetomol defo helped with them, and they lasted about 3 days getting less intense each day. DC4 due in just over 3 weeks and I am preparing myself for it , as I am dreading the after pains atleast with the labour I know i am going to be holding my gorgeous baby at the end of it.. and I think this is what makes the afterpains feel worse as you are having these pains with nothing to show after them.. If that makes sense..

To add to the 'you just can't tell brigade' - I had awful afterpains with ds (my first) and practically none with dd (my second).

And I don't know what made the difference

Yep, had em with DS2 but not DS1. Painful but no where near as bad as the labour. Lasted about 24 - 36 hours and only got really bad when BF. Painkillers helped and I think I only had paracetemol.

Well mine with DC1 made me wince and yelp while feeding, but were NOTHING compared to labour. But have only had one, so can't say if worse with a second. |But can say I had them with first!

Had worse afterpains with DS1 than with DS2 - just remember to breathe through them and you'll be fine.

There cannot be anything worse than abour!!! please!

I only have one baby for the mo and mine are not too bad at all!

yes, they def get worse with each labour in most cases as your uterus has to work harder to contract back to what it was. Think they are 'worse' than labour only in that you don't anticipate for them in the same way (too busy cooing over your new baby) and they don't feel useful because you have already given birth. I only found them really unbearable just after the birth - from then on they were quite manageable. I have codeine packed for no.3 in a few weeks' time as friends have forewarned me!

I had an epidural so maybe that is why I didn't feel any after the birth? and then my tummy just hurts a bit sometimes when I walk...

None with DD#1, Horrendous with DD#2 (almost passed out in pain at one point so was dreading them after #3 - mild in comparrison, just like bad period pains and nothing more thank goodness. The difference between DD#2 and #3 was that I had a managed 3rd stage with #2 and natural 3rd stage with DD#3. Perhaps that helped??