Afterpains - how long for?

[Deemented]

Had my baby on the 12th, and i'm still getting quite bad afterpains, or at least thats what i think they are. Not just when i'm feedig DS but most of the time it feels quite uncomfortable to move and i can't stand up straight, the pains also along where my previous c-sec scar is. My lochia has also increased too, but no clots 89sorry if tmi)

How long do afterpains usually last for?

Bumping for you - I am interested to know with dc2 being due next week

I had DD2 3 weeks ago and only had afterpains for the first couple of days..i would go to the docs and get it checked out, just to be on the safe side. Congratulations btw!

not sure how long afterpains are meant to last for, but I had DC3 on Weds (VBAC) and was weeping in agony down the phone to my MW at 5am this morning with pain in exactly the same spot you describe - i.e. across c-section scar. She came over and did the usual obs - pulse, temp, blood pressure and checked pads for amount and type of lochia. Anyway, she thinks it is probably ligament pain, excruciating, yes; serious, no.

I have been dosed up on diclofenac and prescription strength paracetamol and codeine and feel much better, but obviously trying to stay still to give everything a chance to heal.

As maybebaby says, def worth going to the docs or speaking to MW, if only to get more pain relief.

Get well soon!

That doesn't sound at all normal to me - when I told my MW I was still having cramps after a couple of weeks and the lochia was still intermittently quite red she recommended I get a course of anti-biotics (either from the GP or the delivery suite at the hospital). The concern I was given was that there may be a fragment of placenta or membrane left - it will more than likely pass itself given time, but the longer it remains in your uterus the more risk there is that you could come down with an infection and so ABs are given to reduce that risk while giving the body time to do its thing.

Best to get it checked, especially with the pain focussed over your previous CS scar.

Hope you feel better soon.

o, I had almost forgotten, I am on antibiotics too, for the reasons Tangle describes.

the not-so-happy news is that it can last up to six weeks. your uterus is contracting back to its original size (about the size of a pear) from its huge pre-labour size (containing a baby!)

the good news is, the good gods of medicine have come up with truly great meds you can take whilst BF- so do take some it will get better.