Pain relief after a c-section and breastfeeding

[HappyAsIAm]

I am pregnant with my second baby (DS is 3 yo) and I am trying to make sense of why certain things happened in my first pregnancy and delivery. I think I was so absorbed in looking after DS after the birth that I didn't realise why things were happening really.

I had an EMCS, and left hospital 2 days afterwards, with no medication at all, just paracetemol and ibuprofen which I bought over the counter at the chemist in Sainsburys next to the hospital. The pain at the incisions site was quite severe (though I didn't have an infection) and the afterpains were a lot to deal with too. I wasn't told that there were any other painkiller options, so that's all I took.

I have heard of other women being given other painkilers to take home with them after a c-section, and I wondered why I didn't get them. It might have made my recovery so much easier after a long and difficult labour and EMCS. Is it because I was exclusively breastfeeding at that time? Or anything to do with the hospital policy? Or the area I live in (Bromley)?

It may be the case that i end up with a CS this time round, and IO would like to me more informed.

I'd be asking serious questions about the hospital's standard of care if I were you. I had an ELCS nine weeks ago and was sent home with a sack of pain relief, along with blood thinning injections and iron tablets (I lost a lot of blood), and I was exclusively breastfeeding. It sounds to me that you either fell between the cracks and your hospital just didn't realise, or they're rubbish! Hope you have a better experience this time - voice your concerns straight away.

I was given pain relief from the hospital to take home after EMCS ( I think for 2 weeks or so?) and I was breastfeeding, so that's not the reason why. Make sure if you are having ELCS or end up having another EMCS that they don't miss this again.

I was given paracetamol, codeine and diclofenac when I was discharged. And blood thinning jabs. Proper pain relief is vital or that first week is just horrific. I have been breastfeeding since day 1. I was told codeine can make the baby a bit sleepy but it didn't at all with mine.

three sections with various complications and I have never had anything other then paracetamol and ibruprofen. And with the third I did have to stop at the Chemists on the way home and buy it.

I never really felt the need for anything stronger. If you take the paracetamol as prescribed it is incredibly effective I found.

Breastfeed all three too.

I had a c-section last week. In hospital I had diamorphine in recovery then diclofenic, paracetamol, and codeine on the post-natal ward. I was given codeine and paracetamol to bring home, a weeks supply, as well as some lovely blood thinning injections. I'm BFing and I've noticed that DD is sleepy but she's also jaundiced so that could be causing the sleepiness. I'm very drowsy right after taking the codeine though. Once that runs out I'll just use paracetamol for as long as needed.

I definitely agree that you need something to get you through and the hospital should have sent you home with pain relief. Everyone has different pain thresholds so while paracetamol is enough for some others need more than just that. You could contact the hospital and ask if they have a Birth Reflections service, PALS should be able to put you in touch with them, the service arranges for you to discuss your previous experience one-to-one with a MW or doctor and get answers to any questions you might have.

This time around make sure they sort out proper pain relief. If they say no or that you don't need it then ask to speak to the consultant or registrar. If they still say no then take names, they have a duty of care and that duty includes making sure you're comfortable. Hopefully though last time was an oversight and you'll have a more positive experience this time.

Have you told your MW your concerns? She might be able to arrange for you to speak to the consultant prior to making any decisions.

Thanks so much for your replies. I was half expecting to be told that just paracetemol and ibuprofen was the standard, and to just get on with it. But I will be voicing my concerns this time whenever I get to see a midwife (my surgery says that I only get to see the midwife at 16 weeks and I can only see the nurse until then - where that leaves me in terms of arranging the 12 week scan I don't know, but I am pursuing it).

Gomez, I agree with paracetemol being very effectiove when you take it as prescribed. its just that after such a long labour, with a nocturnal baby and breatfeeding, I needed a little more pain relief than paracetemol gave three days after the c-section. I also took homeopathic remedies, which I truly believe hepled too.