Did you have morphine for pain relief after your c section?

[Cinai2]

I think some hospitals seem to use it, others don’t. Did you have it / needed it / any side effects?

I have had two and no morphine, you get a spinal in most cases which helps with the pain for a while, after that it was paracetamol, ibuprofen and I think a type of cocodomol

Yes I had a couple of doses and then declined the following dose that was brought me to as wanted to see how I got on without it. Could have done with it in the days following though!

Yes had morphine after both sections. In Scotland if that makes any difference.

Had 1 dose and didn't like how it made me feel. I get a little spacey on morphine and so declined anymore. Managed fine on paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Had it immediately after. It made me throw up so didn’t have it again.

Only paracetamol here. Manageable but painful

I actually can’t remember what drug it was though it was probably morphine or something similar! I had a wee button I could press once every 5 minutes to get a hit Had three c-sections and had it each time. I did need it and didn’t have any side effects.

I had it after a complicated emergency c section and also after surgery for broken bones. Brilliant stuff - totally took the pain away and made me super calm. I did hallucinate slightly but I certainly wasn’t distressed or scared. I can see why people could easily get hooked on it.

Yes, it was heavenly.

Until the constipation afterwards.

I had oramorph for 24 hours after my section. It was lovely 😁

Nope. I didn’t particularly feel like I needed anything more than paracetamol/ibuprofen.

I recall one midwife being really stroppy with women on the ward who asked for extra pain relief, then they switched shifts and the next one would come along and say “why haven’t you had oramorph? There’s no prizes for being a martyr!” So even within a hospital the approach can vary…

I had oramorph with my first and was allowed to take it home with me too but they'd changed the policy by the time I had my second and just had ibuprofen/paracetamol, and dihydrocodeine if I requested it when I was actually in hospital. I found recovery took a couple of days longer with my second because the pain wasn't as manageable so I had to sit/lie down a lot more.

For us it's prescribed, but we have to ask for it. It won't be given at medication rounds automatically. That's just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Yes I had it but it was mainly for the epidural associated headache that I needed it. Was in so much pain I was vomiting.

Not for me- Scotland 2021
Paracetmol
Ibuprofen
Dihydrocodine as breakthrough.
Self discharged the same day though and was elective so might be different if emergency or staying.

No, didn't need anything other than paracetamol and nurofen. I'm not being a hero, would take whatever needed! But that was all it took for no pain in my case.

Just don't keep taking it for ages, my blood pressure was really high after 10 days!

Good luck. X

My hospital uses Diclofenac and paracetamol as standard, with stronger stuff available as needed. I didn't need anything, the only time I had any pain to speak of was when I moved bed and was skipped on a drugs round.

I had two doses of MST while I was in hospital (I didn't ask they just gave it to me), and then I think it was naproxen and paracetamol for discharge home.

It was a pretty straightforward elective section and I felt fine

No, spinal, then diclofenac.

They gave me some while I was having the CS as I'd had a ventouse attempt and forceps during the CS, plus an accompanying haemorrhage and they were anticipating quite a lot of discomfort once the spinal had worn off. I reacted badly to it and had something to reverse it.

Post surgery, it turned out I didn't need it anyway. I had some paracetamol while still in hospital but that was more for the shoulder pain. Didn't need anything once discharged the next morning.

When I had my C-section I was offered morphine straight after but asked the anaesthetist, 'won't it pass to the baby if I'm breastfeeding?' and he said 'yes' so I declined it. Shocking that he didn't ask how I planned on feeding.

There were 2 women on my ward whose babies wouldn't feed because they had fed them after a dose of morphine and they were then very sleepy.

Morphine is great for pain relief but maybe talk to your midwife. I had my epidural left in for longer and they gave me additional pain relief through that.

I was offered paracetamol 🤨

Obviously I declined and was given something stronger.

Thanks all for sharing your experiences…I want to go in as informed as possible to avoid being fobbed off with a paracetamol and a ‘you’ll be fine’.

Had it the day of after the spinal wore off. It was good. Went home the next day, had oramorph whilst in hopsital but it made me break out into an itchy rash on my back, tummy and legs so I opted not to have it as the itching was more irritating that the scar! Went home with paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodine and didn’t need anything more than that. The mistake people make is to let the pain killers wear off. Keep topped up and take them BEFORE you feel you need them. It's harder to come back from pain than to just avoid the cliff edge completely.

I believe they don't automatically offer it now especially if you are breastfeeding. As it can make the baby sleepy and refuse to feed.

I had codeine after my first as I had a bad trear, I don't think they offer that now either as the policy had changed by the time Inhad my second. But I didn't needed painkillers with him.