Post birth contractions

[TeainanIV]

Hello wise mumsnetters! I'm after a little bit of advice - I'm currently 36.5 weeks pregnant with baby number 2 and am slowly descending in to panic over the realisation I've got to give birth again (first birth very traumatic, but that's a whole other thread). Everyone keeps warning me about the after birth contractions being even worse with your second baby - has anybody got any advice on how best to manage this?? I've packed paracetamol and ibuprofen in my hospital bag, is this enough to ease them/make them more manageable? How soon after birth should I start taking them?? It's all a bit of a blur with my first when the first post-birth contractions hit, but I remember them well as I breastfed and found it so hard keeping my DD on the boob combined with the awful contractions!! Any advice or experience is appreciated - from one very anxious pregnant lady!! Thank you all 🥰

Edit - spelling

How about getting a tens machine for afterwards, you might use it during the birth too. I hope it goes well for you, I understand your worries.

@TheLurpackYears thank you ❤️ I hadn't thought about a TENs machine for post-birth - great idea! I do have a TENs machine, I never got a chance to use it with my first as it all happened so quickly. I'll add it to the bag!

Hi OP, I'm currently 38+2 with DS2 and definitely got the jitters about giving birth a second time imminently! I had a difficult time first time round but it's the post birth contractions I remember the pain of more (think my nervous system had had enough by then!!) and I've heard they're meant to get stronger with subsequent births. I was in hospital for 2 nights with DS1, and they gave me some really good pain relief then (but i can't remember the name of it, helpful). Anyway, someone said it's worth packing codeine in your hospital bag in case you have to wait on drugs rounds so that's what I've done (alongside paracetamol and ibuprofen)! I'm planning to try a tens machine with this labour, and might well give it a go for after pains too!! Good luck OP!

@Hopingrae sending you good vibes and hoping this time round things are a little better! Everyone keeps telling me birth the second time round usually goes smoother as your body knows what it's doing 🙏🏼 I am clinging on to this fact anyway!!

I have a complicated relationship with codeine, my Mum has been addicted to it my whole life and it has destroyed mine and my sister's relationship with her. As a result I always refused it when I was on hospital last time, but I'm not sure if I'll cope as like you I remember how intense the contractions were with my DD! Aaaah, you'd think the pregnancy and birth were punishment enough - why we still have to experience pain afterwards I don't know, just seems cruel!! 🙈😅

Best of luck to you, you've got this! 💪🏼

I did not experience any severe pain with post birth uterine contractions and it could be connected to the fact that I did skin to skin straight away, delayed cord clamping and delivered the placenta naturally. All of these natural biological processes support the release of hormones that help manage any pain during the third stage. Disclaimer: know these things are not always possible and that birth does not always go to plan.

@HappierTimesAhead that's incredible, our bodies are amazing and I didn't know these things could impact on post birth discomfort. Unfortunately, due to complications, I was denied all of these things with my first birth 😞 but I'm really hoping to get this second time around - all being well. Your story has made me want it even more! Thank you for sharing xx

Absolutely, it's incredible. Look up Dr Sarah Buckley and Sara Wickham for more evidence based info about these natural biological processes.

Just to add, for my first child I also had interventions in the form of synthetic oxytocin to speed up labour and to birth the placenta. I didn't understand until afterwards how these drugs interfere with the body's natural processes and I actively avoided them for my second birth.

Disclaimer:I know that interventions are sometimes medically necessary to save lives. But they are often not necessary at all and cause more harm than good.

Just to say that codeine is not recommended to take when breastfeeding- if you are not planning to breast feed then it will be fine but if you need something that strength post birth and breastfeeding then you'll want dihydrocodeine- this is safe for short term use in breastfeeding women.

@TeainanIV FWIW I too was worried about the after pains following my second but they were manageable. I didn't need any pain relief for them so they won't necessarily be horrendous.

Best wishes with it all.

@Nursemumma92 thank you for this, I am planning on breastfeeding and did with my DD too - just another reason for me to avoid codeine! I've never actually taken it before, for reasons mentioned further up thread and have no desire to. That's really reassuring to here, I'm hoping they aren't too horrendous but I've got my paracetamol and ibuprofen ready just in case!!

I just had my third and they were manageable with paracetamol and ibuprofen. I took two paracetamol, then ibuprofen about 4 hours later. Then no further doses. It was uncomfortable but not that bad they did continue for a few days on and off

Mine did not get worse with subsequent births. I know because I never took pain medication for them. The post birth contractions you get are beneficial. They clear out the uterus quicker so the post birth bleeding stops sooner and they are shrinking the uterus back to normal not pregnant size so less chance of prolapse. Breastfeeding really helps this process along.

It's good to be prepared for sure. I found the "after-pains" terrible with baby number 2 because I wasn't expecting it. The hospital were terrible with pain relief - as soon as I got on top of paracetamol and ibuprofen it was absolutely manageable. Don't panic too much.

@lastgreat that's really reassuring to hear, thank you! I'm glad they weren't bad for you xx

@SpiritAdder that's great! And yes, definitely beneficial - I just remember being completely caught by surprise the first time round as I wasn't prepared for it! I panicked there was something still in there 🙈😅.

@coverp I'm so sorry you had such a horrid experience, I think that's it - I just want to be as prepared as I can be! They caught me by surprise the first time so I'm expecting it to be even worse this time around - but hopefully will be ready with my own pain relief to dampen them this time around! 🙏🏼

@Nursemumma92 thank you for sharing, I didn't realise that! I am planning to breastfeed as I breastfed my first. You've reminded me though, it was dihydrocodeine I was given last time which really helped. I'll ask for that and remove the codeine from my hospital bag!!
@TeainanIV sorry you've had that experience, completely get why your wouldn't want to take codeine, birth- related or otherwise!!
@HappierTimesAhead I did do skin to skin and delayed cord clamping with DS1,. I guess like lots related to birth, some of it could be luckiness (or unluckiness) re how good/bad cramps are. Interesting re synthetic oxytocin though, that can impact negatively in so many ways from what I've seen.