Hospital gives only paracetamol+ibuprofen for C-section recovery?!???!

[Scaredmama1023]

I just learnt that my hospital only gives paracetamol and ibuprofen after C-section :(. And for anything else you need to ask and ad-hoc they might give morphine if doctor agrees...

They are such weak medication, I take those for headaches and period pains. To think that's what you get after being literally cut open and stitched back?!?!?! I though I'll be sick hearing this.

I'm panicking, not sure how I'll stick the pain of my C-section recovery. I'm a massive wimp when it comes to pain :(

Ladies... how bad is the pain in like on 1-10 scale where 10 is absolute agony? I guess it changes by day too? And then there is this shoulder tip pain and all. Jeez how did you all cope????

I had a gallbladder removal surgery and they gave me paracetamol as well. It doesn't hurt that much, you will be fine

I had horrendous amounts of pain and required oramorph and codeine as often as they allowed. This went on for months after the second c section. You have to bring it up every time you see a nurse or midwife and demand they get you it. Dont be fobbed off with only during pain rounds or we dont do that for csections. It is discrimination against women denying pain relief. They are cutting many layers of you and you should not have to feel any pain. Prepare anyone with you to be vocal about it aswell. Start asking before the feeling returns. Dont say you're alright when it's a dull roar when you are still as getting them back is so very difficult. Better to have them and not need them. Anyone with a history of inflammation is probably going to be in more pain. Not ever woman is the same but all women should be offered as much pain relief as possible. Make sure you ask for laxative or lactulose when taking codeine. You have to be your own advocate and be prepared with their complaints phone number to call from your hospital bed. Dont take no for an answer. They would never dream of performing surgery in any other capacity to such great severity and not issue pain killers. If that is hospital policy then contact your MP now to make them aware of it. Maternity care is a hot topic.

Don’t assume people doing stuff post c section are in a terrible relationship and are being forced to go to the shops. They might just be feeling amazing and want to do stuff

I agree with this. I felt I really needed to get out of the house and do some 'normal' stuff after 9 months of having a baby in my belly with all the joint aches and heaviness that goes with it. Apart from some tenderness and tiring sooner than usual it made me feel much better, mentally and physically.
I wasn't hoiking off to the supermarket or the park on my own. On the contrary, for a few weeks dh made himself available to come with me wherever I wanted to go. Even though there was zero risk of me attempting to go down a slide.

Or do we erase pain from memory? Or try to downplay or overplay it?

Maybe that could be true of labour pain, but I doubt it for c-sections.
I can clearly remember people being surprised to see me out and about, and my bil being amazed I could walk up and downstairs. He expected me to be confined to bed:) It was tender, and twinged if I moved too fast, but really, that's all.

I've had only paracetamol after 1st one. Not enough for me then as I had post surgery contractions (emergency Cesarean). 2nd time, which was planned, I asked to be admitted early to be put on iv. Was kept on morphine 24-48 hours post surgery (sorry it's been awhile. Something between those timeframes). Much better although I couldn't leave the bed. Morphine IV means having a catheter though. Plus they do injections of blood thinners in your upper thighs afterwards as long as you're lying in bed, which is longer with morphine. I am generally not great with pain or illness, which is why I insisted on it the second time around. Best of luck!!

I was given tramadol too after my c section. All I can say is I then totally understood the comedy sketch ‘tramadol nights’ or whatever it was called 😂😂😂 the knight rider one it made me hallucinate!!!

I didn’t have much if any pain. I felt
like if I moved too abruptly my scar might hurt but I was just careful.

I think I got a suppository in theatre and it and the diamorphine I’d had in theatre (no itching in my case) saw me through until next morning when I had paracetamol and ibuprofen at regular staggered intervals. Anaesthetist cautioned to take these regularly for 3-4 days even if felt didn’t need them.

apart from the initial shoulder pain / trapped wind sensation common after abdominal surgery ( take colpermin and peppermint tea with you) it was fine and certainly a lot more comfortable than an episiotomy!

I felt more pain after my keyhole gallbladder removed.

No they don't, they will get you onto paracetamol as soon as possible, side effects of opiates and coming off of them can be worse for you, this applies to most surgeries

Aren't the "after" pains" the same as "the recovery from the operation"? 🤔
Sorry I'm confused....

I had oramorph for two days. I was in total agony and couldn’t get up. But my section was also a very rushed emergency one, I wasn’t even slightly prepared for it mentally.

After pains usually means the pain from uterus contracting back down - happens however you give birth.

Ah, ok, thanks for clarifying ;)

2 x sections

1st had morphine and then managed well with just paracetamol

2nd just paracetamol

I wouldn’t have said the pain was unbearable but could tell when the pain relief had warn off but after a couple of days wasn’t having to take as regular just as a when. I was also nervous but it really wasn’t as bad as expected especially after the first number 2

Yes after pains are uterus contracting down, breastfeeding helps so the pain is worse when feeding. It’s like period pain, but worse the more kids you have, the first kid it’s hardly noticeable at all.

Hi,
I had 2 emergency C sections and truly the pain was very manageable both times. They did give me a ketoprofen (painkiller) while I was in hospital but I started saving it on day 2 I believe (they don't give it to you to take home and I was worried about the pain). Never took it at home.
Labour pain was much much more painful than recovery.
Take it slow, no sharp movements. Laughing is a bit painful as well but overall no issues at all. I was up on my feet 4h-5h post surgery to take care of my baby (including the night).

Why the assumption that they are forced into it? I resumed normal activities as soon as I could, as long as you’re not overdoing it, it’s perfectly safe and good for recovery to keep mobile and active.