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Childbirth

What pain relief were you given post birth?

85 replies

allisgood1 · 10/03/2014 19:08

Just wondering what pain relief (if any) you were given AFTER the birth. I've been told by my midwife that women are given only paracetamol and nurofen now. Two years ago when I had my second I was given co-dydramol and dicofenlac. I had an episiotomy and required (including midwife and doctor orders to take religiously) for about 2-3 weeks. This is apparently because "it can make the baby sleepy". I am obviously now really worried about recovery now (midwife said I should purchase over the counter). Is this true?

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stargirl1701 · 10/03/2014 19:11

I was only given paracetamol despite begging for something else. I got codeine in the morning when a new shift started.

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daisydee43 · 10/03/2014 19:12

Don't think I was given anything. Had epidural

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thatstoast · 10/03/2014 19:15

How can it make the baby sleepy post birth?

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learnasyougo · 10/03/2014 19:16

in 2012 I was offered codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen. codeine can make you constipated, so I stopped taking that. I didn't really need anything stronger, despite a heck of an episiotomy.

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BillyAndBamBam · 10/03/2014 19:17

I got paras and ibuprofen together.

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CitrusyOne · 10/03/2014 19:18

Morphene drip for 24 hrs.

EMCS though.

But then also came home with co-codamol and ibuprofen. Was prescribed diclofenac (sp?) but the pharmacy in hospital had none so had the co-codamol instead, but I did tell them I'd previously taken that for migraines anyway without any problem.

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DangoDays · 10/03/2014 19:19

Kept asking for ibruprofen or paracetamol. Nothing offered otherwise. Cramps while breastfeeding ds2 were really painful.

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allisgood1 · 10/03/2014 19:21

Thatstoast: if you're breastfeeding (which by the sounds of it they assume everyone will be).

I'm worried because paracetamol and neurofen combination was not helpful for me last time and I got into all kinds of mess with pain until I managed to get it back under control. Had absolutely no affect on my baby (same with my first).

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ilovepowerhoop · 10/03/2014 19:23

I think it was diclofenac I got too but that was 7 years ago

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gamerchick · 10/03/2014 19:24

I got this pessary thing shoved up my arse. It was magic. But I'd pulled the muscles in my back from pushing and was in utter agony.

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ananikifo · 10/03/2014 19:26

I was told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen but nobody have them to me. A GP tried to tell me I couldn't take ibuprofen while bf but I ignored her. I'd had second degree tearing and a stitch and these only took the edge off my pain.

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ananikifo · 10/03/2014 19:27

Nobody gave them to me, not have them to me.

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TheScience · 10/03/2014 19:29

2010 - had an episiotomy and forceps - was given a diclofenac suppository and then paracetamol and oramorph on pn ward. Was also discharged with a supply of diclofenac.

2014 - had an episiotomy again but no instruments - again with the suppository and then just paracetamol. I had also taken my own ibuprofen in with me, but you can't take it alongside diclofenac anyway.

The guidance on codeine and breastfeeding apparently changed recently due to a rare condition than can occur - www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/dibm/codeine_for_website_july_2013%20(1)%20(4).pdf

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Lonecatwithkitten · 10/03/2014 19:30

Had nothing, but I was kicking up such a stink to get my poor newborn with the black and blue head pain relief I didn't think about myself. Interestingly whilst midwives didn't think DD needed it paeds agreed with me.

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HolidayCriminal · 10/03/2014 19:31

cocodamol for the afterpains. Didn't need pain relief for anything else.

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thatstoast · 10/03/2014 19:31

Sorry, I am being dense. You can tell I formula feed.

I hope you get the pain relief you need but if midwife is suggesting stronger over the counter stuff that is compatible with breast feeding it can't hurt to stock up.

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YokoUhOh · 10/03/2014 19:32

A spinal (3rd degree tear) :( and then diclofenac and paracetamol. I was still in farty, windy agony 12 hours later and cried on a nurse, so they gave me peppermint water, too (think getting stitched up with legs in stirrups created a wind tunnel) :(

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allisgood1 · 10/03/2014 19:35

Lonecat: I had the same argument with mw when dd1 was born...when pead saw her they immediately asked if they could give her calpol.

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allisgood1 · 10/03/2014 19:36
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SummerRain · 10/03/2014 19:38

Dd, lateral tear with two stitches, one either side. Got a suppository which was great but no idea what it was. Left the next morning, had nothing else. Was in agony but paracetamol don't work for me and I was told I couldn't take ibuprofen.

Ds1, small lateral tear but no stitch. Got nothing and again thought I couldn't take ibuprofen.

Ds2, perineal tear but no stitches. Ds2 was in scbu very ill so whilst I was offered shite loads of drugs this time, and bloody needed them as I was very bad with afterpains I wouldn't take anything as I was afraid it would affect him. That was a different hospital and they were definitely a lot more generous with pain relief than the hospital I had the first two at.

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verdiletta · 10/03/2014 19:43

DC1, bad tear, episiotomy, forceps, lots of bruising - paracetamol, and the occasional ibuprofen if I begged for it. I was in agony.
DC2, planned c-section - morpheine drip! For days! And considering I was pretty much off my face on it I think that was excessive pain relief tbh.

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Mildpanic · 10/03/2014 19:51

Had 3rd CS 12 weeks ago.i was only given paracetamol and ibuprofen to take home. I had my tubes done as well and had been in labour for 10 hours prior to the section.
I had the disclofenac suppository at section so was ok for 24 hours. I went home less than 24 hours later and was in agony at night for ages. Eventually asked GP for more pain relief and was prescribed codeine.
Codeine did nothing at all and added to the constipation.
I really wish I had insisted on disclofenac sooner as this worked after previous 2 sections.

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scarlettsmummy2 · 10/03/2014 19:52

2nd degree tear both times, just given ibuprofen and paracetamol. Also something put up my bottom with second child which was good! No idea what it was! Couldn't have anything stronger as breast feeding.

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vichill · 10/03/2014 19:59

I was offered nothing.

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SoonToBeSix · 10/03/2014 20:05

Diclofenac , codeine and paracetamol I did have post natal pre eclampsia and my headache was severe.

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