Afterpains...

[Storm Bride]

I haven't really thought about this that much, but the subject has popped back into my mind, and I'm curious about something.

I've had five term pregnancies, and five c-sections. As far as I can tell, I've never had an afterpain. I've been assured many times that if I had them, I'd know it. I know that after I had dd2 in June, my OB checked me that evening or the following morning (can't remember which) and said, "your uterus is tiny" in a somewhat shocked voice - not negative in any way, but obviously very surprised. I don't know if she meant it was already back down to normal size, but it had obviously shrunk a lot in a short time (under 24 hours, for sure).

Is this really unusual? I've never come across stories of other women having no afterpains, especially after multiple children. I just keep reading things about how they get worse after the first one. I've had a couple women tell me they're worse with c-sections. But...I just never had them. I guess I'm wondering if there's any particular reason for that? (For a variety of reasons, I've come to think I have an odd uterus.)

[Veritaserum]

I had 24 hours of mild cramping after babies 4 and 5 and then pretty much nothing. I had them after my first three, though. I prefer my postpartum periods with #4 and #5. Something that I think made a difference was making sure I was not anemic (I was with my first three) and using Hypnobabies (which gives post-hypnotic suggestions for comfort after the birth).

[LiLStar]

With my first, a c-section, I didn't have any afterpains at all. All I had for pain was ibuprofin so I have no idea if that alone was enough to mask it, or if it was because it was my first, or what. I had them for about 5 days after my vbac though.

[JamieCatheryn]

Mine weren't totally unnoticable, but this second birth was at home and I got to take things easy and rest, and I didn't have anything painful. The first birth, on the other hand, they had us going across town and walking up to the ped's office and driving over to the hospital lab every single day, I was on drugs for that, ibuprofen just as the label said, which I NEVER do.

[Juvysen]

My first birth I had pretty much nothing, but boy, that second one was a DOOZY. I hear the first time's usually not as bad on the afterpains, though...

[callieollie]

I noticed mild cramping after my first. After my second, I noticed more severe cramping after the birth and then HORRIBLE cramping while nursing the day of and after her birth. It was much worse than labor!

Veritaserum, where do they do post-hypnotic suggestions for comfort after birth. I did Hypnobabies with my second birth (it was wonderful!) but I don't remember anything about AFTER the birth. I actually thought that for our next baby, I'm going to work that into my preparations so that the afterpains are much more manageable. Do they call afterpains something different? They need another name!

[terrabella]

Originally Posted by callieollie

Veritaserum, where do they do post-hypnotic suggestions for comfort after birth.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by LiLStar

With my first, a c-section, I didn't have any afterpains at all. All I had for pain was ibuprofin so I have no idea if that alone was enough to mask it, or if it was because it was my first, or what. I had them for about 5 days after my vbac though.

I've heard that it's not uncommon to have no afterpains with the first. It's just that everything I've read treats afterpains in subsequent births as something pretty much inevitable.

Mind you, it's possible I had them after Aaron. I was in so much pain, from so many different things (the c-section, the emotional toll, the stomach bug I'd picked up, and the post-section gas pains that I only got that time).

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by callieollie

I noticed mild cramping after my first. After my second, I noticed more severe cramping after the birth and then HORRIBLE cramping while nursing the day of and after her birth. It was much worse than labor!

Veritaserum, where do they do post-hypnotic suggestions for comfort after birth. I did Hypnobabies with my second birth (it was wonderful!) but I don't remember anything about AFTER the birth. I actually thought that for our next baby, I'm going to work that into my preparations so that the afterpains are much more manageable. Do they call afterpains something different? They need another name!

I think it's in Hypnotic Childbirth #2. I also did affirmations for an easy third stage and postpartum because my third baby's postpartum was horrid. That was the only time I used narcotics because ibuprofen did nothing. With babies 4 and 5 I used my Hypnobabies tools (especially Peace), made sure my iron levels were good, and ate better during my pregnancies. That combo worked wonders.

[callieollie]

I think it's in Hypnotic Childbirth #2. I also did affirmations for an easy third stage and postpartum because my third baby's postpartum was horrid. That was the only time I used narcotics because ibuprofen did nothing. With babies 4 and 5 I used my Hypnobabies tools (especially Peace), made sure my iron levels were good, and ate better during my pregnancies. That combo worked wonders.

Thanks! I will definitely be more aware of it next time around because they really took me by surprise after my second. And I've heard they only get worse!