post c-section drugs

[jolesh]

so i am just wondering about drugs after a CS. i don't want to be taking much but the pain is nuts! i tried to taper off some this morning but ended up feeling so beat up that i caved. i will of course as my doc as soon as i see her later this week, and also a nurse that is visiting this aft, but just wondering about what other mama's are doing for pain relief post-CS? DS is a week old today and i don't want to take drugs if/when i don't have to, but how do you tell? i was told not to let the pain get ahead of me, but how do you know when the pain is starting to subside if you are staying ahead of it?

[chochkies]

I have had four c-sections.....my last was a week ago. 3 Ibuprofen every 6 hours always works best for me. I use this immediately after the c-section and refuse the Toradol or other strong drugs. I've found it's anti-inflammatory effects plus pain relief work very well and my breastfed baby doesn't seem to suffer any effects.

[leavemealone]

I ended up with a c-section with my first child. It's been almost 10 years since that birth, but I do remember needing to take pain meds even after leaving the hospital. I ended up asking for a refill on the stronger pain meds b/c it's what I needed to take. I would say that if you need the stronger pain meds, then take them b/c it may allow you to heal faster. If you don't think you need them, don't take them and ibuprofen may be fine for you.

[MeepyCat]

I understand the desire to limit the use of pain meds, but I had the same questions as you and seriously? I should have taken more. I have terrible reactions to most of the stronger pain relief options, but I should have been more aggressive with acetominophen and ibuprofen.

If you are only a week post-section, I think it's pretty safe to assume you need pain relief. I typically found that I especially undermedicated at night, so my pain level in the morning told me a lot about how much I was likely to need medication during the day. Also, think about doing basic things - walking upstairs, picking up the baby. If, when you think of this stuff, the next thing you think is "that's gonna hurt," you need more medication.

I also found that my mood and my energy level helped me assess my need for meds without requiring me to actually hurt (much). Extreme crankiness or apparently unreasonable levels of exhaustion are often indicators that pain is insufficiently controlled.

[aylaanne]

When I had a c/s, I alternated 600mg of ibuprofen and 500mg of tylenol every two hours (so ibuprofen at noon, tylenol at 2p, ibuprofen again at 4, tylenol again at 6, etc) and topped it off with a percocet when it wasn't cutting it. I only took the percocet when there was someone else around to help with the baby should I need it. I took the most percocet in the first two weeks, then tapered off, and I still have 2 pills of my 30 pill take-home prescription left over two years later.

If you're worried about your milk, don't be. Pain medication passes into breastmilk, but in such small amounts that it is almost never detectable in an infant's bloodstream. Don't worry about "caving." You'll know when it's time to taper off because you'll go for a while and think, "Oh, I forgot to take my pain medication! Wow, I barely noticed and it's been hours!"

Just be aware that most take-home narcotic pain medications also have tylenol in them, (sometimes written "APAP" on the bottle) so if you are taking OTC tylenol in addition, make sure that your TOTAL dose of tylenol doesn't go over 4000mg in a day. That's why I only take one extra-strength tylenol at a time.

[dogretro]

I took percocet for a while after dd1. I don't remember how long, though. Do not feel bad about taking your pain meds! You had surgery, you need them. Would you feel as bad about it if you had your knee operated on? You need them to function, so take them! I'm still taking giant ibuprofen after dd2 (vbac) b/c my ladytown is still killing me.

Also, take the stool softener for, like, ever. Seriously, take it for months. And get some suppositories or laxatives, too.

[jolesh]

thank you so much for all your responses - this has been such a weird problem for me. guilt/wanting to get better etc..

and the last couple of days the pain has been WORSE or at least the drugs aren't cutting the mustard like they did the first week. argh. i think it is because i am moving around more. frustrating!

but it is good to know what you guys have experienced. i will not hold back on the meds until i am sure i feel better!

today and yesterday i have been so shaky and ouchee in the guts. looking forward to 1130am so i can have some relief!

[Sorin]

Hey, Jolesh, I had my baby via c-section on April 16th. I was given 600mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours and one Norco (Tylenol + vicodin) every 4 hours in the hospital and told to continue the routine at home. Everything that I have read about pain relief after a c-section says don't try to be a hero! Take the meds and heal. You will heal faster and not need them sooner if you do. I'm about two weeks past my section and am still taking the ibruprofen on schedule with a Norco topper when I need it. With the meds I have more energy and am better able to take care of my little one. Take those meds, girl! No need for guilt!

[bubbamummy]

I had a c-section last Wednesday (8 days ago) and I must have got very lucky. I took Percocet twice on the day after and then Ibuprofen three times on the day after that. I havent taken any other pain meds since I have left the hospital on Saturday. My recovery has been very easy. I wasnt in the mind-set to refuse drugs as I had read that pain can delay your milk coming in-not sure if thats even true but I didnt want to risk it, but I was up and dressed within 48hrs of sugery and wondering the hospital hallways out of sheer boredom

[dogretro]

Originally Posted by jolesh

thank you so much for all your responses - this has been such a weird problem for me. guilt/wanting to get better etc..

and the last couple of days the pain has been WORSE or at least the drugs aren't cutting the mustard like they did the first week. argh. i think it is because i am moving around more. frustrating!

but it is good to know what you guys have experienced. i will not hold back on the meds until i am sure i feel better!

today and yesterday i have been so shaky and ouchee in the guts. looking forward to 1130am so i can have some relief!

Hey, I had a natural vaginal birth a week ago and I still feel crapish. I'm not having to take pain meds anymore, but from everything I've heard I really thought this recovery would go a lot quicker. I guess no matter how they come out, recovery from birth can just be hard!

[Sorin]

Originally Posted by bubbamummy

I had a c-section last Wednesday (8 days ago) and I must have got very lucky. I took Percocet twice on the day after and then Ibuprofen three times on the day after that. I havent taken any other pain meds since I have left the hospital on Saturday. My recovery has been very easy. I wasnt in the mind-set to refuse drugs as I had read that pain can delay your milk coming in-not sure if thats even true but I didnt want to risk it, but I was up and dressed within 48hrs of sugery and wondering the hospital hallways out of sheer boredom

It is really interesting how different our experiences are. I have been taking the meds for pain for about 2 weeks now, and I'm like a dairy cow! The nurses in the hospital were shocked at how fast my milk came in (around day 2-3). It has been flowing ever since!

[jolesh]

the meds certainly didn't delay my milk either.. i have TONS of milk, so my DS barely needs to do anything but lie there and let it flow..