Something better than AfterEase?

[aloneinid]

I tried AfterEase after my last birth for the after pains with really no effect. I had terrible after pains after my first baby, which is apparently unusual, and even worse with my second baby, as expected. I am dreading how bad they will be this time! I can't take ibuprofen due to severe reflux. I will take some Tylenol and use a heating pad, but that really doesn't cut it, either. Does anyone know of anything else (specifically a trick, product, or herbal mixture I can make)?

[MaerynPearl]

Could you ask your doctor or midwife about something prescription strength?

[sarahn4639]

Mine were horrible last time, I'm getting After Ease for this one and I'll be watching this thread! My super crunchy homebirth midwife said that she would have no problem prescribing Percocet (I'm pretty sure that's the one she said) if I needed it. So perhaps you could look into going the prescription route? I don't know of any other stronger natural remedies.

[Funny Face]

Afterease may as well have been water for all the help it did me. Thankfully they only last what, a few days? I'll probably have to rough it out this time too if someone doesn't suggest something else. I'm allergic to vicodin and probably wouldn't want to take it anyway.

I don't see how heating pad helps since I had them very frequently, especially while nursing and I can't just keep a heating pad on all the time, not good for bleeding either.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond

[lunita1]

Originally Posted by aloneinid

I tried AfterEase after my last birth for the after pains with really no effect. I had terrible after pains after my first baby, which is apparently unusual, and even worse with my second baby, as expected. I am dreading how bad they will be this time! I can't take ibuprofen due to severe reflux. I will take some Tylenol and use a heating pad, but that really doesn't cut it, either. Does anyone know of anything else (specifically a trick, product, or herbal mixture I can make)?

Do you have reflux when you aren't pregnant? I was going to suggest ibuprofen. I was taking ranitidine all through my pregnancy for acid reflux, but it was GONE as soon as the baby was out.

I did crampbark, motherwort and motrin.

[aloneinid]

Yes, I have horrible reflux as a result of uncontrolled heartburn during my first pregnancy (and bad genetics on my mother's side!). EVERYONE told me the heartburn would go away as soon as the baby was out, but it didn't and in addition I developed shortness of breath and chest pain. This has been going on for nearly seven years now and once I have this baby I will be undergoing a surgical procedure to fix the sphincter at the top of my stomach. Sooo... no ibuprofen for me! The alcohol in the AfterEase nearly did me in last time. I realize that the afterpains only last for a couple of days, but they interfered within bonding with my baby. I could barely bring myself to nurse him. I won't be getting any prescriptions for pain medicine since my midwife can't write prescriptions (and I wouldn't take them anyway after accomplishing a natural birth). Looks like I am searching for something that doesn't exist!

[Defenestrator]

Afterpains happen when the uterus softens up a bit and then contracts down harder in response to movement, nursing, a full bladder, or just the normal shrinking. So, there are three schools of thought with them. Dull the pain, but don't address the contractions (pain meds), lessen the contractions (heat, afterease) or keep the uterus contracted.

I'm a fan sometimes of keeping the uterus contracted. You can massage your uterus every half-hour that you're awake. You can also keep your bladder empty so the uterus can contract down into the space it would otherwise occupy. You can also sleep on your stomach or put a weight on your stomach to keep it contracted (a fabric bag filled with flour, sugar, or grain does nicely).

Good luck!

[HeatherB]

In the vein of keeping your uterus contracted, a MW I heard speak at a conference recently recommended massaging just above the pubic bone, at the lower segment of the uterus. She considers it far more effective (it's the part that has less muscle fiber and therefore needs more "help") and says it's NOT painful. I have never liked massaging my fundus/uterus, so I'm hoping, perhaps, that'll be helpful and easier. Might be worth a try to stave off afterpains, too?

[nudnik]

Afterpains were AWFUL last time and I'm dreading them again. I did even try Motrin once but after no noticeable reduction in pain, I gave up. I hate taking pills.

[CeciMami]

I just had my 2nd baby a week ago and experienced horrible after pains while nursing. The only thing that helped me was Motrin but I'm guessing that you can't take that? It didn't get rid of the pains entirely but dulled the pain enough that I didn't cringe every time I needed to nurse my little one. HTH.

[mysticmomma]

you should keep taking the AE until you get relief. It's not like take 2 tylenol and wait 4 hours.

[aloneinid]

I was drinking the AfterEase from a shot glass last time, so it's not like I didn't take enough! I hadn't tried uterine massage, but the thought makes me cringe because my midwife does it once after the baby is born and for me it was the worst part of the birth. Maybe self-massage to the lower segment would work for me. I would also be willing to try pressure on my abdomen (I am going to bind it this time), but I can't sleep on my stomach because I have to sleep sitting up at due to my reflux.
I haven't had a problem with a boggy uterus and I pee often enough- I think the problem is that I have a super-efficient uterus (I've only had to push a total of 30 minutes between two births). It is contracting like mad after wards- which results in very minimal lochia, but HORRIBLE after pains.
I just need to suck it up! It's better than hemorrhaging!