Afterpains

[Worldshakerz]

Okay, so I'm still awake at 2:51am. Yucky afterpains off and on. I already took more Advil than I'd like so now I'm looking for other ideas to help with these so I can just go to sleep! Piper is sleeping soundly in daddy's arms at least.

I just took a hot bath, to some magnesium drink (Natural Calm), and some Rescue Remedy. Maybe it will do the trick. I think part of it is that Piper has been nursing so much since she was born...which I know its good cause it's doing its thing shrinking the uterus back to its normal size. But, owie! Any ideas? I am so ready to take another 1 or 2 Advils so I can sleep, but I really don't like going over the recommended dose on the bottle.

[buffybutt]

Ive heard that cramp bark tincture works very well, Im sorry you hurting.

[Spark]

Yes, I think cramp bark tincture may work for you.
other options:
http://www.herbalremedies.com/childbirthpain.html
AFTER-PAINS Herbals:
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)
Crampbark (Viburnum opulus)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia)
Vervain (Verbena off.)

Subsequent babies result in stronger afterpains. Moms of many often say that the afterpains were worse than the labor pains. So, it's probably not the difference in your baby's nursing, it's most likely the fact that she's your second.

Sorry it hurts!

[Worldshakerz]

Thanks gals. I'll have to send DH over to the HFS today. Last night I ended up taking more Advil and I was able to at least doze off and on for a few hours. I'm looking forward to trying the herbal route for the next day or so, I really don't like taking the OTC's. Hey, at least I didn't have any tearing this time! Had a 3rd degree tear last time, and nothing this time .

[aishy]

I used extra strength tylenol. They were especially bad after #2, to the point where I was in tears

I have a friend who managed to get the tylenol with codiene (T3 or whatever?) that is prescription because the pain was so bad.

Last time my midwife gave me *something* and i don't even know what it was but that & wrapping my belly (oh i wonder if i can find one of those big ace bandages again) both seemed to help a lot.

aisling

[allgirls]

I took a combination of tylenol and advil...and used a hot water bottle on my tummy. It worked the first day....I didn't take anything else after. Advil relaxes the muscles and tylenol for pain.

I am glad you brought this up though...I think I should get something herbal in the house in case it's worse this time.

Hope you feel better soon

[RachelGS]

Oh, gosh, I hadn't even thought about this. Yikes. I think I'd better grab some cramp bark also. Hope you're feeling better, April!

[Worldshakerz]

I tried the crampbark tincture and it didn't do anything for it unfortunately. A regular regimen of Advil is the only thing that is working, and hot baths too. At least it is working though! I got sleep last night! Hurrah!

[mamas2atti]

How about a warm compress with jasmine and lavender? That's supposed to dull uterine pain.

Glad you got some rest!

[beansavi]

I had such severe afterpains they were truly the equivilent of labor pains and I panted and moaned through them unable to do anything else until they subsided.

I was given a prescription for painkillers by my midwife, but I had a nasty depression coming off of them. I found out later they were truly addictive and I had to take one a day to come down off of them gradually even if I didn't have a pain!

YUCK! :

I hope to try lots of hot baths and nurturing time with the help of Mom and friends, as well as the great herbal advice you gave me here...

[crazy_eights]

Originally Posted by aishy

I have a friend who managed to get the tylenol with codiene (T3 or whatever?) that is prescription because the pain was so bad.

Yup, after #1 I had a bit of a backache, after #2 I felt more crampy, after #3 and foreward, I thought I was going to DIE. Seriously, I thought something was wrong. I have tried all the 'natural' stuff - 'afterease', homeopathy, binders. The homeopathy would help for the contraction I was having at that moment, but nothing else. Tylenol with codeine saved me. When I hear OB's telling higher parity moms 'I'll write you an order for tylenol with codeine [or percocet, darvocet, etc], but really studies have shown ibuprofen works the best' I want to LMAO. MAYBE for a first or second birth, but once you get up there in numbers - uh-uh. Ibuprofen does BUPKES.

[crazy_eights]

Originally Posted by beansavi

I was given a prescription for painkillers by my midwife, but I had a nasty depression coming off of them. I found out later they were truly addictive and I had to take one a day to come down off of them gradually even if I didn't have a pain!

Yes, if you take opioid pain relievers every 4-6 hours for more than 3 days, you will have to wean from them. Basically, you stretch your dosing an hour or two each time you take them. Many people find that they do this anyway as the pain disipates and it's not such an issue, but if you've been taking them a while (and the longer you take them, the more likely it is), you are going to have to wean yourself off them or be stuck with some nasty side effects (sleeplessness, jitters, etc.)

[curlyfry]

(lurking from Sep. ddc)

I actually had to use some of my deep breathing and relaxation techniques that I had practiced for labor during those first few days of nursing. The cramps were so bad! It got better after a week, though.

Hang in there!

[candipooh]

Congrats on your baby!


I took APS2 after my last birth. It is an herb combo from Natures SUnshine. It is WONDERFUL!!! You take as many as you need. For a few days I was taking like 12 of them! It works. Ifyou can find some then try it.

[scatterbrainedmom]

ugh..i remember those

the pain is horrendous. i remember one pain that made me vomit and almost faint it was so horrible. dh was really worried and i was too, sorta. i had 2 hospital births and got vicodin for the pain and then with the last was a homebirth with just ibprofin as a pain killer. let me tell you, i was begging for some drugs. they really were almost as painful as regular contrax. except that one, it may have been WORSE than birth contrax.

[eclipse]

How are yours doing today April? this is the worst I've ever had them. I don't remember them at all with ds (but I was on strong meds for my horribly painful episitotomy that time) and they were really light with dd - but this time they're killing me. They are about as strong as the cxn i was having when i realized i was in "real" labor (but not as strong as the ones i had later on). Anyhow, Motrin helps a bit, but i forget to take it until I'm actually having them. how long are they supposed to last? anyone remember?

[scatterbrainedmom]

Originally Posted by eclipse

how long are they supposed to last? anyone remember?

mine lasted for about 4 days

[Worldshakerz]

eclipse, they do seem to be lessening a bit. But I've been regularly dosing myself with the Advil on a kind of schedule the midwife gave me. And mine too have been like the start of my contractions when I knew 'this was it". I'm gradually taking less Advil today, it's day 3 for me of these. I'm down taking 2 advils every 4 hours instead of 3 every 3 1/2 hours.

[youngnhappymamma]

glad it's getting better for you. It sure is easier to enjoy your sweet new baby without all the pain!!!

....and this is one of my biggest fears!!!!!!!! With my last birth (#4) the hour or two after she was born was just as painful as the hour or two before...I even threw up again!!! And I was supposed to be cuddling with and nursing and enjoying my sweet new baby!!!! I even ended up fainting (sorry if this is starting to sound like one of those horror stories of pregnancy and birth...). I am very, very worried about the afterpains and am hoping the fear and worry does not interfere with my labor. I have even considered getting an epidural so that I would still be numb for the first hour after birth when they are really bad. I need to ask my dr on my visit on friday about anything she could prescribe me before hand to have on hand to take as soon as the baby is born. But do any of the above mentioned drugs make you sleepy? I definitly wouldn't want to be all sleepy while trying to bond with my baby, not to mention that would make co-sleeping unsafe...

[Worldshakerz]

Is it unusual for afterpains to get worse again after they seemed like they were getting better? It's day 5 of them now. Yesterday they were so much better than they had been and then I woke up in the middle of the night with them being the worst they have ever been. Had to take a big dose of Advil again, took a hot bath, DH was sweet and massaged my legs and belly and back and with all that it took a little over an hour to feel okay enough to fall asleep. It seems odd to me that they'd get better and then worse like that.