what to take for afterpains?

[RyvreWillow]

Is there anything that's actually safe to take while nursing, AND works well? I am so tired of still having contractions, on top of all the other aches and pains (and dreading that first bowel movement, with a huge tear and stitches, lol! i guess i'm a big baby, but i've had episiotomies before, and this feels worse)

My doc prescribed 800 mg of ibuprofin, every 6 hours, and i don't even know if it's helping or not. Sheesh, if it is i guess i'm worse off than i thought, lol. In the hospital, i got that Tylenol III stuff (i think it has codeine in it?) and motrin, but i don't remember how much of either, or how often, i think the nurse just brought me one or the other when i asked for something. Ugh, i'm just confused, tired, and don't want to give my baby anything in my milk she doesn't need, but at the same time, i am soooo over the whole birth-and-postpartem crap, lol.

[eclipse]

Motrin is the same as ibuprofen - and that's what helped me. They let me have 800mg every 6 hours at the hospital, but when I got home, I needed to take it much more frequently than that to have it really help - maybe every three hours? Tylenol III would probably help, but I'd be careful if you're cosleeping or alone with the baby at all - it can make you really drowsy.

[Worldshakerz]

I took Advil (Ibuprofen) and the midwife had me start with 4 capsules. Then taking 3 every 3 hours. She said when I was ready to, to start taking 3 capsules but maybe after 4 hours. My pains lasted off and on for 2 weeks so I really needed to do it. I didn't take this much everyday because after a week it seemed better but when I started weaning off the Advil I had a few days off and on that were really really bad and I just took it as needed that last week. Hot baths and massage from hubby would help while I was waiting for the Advil to kick in. I was tempted to ask for Tylenol with codiene but I cosleep, and when I took the Advil before the pains got bad it really really kept them at bay.

[RyvreWillow]

Thanks ladies; i had just finished reading all the warnings that came with my prescription, and yikes! In big letters, it also says "THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED IN BREASTMILK" but of course makes no mention as to how much, or how safe it is/n't. Bleck! i guess the general rule, with everything, is to just take what you need, and stop as soon as possible.

[IfMamaAintHappy]

They will probably be gone before you can get this, but I took this afterpain tonic, and it was awesome!

http://www.preciousarrows.com/naturalproducts3.htm

[lovnbnhome]

My afterpains lasted a lot longer than ever before. my mw told me to take 800mg if ibuprofen every 4 hrs and to stop after 48 hrs.
hth

[buffybutt]

Cramp bark tincture works well for some. Good luck!