Cesarean Birth Support Thread April & May 2006 - Page 6

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Throkmorton

The big thing that is stressing me out is post-surgery pain relief. I am allergic to tylenol and have weird issues with any opiate narcotics. So, no morphine because it makes me sick as a dog (which they give me anti-nauseants for, which make me sleepy.... etc) unless there isn't a lot of other options.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to put on my birth plan regarding pain medication post-surgery?

Our hospital has been using something called Voltarin (not sure of the spelling), which I think is an anti-inflammatory. They also give oral doses of Tylenol or ibuprofen. I have to admit that I didn't take much other than the Voltarin. I can see if I can find more info on it, if you'd like.

[AnditheBee]

Originally Posted by egoldber

I have read that Demerol is no longer in favor because it is excreted into breastmilk at a higher rate than morphine. Although having it in the IV vs via oral meds would reduce the transmission rate significantly.

I had demerol with my first c/s as well, and it didn't seem to have a detrimental effect on my daughter, but then again, there may have been unseen effects. It did definitely work for the pain, though, and didn't make me sleepy the way the percocet did with #2.

[CountryMom2e]

Doh! I forgot that percoset and vicodin are both oxycodone/tylenol blends. I was just worried that what worked for me after DS was now found to not be good for post-partum use.

Our hospital here has the same policy about epidurals & catheters... but because of my preeclampsia, I will likely be on mag sulfate before and after birth, which necessitates bedrest and a catheter for 24 hrs Does the duramorph really help with pain control? This is a big concern for me as after my last section once I was taken off the IV my pain was not controlled with whatever they initially prescribed me, and I was hit with sharp searing pain.

[Throkmorton]

Thanks guys. See? This is why I ask these things. I have a meeting with the anesthetist before surgery and will discuss pain relief with the doc before hand too, so it's good to know these things. Last time I was wholly unprepared, and the doctor was a moron, so i ended up getting T3s, which was not pleasant.

[egoldber]

Originally Posted by CountryMom2e

Does the duramorph really help with pain control? This is a big concern for me as after my last section once I was taken off the IV my pain was not controlled with whatever they initially prescribed me, and I was hit with sharp searing pain.

Yes, its fabulous. But Duramorph is morphine and can have side effects, inclusing nausea and severe itching. I had severe itching when I had it after my first C-section, but the pain relief was fabulous. I am debating whether or not to get the Duramorph or ask for something else this time.

Voltaren, mentioned above, is also an NSAID.

[Throkmorton]

I am also wondering about the duramorph. Like I said, i have weird issues with morphine, and it makes me sleepy, itchy and nauseous. Plus (and this is somehow the worst for me) I can't stand the smell of sweating out opiates. It just squicks me out, and from what i have tried before, it seems to be for all drugs in the opiate family. I blame my old (junkie) roommate.
Of course, i am wondering if all of that is worth it, just to get me over the hump to where I can take a couple Motrin and be good. Motrin works fabulously for me, actually better than a lot of the major narcotic painkillers.

[coloradoalice]

[ccohenou]

Toradol and Anaprox (naproxen/naprosyn/aleve) helped me a LOT after both surgeries...more so than the morphine pump which just made me feel stoned as well as in pain. But, they wore off before I could have more. Topped off/ alternated with Percocet, I had good pain control.

[Throkmorton]

An update:

Apparently IV morphine makes me itchy and sick. For some reason, the morphine administered in my spinal didn't have the same effect. I used the morphine pump exactly once, and spent the next hour itchy and sick.

I ended up with Voltaren for the first 48 hours, and after that, just ibuprophen for the pain when needed (not often either) All in all, I felt much better this time, and recovery has been a lot easier.

And, of course, got my sweet little girl.

[egoldber]

Congratulations!!!

Sorry the morphine pump made you feel icky.

But I'm confused, did you have morphine in the spinal AND in a pump? Or were you referring to a previous C-section with the morphine in the spinal?

[Throkmorton]

I got long-acting morphine in the spinal, then I was offered IV morphine in a PCA pump.

Oh, one thing I have discovered (more for people reading this thread pre-c/s) is that those dead sexy full-panel maternity pants that i absolutely hated while pg are the best things ever now. I can look almost normal, hide my post-c belly when bf and they provide that little bit of support that my belly needs right now.

[egoldber]

Originally Posted by Throkmorton

I got long-acting morphine in the spinal, then I was offered IV morphine in a PCA pump.

Interesting. With both my C-sections they had my IV out within hours of surgery, so I was only offered oral pain meds after the first few hours.

[pumpkinsmama]

I thought the iv had to stay in for a loooonnnnggg time, just in case... (the needle thingie, not necessarily the drip)

[egoldber]

I think its just differences in hospital policy. I have had the heplock out too within a few hours of surgery.

[Throkmorton]

Nope, my IV was in for 24 hours, and I had a hep lock for another 24 for some reason.

[Satori]

ok ladies, I have been planning a VBAC but after todays episode i'm pretty sure I will be having a c/s tomorrow so I need advice on the fastest way to recover. I had severe pre-e/hellp last time so I was in no condition to even get out of bed for several days but if I get sliced and diced again tomorrow I want to be on the fast road to recovery. See here if you want to hear my reasoning

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Satori

...I need advice on the fastest way to recover...

My last recovery was my best (in most ways). The single biggest key to that? FRUIT! My dh brought me grapes, peaches, bananas and...something...oranges, maybe? at the hospital. I'd finished off all of it within about 2 days. Between the fibre, juice and extra calories, I felt much, much better than the previous two times when I'd been starved by the hospital. I also found it helpful to drink as much water as I could possibly get down....but that may have been because they parked me in a window under the sun in the middle of a heat wave, and I was sweating like the proverbial pig!

[somanyjoys]

Hi mamas! I just discovered this thread today. My dd will be one next week, and I've found myself thinking a lot lately about the next one. My c-section wasn't bad, and those first few months, I told people that I'd have a repeat c-section next time. Now, I can't imagine battling recovery with a toddler, having thrush again, or dealing with my babe choking on the fluid that didn't get pushed out of her. I'm still weighing my options both ways. I'll have to have my annual exam soon to refill bcp, so I think I'll talk to my ob about VBAC.

My story: uneventful pregnancy, water broke at 39 weeks, labor seemed fine, dh and I were both dozing (I had an epidural). DH got up and looked at the monitor and commented that the number seemed really low. I said it must be fine or else the nurses would be in...BOOM, there they were. They were great about trying all they could to keep baby's heartrate right, but as my labor progressed, her heart rate continued to drop despite rolling me on my side, giving me oxygen, giving me fluids. She wasn't dropping, either. My doc told me she'd do everything she could to avoid a c, and I said, do what you have to! Turn out, dd's cord was in a true knot. She was fine. Again, who knows if it was necessary. Many babies are born vaginally with no problems from a true knot. Others are stillborn. Regardless, I've an ideal candidate for a vbac. And even if I choose a repeat c-section, I want to go in to labor on my own.

I'm subscribing to this thread so I can keep up with you gals.

[J-Max]

My key to a quick recovery is get up and walk ASAP! With my last c-sec, I was requesting to be up and walking as soon as I had full feeling back in my legs. The nurses were not sure, but I have a great OB, that said if I felt up to go for it. I was walking within 12 hours and out of the hospital at 50 hours post c-sec. (Contrast this to my first, 40+ hours of labor, then over 24 hours in bed and a 4 day hospital stay). They faster you are up and moving the faster your body starts getting back to normal.

[Lovinmy2babies+1]

Do you mind if I join in? I was planning a VBA2C, but lately, that goal seems to get farther, and farther away... I get depressed thinking about another c-section/