What's your plan for afterpains?

[Morwenna]

Is there anything at all natural that can be done? Last time mine were pretty killer. And what OTC is it that's safe, advil? Trying to think ahead...

[mamamoo]

I think advil is ok, but I would tend to stay away from it because I heard it thins the blood or something? I'm not sure meme. i can ask my mw what herbs would be good for afterpains(she's an herbalist too). I don't get them very badly, so I've never really taken anythign for them.

[mercy589]

I was on constant advil and tylenol per the dr for pain last time. This time I'm not thrilled about the idea and would love to know what else I can do as well.

[Morwenna]

Searching around a bit, I've found something called "Afterease" that sounds really good--unfortunately their store locator doesn't show any store in the area that carries it Maybe my midwife can cook something up since she's an herbalist too...

[ThreeBeans]

Booze :








I have Afterease tincture, and I'll alternate tylenol and ibuprofen. I do NOT enjoy afterpains. Shudder.

[ladyleigh]

I just asked my mw about this today. She mentioned Afterease by Wish Garden herbs. http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/index...id=6#AfterEase

She also said that the herbal remedies take a while to kick in and you have to take it every 15 minutes and if the pain is bad, tylenol is fine.

BTW- she is a natropath.

[heartandhandsdoula]

Not in your ddc, but I had a belly binder, which was a life saver. I got it RX but you can buy the same type of thing at babies r us, I think they're like 30.00. I also drank placenta smoothies which are supposed to help, but I didn't have afterpains w/dd so I don't know the difference

[mamamoo]

Originally Posted by Morwenna

Searching around a bit, I've found something called "Afterease" that sounds really good--unfortunately their store locator doesn't show any store in the area that carries it Maybe my midwife can cook something up since she's an herbalist too...

Oh, cool. I bet she'll know then.

When do the afterpains start, how long do they last?

[ladyleigh]

About the belly binder- that reminds me that I had a friend who just wrapped fabric around her really tight- kind of like the tie for a kimono. She swore by it. Used it for a few weeks until everything kind of settled back down.

[BoGiBoBo]

I have heard Catnip tea works. I did drink some afterwards, but I probably didn't drink enough to be helpful.

[mamamoo]

Originally Posted by ladyleigh

About the belly binder- that reminds me that I had a friend who just wrapped fabric around her really tight- kind of like the tie for a kimono. She swore by it. Used it for a few weeks until everything kind of settled back down.

My mw just told me she wants me to get some fabric to wrap around me like a sarong for afterweards because the last two births I've have my uterus prolapses a bit.

[momuveight2B]

Breastfeed. The uterus will return to size much quicker. I haven't needed anything else for afterpains. Stay well hydrated.

[josybear]

those were awful this time! some of them were as bad as the labour contractions and i found myself using the same pain management techniques. it didn't help that i've been a nonstop nursing machine. between the baby and the toddler i haven't had my breasts to myself since the birth. the pains have settled down now, but when they were bad nursing made them sooo much worse...

[dcgrl]

I'm expecting my first in November and have yet hear about afterpains. I'm naive and didn't imagine there would be pain after. (and, I'm reading Ina May, who's doing her best to convince me I can get away with no pain during!)

[twilight girl]

I didn't have any afterpains (or if I did, they certainly weren't memorable) with DD. But I do remember my biz partner telling me that with her second the afterpains were pretty intense. I've got my RRL tea at the ready, and I may take some Rescue Remedy just for calming.

[AugustLia23]

Originally Posted by dcgrl

I'm expecting my first in November and have yet hear about afterpains. I'm naive and didn't imagine there would be pain after. (and, I'm reading Ina May, who's doing her best to convince me I can get away with no pain during!)

They aren't usually an issue after the first birth, it's the moms f many who feel it the worst. Afterpains then t worsen with each pregnancy and birth.

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by AugustLia23

They aren't usually an issue after the first birth, it's the moms f many who feel it the worst. Afterpains then t worsen with each pregnancy and birth.

With DD they were very painful and she was my first. Although the hospital did routine pitocin after birth which may have made it worse. Some of the contractions afterward were more painful than the ones during labor. They were hardly as frequent though so I tollerated them ok.

[MamaRabbit]

I used a calcium/magnesium supplement this time around and for the first time, the afterpains were way less. I read about it here somewhere and supposedly it works because it's the same supplement that works for sports cramps.

I the past I used tylenol.

[wendyland]

Originally Posted by mamamoo

Oh, cool. I bet she'll know then.

When do the afterpains start, how long do they last?

I didn't have much pain with my first two births. I didn't feel that I needed anything for them. I had them the first day with this birth. I took tylenol, but I probably could have done without it if we hadn't had so many visitors. I should have kicked everyone out and rested.

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by momuveight2B

Breastfeed. The uterus will return to size much quicker. I haven't needed anything else for afterpains. Stay well hydrated.

My afterpains are hellacious while I'm nursing. IIRC they last about a week?