Pain relief after birth

[barefootpoetry]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I did a search on this subject and it came up with 203 pages of threads! :

My DS was born by C-section, so I didn't experience much pain after delivery (which was good, because all they gave me was a handful of Darvosets!). Were you very sore or in pain after your homebirth, and if so, how did you manage the pain? What are some safe, effective, easy ways to deal with postpartum pain? TIA!

[KariM]

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[Shell_Ell]

I didn't have any tearing so my bottom wasn't sore at all. But my afterpains were worse than I could have ever imagined after my second son was born. I never even thought about pain relief and wished I would have.

I took cal/mag and ibuprofen. I've heard arnica works well, but I don't have experience with it.

[sunanthem]

Yes, the all over body achy muscle pain went down alot after the massage therepist visited. And sitz baths helped with my bottom. Plus staying in bed for a couple weeks while friends and loved ones fed me wasen't so bad either.

[AKmoose]

I tore with dd1 (freestanding b/c, not home), and did use some ibuprofen (? not sure which exact thing, but OTC meds). Also sat on a boppy! I had strong afterpains with dd2, but no other "birth" pain at all - in fact, I was up and going strong within 5 minutes! I did love getting in the (unused) birth tub (Aquadoula) for the 2 days after her birth, just to relax...her birth was so fast, the tub wasn't ready when she was
With ds1 (dc3), I didn't use anything either. I had no need!

[SublimeBirthGirl]

With my first I had a few stitches and used advil. With my 2nd just a skidmark/small tear, no stitches, and I never took anything.

[hapersmion]

I would expect a c-section to cause a much more painful recovery than a vaginal birth, so if you didn't have much pain with that, you may be pleasantly surprised next time. I had a second-degree tear with my natural birth, but felt great right afterwards, like I could jump up and go hiking! The midwives suggested that I take a couple of Motrin, but I didn't until the next morning, when I was a bit sore and stiff. I got really sore in my shoulders and back the day after that - I think maybe it was more from trying to figure out how to hold the baby and nurse at night than from the birth. So I took Motrins off and on, just when I felt extra sore (never much in the vaginal region like you'd expect; most of my soreness was in the rest of my body), for a few days, and after that I was fine.

[dogmom327]

I took some Tylenol after my midwife stitched me up (3 first-degree tears and some skidmarks) and then for the next few days. The funny thing was that I almost refused (even though I was really achy) because I'd spent my whole pregnancy not taking any pain relief. I think I was trying to prove to myself and DH that I could handle discomfort (DH's contention was that I'm a pain wimp and was seriously doubting I could give birth without drugs). But at that moment, lying on my bed having been stitched up it dawned on me that I had just given birth naturally--I rocked! I didn't need to prove anything to anyone...bring on the Tylenol!

[BoringTales]

I didn't have a homebirth, but I thought I'd respond anyway.

After DS1 I had 2nd degree tearing both directions. All they gave me was motrin and tylenol. It didn't do much at all. I wish they would've given me something else, but I didn't think to ask.

DS2 I had just a small skid mark and one stitch. The after pains weren't that bad, and I only pushed for 5 minutes so the muscle pains weren't bad either. Motrin was all I took and did the trick.

DS3 was a lot different. I only tore 1st degree and didn't have much vaginal area pain, but oh, the after pains!! I was also ALL OVER SORE for almost a week. I took Motrin and Percoset while I was in the hospital, and Motrin and Vicodin for a few days after I got home.

[Eaglevoice]

I took the herbal tincture "after ease" for the after pains. Ibuprofin if the pain was too much.

[MiamiMami]

Mama, c-section pain is waaayyyy worse than any episiotomy or tearing pain. Trust me.

I had an episiotomy with my vbac ds and regular motrin was fine. It will also help with any afterpains. The Dr also precribed percoset which I didn't touch until I had a gallbladder attack.

A good trick is wetting and freezing some pads. Or you can fill a newborn size disposable diaper with ice and stuff it in your pants.

[EKilgore]

I second (or third?) the icing for vaginal pain/swelling. I just soaked some pads in water, froze them in little baggies, then wrapped CD's around them and put them in my underpants...it helped soooo much! I also took some ibuprofen.

[meggles]

I had a 2 day labor and a major second degree tear. I was uncomfortable, but not in pain at all. I took arnica (200c--got it from my naturopath) immediately after birthing and then took the regular arnica pellets (30c or x? ) for 4-5 days after that. Lots of cool peri packs, herbal sitz baths, and cool tucks pads from the fridge helped the swelling I had from tearing.

[Meg_s]

first homebirth: no pain relief afterward, I had a tiny tear that stung like #&*@^&#^$&#&$#^ when I peed though!

2nd homebirth - the midwives gave me a local so that they could stitch me up, and I had some ibuprofen for the cramps from the uterus shrinking. Luckily after the stitching there was no stinging while peeing.

[Airetauriel]

Originally Posted by Meg_s

first homebirth: no pain relief afterward, I had a tiny tear that stung like #&*@^&#^$&#&$#^ when I peed though!

2nd homebirth - the midwives gave me a local so that they could stitch me up, and I had some ibuprofen for the cramps from the uterus shrinking. Luckily after the stitching there was no stinging while peeing.

Ohhhh, that stinging sounds familiar. That was worse than the labour. I would literally scream and jump around the bathroom. No fun. I don't think there was any medication to help with that though. I didn't take anything, but I sure wish I'd rested more!

Aire

[homemademomma]

with my first (homebirth) i tore, and had local anesthetic to be stitched up, but i didnt need anything after that. will my second (also homebirth), i didnt tear but the afterpains were wicked, so i took ibuprofen every 6 hours for the first 2-3 days.