Oral Morphine (Sevredol®) or oxycodone (Oxynorm®) are both strong pain relieving drugs that are sometimes required. These are only used for a few days. They can cause nausea and constipation is common. There have been rare reports of drowsiness in babies, if you have any concerns please contact your midwife or nurse.
Stronger painkillers can be given on request: Dihydrocodeine up to four times a day Oral morphine, maximum every 3 hours. Please ask for a laxative if you are prone to constipation, and are needing these stronger pain killers. You can be prescribed dihydrocodeine to take home after discharge.
C-section pain typically spikes 18 hours after delivery. "That's when the pain medication you were given with your spinal anesthesia wears off," says San Diego perinatologist Sean Daneshmand, MD.
So, of course, a certain degree of pain and discomfort can be expected following any surgical procedure. Caesarean section is not immune to this problem. In most cases, the pain is attributed to the body trying to heal injured tissues. This type of pain usually resolves after a few weeks.
Pain relief
Your wound will feel sore and bruised for a few weeks. You will need to take pain relief for at least 7–10 days after your c-section. Your midwife or doctor will tell you what pain relief you can take.
The most powerful pain relievers are opioids. They are very effective, but they can sometimes have serious side effects.
The first 60 minutes after birth—often called “the Golden Hour”—is a magical period rife with bonding opportunities for mama and baby. Many mamas are able to experience this intensely wonderful first hour immediately following that final push or once the doctors have safely removed baby via C-section.
Always sit well back on a supportive chair, your feet should be able to touch the floor in order to support your posture. Use pillows to support your back and to rest your baby on your lap to bring them into a comfortable feeding position. You can then use pillows to support your own arms.
Pain level: Pain is subjective because not everyone experiences pain the same way. However, in a c-section, you should feel little to no pain as you will have been under general anesthesia or numbed. But your recovery may be more painful than compared to someone who had a vaginal birth experience.
People who undergo a C-section have a few pain management options, including regional anesthesia—a spinal, epidural, or a combination of the two—that blocks pain in the lower body while allowing the mother to stay awake for the birth, and general anesthesia, in which the mother is unconscious during the procedure.
Returning to Physical Activities After a C-Section
It's important to get out of bed and walk around within 24 hours after surgery.
Postoperative pain also can be managed by other prescription and over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin (Bayer). Medications like ibuprofen also help reduce inflammation and swelling.
Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching. Four of the five remaining layers are stitched with a single layer of stitching, but one layer is not restitched as it heals better – with no buckling and reduced chance of scar tissue developing, without restitiching.
How long do you bleed for after a c-section? You will have some vaginal bleeding (called lochia) for 2–6 weeks after the birth. Bleeding sometimes lasts longer than this, but it should have stopped by 12 weeks. This bleeding happens after vaginal and c-section births.
Research shows mothers who have a c-section tend to get an average of four hours of sleep a night, and 34% wake up during the night in the first week postpartum. More research needs to be done on sleep after birth in general, as well as sleep after both emergency and elective c-section deliveries.
On your side
Side sleeping is a great choice when you're recovering from a C-section. Research shows that sleeping on your left side can help increase blood flow to vital organs, aiding healing. It's also the most common sleeping position – you're bound to find this one relaxing.
After a cesarean section you will be given post-operative restrictions from your surgeon outlining the do's and don'ts. Your restrictions are based on not pulling at your incision site or straining your tummy muscles (abdominals). Here are the do's: Walking within the first 24 hours of your procedure.
Common symptoms of post-caesarean wound infections can include tenderness, redness, fever, and pain. Cesarean delivery, which some people call a C-section, is a major surgery. It comes with the same risks, including wound infections, as other types of surgery. Infections occur when bacteria enter the wound.
Ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) are both NSAID pain relievers that are fast and effective at providing pain relief, reducing inflammation, and fighting a fever. Ibuprofen works in as little as 20 minutes, whereas naproxen needs about an hour to take effect.
Acetaminophen is generally considered safer than other pain relievers. It doesn't cause side effects such as stomach pain and bleeding. However, taking more than the recommended dose or taking acetaminophen with alcohol increases the risk of kidney damage and liver failure over time. Bottom line.