are the afterpains worse?

[Glamourcide]

I don't remember having any afterpains from my first birth, but then I was doped up on pethidine and then Panadeine Forte, and I didn't BF. Second time around, BFing was established from the first minutes post-birth and the pains were horrific for about six weeks - to the point where I seriously considered packing in the breastfeeding because it was just too painful. I just assumed that BFing was the reason for the pain, so I'm a bit happier to hear that second and subsequent babies are worse for no other reason than that the uterus has a bit more work to do to contract! If it helps any, though, the midwife who checked me out post-birth was very surprised to find my uterus was contracting at a much faster rate than normal, so perhaps it was more painful for me because my body was working overtime getting back to normal, kwim?

Good luck, keep the painkillers handy! Hopefully it won't be very bad for you and will pass very soon so you can concentrate on the lovelier parts of being a new mum again

[Fleur]

I didn't have any with DD1, some mild ones with DS1, OMG bad pains with DS2! and barely anything with DD2 - and I was prepared for some really horrible pains with her!
So I got lucky I guess...they only got worse up to the 3rd child

[Liz]

No pains after either of my births. In fact I remember coming here after having #1 and asking why the nurses would have kept asking me if I needed pain relief AFTER the birth? LOL. That's when I learned about afterbirth pains.

But yeah.. I didn't have anything after #2 either.

[AwesomeFoursome]

Mine weren't too bad at all, 1st or 2nd time. The 2nd time around I took 2 panadol on the first day, that was it. They were totally gone by about day 3 or 4.

[Curly]

I never had any afterpains at all, not with either birth. I was on pain relief and anti-inflammatories for stitches though so maybe that's why they never bothered me.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

surely they can't be worse than actually giving birth?

not worse, but different. i went drug free but then once i wasn't working towards anything and was deliriously tired i needed trhe pain relief. mine only hurt for the first twenty four hours and the key is to urinate regularly.

mum had tramidol (sp) after the twins. fourth pregnancy, she said they were horrendous.

[hj1981]

No pains after either of my births. In fact I remember coming here after having #1 and asking why the nurses would have kept asking me if I needed pain relief AFTER the birth? LOL. That's when I learned about afterbirth pains.

But yeah.. I didn't have anything after #2 either.

Ahhhh that explains everything! they kept asking me also - and a twice i think i took something but that was more cause my nether regions were a bit sore - so i took them up on the offer - (than had a whole box of painkillers i had to pay for when i got discharged! and they weren't cheap!)
I always wondered why EVERY day and EVERY time the poped into my room they kept asking if i needed any pain killers! all makes sense now!
Thanks Liz

[berrme]

My afterpains were a bit worse the second time but didn't last very long. I was quite happy to take the panadol on offer the first day but after that I only needed it for the pain associated with my stitches.

I wouldn't be worrying about a script beforehand... the hospital will have drugs there.

[mbear]

I can honestly say, the afterpains with #3 and #4 were worse than labour...or about the same par. They were terrible. Esp #3. I used to cringe when i b/f cos that can often bring them on too (uterus contracts quicker when b/f...thus afterpains are more apparent when baby latches on).
I buzzed the nurses for panadol constantly. First 1 or 2 days are the worst. But defn get worse with each pregnancy...

[Willow]

Me too, I took actually took panadeine in hosp after no 3. I felt the worst pain with #2 and #3 in the first few hours after the birth and then it eased off a bit.