I haven't had afterbirth pains. Very mild cramping after #3 when feeding for a couple of days. Didn't need to take anything for it tho. But I had nothing for the other two. In fact I think I asked here why the nurses were offering me pain relief AFTER the birth. I couldn't work out why, and thought it was funny, the nurses kept popping their heads in and asking if I needed anything for the pain LOL. It was then I realised people had afterbirth pains.

So, it's not a given, but it certainly sounds like some people really suffer with them :/