Can I Recieve Pain Meds After Giving Birth and Getting My Tubal?

Updated on January 19, 2016
S.B. asks from Akron, OH
17 answers

I am getting my tubal the day after I give birth. I am considering breast feeding but I don't know if I will be allowed to take pain meds after if I am nursing. Anyone have any advice or experiences to help me with my decision?

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Absolutely. I had c-sections with both of my kids and was on pain medication for a week or two following each one. I nursed both kids throughout the whole thing. Tell your doctor that you want to breastfeed and they will prescribe something that is safe fo the baby.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I had C-sections and was on heavy medication for pain afterwards for quite some time. I also ended up having an infection with one of my C-sections and then went on heavy bouts of medication. All the while I breastfed. They know. No one would put your baby in jeopardy. It's routine for women with surgery.
If it helps to ease your mind, they would never do something that would be at risk for a law suit. So it's safe :) Good luck (all my babies were fine).

4 moms found this helpful
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D..

answers from Miami on

Yes, you can have pain meds. You SHOULD have pain meds. If you are in pain, you could have trouble making milk. (Not everyone does, but it's according to your pain tolerance.)

Also, taking pain medication helps you heal. The body is in a lot of stress being in pain. You don't need to keep a "stiff upper lip" and just plod through. You need to take care of yourself.

The OB/GYN will give you a prescription for pain medicine that is safe for you and for baby.

Another thing to remember is that your doctor gives you instructions for coming home that are important. No lifting anything heavier than your baby. Sleep when the baby sleeps. REST. Women who try to clean house, cook and do too much end up bleeding a lot and hurting their health. You also could end up with a uterine infection and end up back in the hospital. You need to heal inside and that means just taking care of yourself and the baby. If someone comes over to see you, DON'T play hostess. You stay on that couch or in the bed with baby and nothing else. Don't fix them lunch or offer them a drink. Honestly, the people who come expecting to be catered to just astound me...

Don't take baths until the doctor tells you it's safe too - showers only. Drink plenty of water and whatever else the doctor tells you.

It's not a race to heal. It's a process. Good luck!

4 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

This is a question to discuss with your doctor, but yes, there are safe pain relievers for nursing mothers.
PLEASE TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.
And maybe take some breastfeeding prep classes, or go to a few Le Leche League meetings so you are prepared for the realities of nursing.

4 moms found this helpful

L.P.

answers from Tyler on

Yes, your doctor will know what is safe for nursing. But beware, some pain meds and muscle relaxants will dehydrate you and dry up your milk supply. I had this problem with my second delivery, Soma seriously dried up my milk. I needed the pain meds and soma to get me moving, so no regrets. But as soon as started supplementing with formula, nursing was history. Flash forward, daughter is healthy and happy, no harm done.

3 moms found this helpful

T.D.

answers from Springfield on

yes you can have pain meds while nursing. and your dr will know which ones are safe. my dr knew what was going to work and what i could take, she even knew which ones would harm my milk supply. so like others have said make sure you discuss the pain med options with your dr.

3 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Of course. Discuss ahead of time with your doctor, as others have said, and be sure it's in your chart when you go in so they choose appropriate medications. I'm not sure why you are getting the tubal ligation on the following day - I would think that would be the last day you'd choose!! If you have an epidural for the birth, do you plan a second epidural the next day? Or just local anesthesia and IV sedation? So be sure that's all okay when you are nursing as well. ALL of that needs to be approved ahead of time. If they are using gas to inflate your abdomen, be sure you can handle that in the immediate aftermath of giving birth. I used to work in a clinic OR that did these procedures via laparoscope, and there is discomfort from the surgery and the gas, and a restriction on heavy lifting - so be sure you have everything well coordinated.

And be sure you have a back-up plan that, should you have a c-section, they do the tubal right then and there.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

After both my c-sections I was given morphine for the first 24 hours, then Vicodin and ibuprofen (alternating every 3 hours) as needed for the next couple of weeks. And I nursed both babies as soon as they could get me in a comfortable position. So I'd say, yes, you can have pain meds.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

This is something you should discuss with your doctor, but I nursed and was allowed Percocet and Vicodin after birth all 4 times.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Yes I breastfed and was prescribed pain meds after my c sections.

2 moms found this helpful
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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

I had two c-sections with really good pain meds afterwards. I breastfed both babies right away and had no problems. Just let them know you plan to breast feed and they will give you meds that are safe to use. My husband is a pharmacist and anytime I wanted to take any kind of med he would pull out his big book that lists what meds are ok to take while breast feeding. I was sometimes surprised at what was ok to take.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

geez.
what does your doctor say?
lots of women have post-delivery surgery of various types and have to have pain meds while they nurse. so yes, there are medications that are considered safe for breastfeeding women.
but you don't want to make decisions that will have a vital impact on yourself and your newborn by 'researching' 'advice and experience' from strangers on the internet.
talk to someone with a medical degree.
khairete
S.

2 moms found this helpful

E.A.

answers from Erie on

I was told that the anesthesia would be out of my system quickly enough I could nurse within an hour of waking up from surgery. Many pain meds do not cross over into your milk, I took tylenol with codeine for a few days after surgery. My doctor would not schedule my tubal until at least 4 weeks postpartum, I'm not sure why, but I'm curious as to why you want to have yours done so quickly after the birth?

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Cleveland on

My doctor told me it depends on the hospital and their policy. I have 2 kids I formula fed and this time I just am thinking of all my options. I am considering breast feeding but because I have 2 other children and am a student in college, I need to be able to bounce back from birth and surgery to take care of all 3 of my kids. My husband wont have much time off work. I just don't want to be in a lot of Pain because birth alone makes you so sore after the contractions to shrink your uterus. The doctor hasn't given me a lot of clear answers. I want to have a birth plan. I'm not saying that I need the drugs but if I do I want to know other peoples experiences so I can decide if I should just bottle feed again or if it will be safe for the baby if I do in fact need something for pain. Its just hard for me because Ive read so much literature on breastfeeding but none of the articles or personal accounts are detailed enough for me to feel I have all the info.

Updated

The reason for getting it done after birth is so that I can knock it all out at once and then recover. I feel like if I wait then I will find a reason to put it off and I'm tired of having issues with almost every form of birth control my husband and I have tried. We get pregnant easily so I want something permanent. The doctor told me that they usually will do it the morning after the baby comes. That way you still get that bonding time with the baby before they take you. I think part of it is also because they don't always have an OR available right after the birth is complete. I considered waiting until a few months after but I would really like to not have any more birth control issues. For some reason it messes with my hormones really bad and the ones they tried me on with low hormones give me side effects as well. Because we are in a position that my husband cant take much time off work, I just think its best if we do the tubal while already at the hospital so I can have the help for a few day and then have family help me after the worst is over. That way he doesn't have to take another couple days off in a few months when we may need that time if one of the kids get sick or anything else pops up. Like I said I just want as many experience stories and advice as I can get so I can get an idea of what I may go through and of course I will consult my doctor before making any final decisions. I just cant always make up my mind with answers they give me such as it depends on the hospital policy of where you give birth on whether they do things one way or the other. So the answers Ive received have been really helpful and I would like to thank everyone for their input! I feel a lot more informed and more confident that if I do choose to nurse that I will most likely be able to.

1 mom found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Yep - I had two C-sections and had pain meds with both of them.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

My sister had an emergency c-section and was still encouraged to pump for her baby in the NICU. I would discuss this with your doctor. There should be options for you. Make it very clear that you want to nurse. http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/m...

If nursing is important to you, please read over kellymom.com. It was a godsend for me in the early weeks.

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W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Welcome to mamapedia!!

Have you thought about asking your OB/GYN about this?? You need to talk WITH your doctor to let them know what you PLAN ON DOING and what medications are considered acceptable while breast feeding.

It's really that simple. Sorry to be rude. But your doctor knows what class drugs to give a breast feeding W.. We're not doctors here.

Congratulations on your baby!!

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