Your hospital stay: Pain after birth
Pain after birth can have several causes, such as:
- afterbirth contractions as your uterus begins contracting to its nonpregnant size (Usually these contractions feel stronger and more uncomfortable for women who have
already had a baby than for first-time mothers.)
- muscle aches and back pain
- repair of an episiotomy or tear
- recovery from Cesarean birth,
- hemorrhoids. These are common after birth and can also cause burning and itching.
The pain of recovering from childbirth varies among women. There is no reason for you to suffer. With the medicines available, most pain can be well controlled with little or no risk to your baby.
Tip
You are the only person who can accurately describe your pain. You will be shown a pain scale at the hosptial. Your nurse will ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).
Pain management
When your pain is well controlled, you can be more active, sleep better, eat better, and feel more positive. If you are recovering from surgery, controlling your pain can help
you heal faster.
It's up to you to tell your nurses how you feel. Tell them if you are in pain. They can also answer your questions about controlling your pain when you get home and what to do if the pain medicine isn't working.
All patients have the right to have their pain managed. Proper treatment of pain is necessary for you to achieve the best results during your recovery. If you do not think
that your pain is being treated well, please tell your nurse or doctor. He or she will talk with you about your pain and your pain management needs.
Along with advising you on pain medicine choices, your health care provider can suggest comfort measures. Cold packs or ice packs on the episiotomy repair can
provide relief. Warmed blankets, massage and relaxation techniques can provide comfort for other pains.
Medical interventions during labor and birth Allina Pregnancy Care
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