Pain control after a cesarean
A layered plan, and opioids should not be the foundation of it.
Modern pain management uses scheduled acetaminophen and a scheduled anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or ketorolac as the base, with long-acting spinal morphine covering the first day, and opioid tablets reserved for pain that breaks through.
Enhanced recovery protocols bundle these with early eating, early walking and early catheter removal. In one quality improvement program, hospital stay fell from 82.1 to 74.2 hours and opioid use fell by an average of 36.5 mg of oxycodone equivalent per patient, with no change in pain scores.
Ask for the scheduled medicinesAcetaminophen and ibuprofen work best taken on a fixed schedule, not only when you ask. If they are ordered "as needed," ask for them to be scheduled instead.
Where this comes from:
316. Shinnick JK, Ruhotina M, Has P, Kelly BJ, Brousseau EC, O'Brien J, et al. Enhanced recovery after surgery for cesarean delivery decreases length of hospital stay and opioid consumption: a quality improvement initiative. Am J Perinatol. 2021;38(S 01):e215-e223.
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This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you. If you are worried about a symptom now, see urgent warning signs.