Pain Management after C-Section

Most surgical procedures, including cesarean section, will result in some degree of discomfort.  The goal of surgical pain management is to minimize this discomfort with non-narcotic pain medications and to reserve low dose, narcotic pain medications for breakthrough or severe pain.  For most women, the use of a “pain pack” using Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen helps to adequately manage their post-operative discomfort.

The recommendation is to alternate 600 mg of Ibuprofen (3 Motrin or Advil) with 1000 mg of Acetaminophen (2 extra strength Tylenol) every 3 hours.

600 mg Ibuprofen ---> 3 hours ---> 1000 mg Acetaminophen ---> 3 hours ---> repeat  
 
NEVER take repeat doses of Tylenol closer than 6 hours apart!
 
If you have been prescribed a narcotic medication, you should use this only when your discomfort is not adequately managed by the Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen.
 
Adequate pain management minimizes your discomfort so that you can be out of bed and take care of yourself. It does not eliminate your pain. Minimizing narcotic use makes it less likely that you will become dependent or addicted to narcotic medication. For more information about avoiding dependency and the national opioid epidemic, please refer to the Daily Health Wire story here.  https://www.trihealth.com/dailyhealthwire/health-topics/pregnancy-and-childbirth/reducing-risk-of-opioid-addiction-for-new-mothers 
 
 
Please dispose of any unused narcotic medication responsibly.