Maternal experience: exploring pain experienced and analgesia available to women following discharge after caesarean section
Loading...
Authors
Lokes, Charlotte
Issue Date
2025
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Births by caesarean section accounted for 25% of deliveries in 2023–2024, compared with 13% 10 years prior [1]. Following discharge, women are expected to
manage the care of their baby and themselves as they recover from a major
operation. This survey aims to collect the experiences of women to identify any
limitations to current analgesia offered and identify areas for improvement. Due
to the risk of sedation to baby, analgesic options are limited and codeine avoided. Current practice sees dihydrocodeine commonly issued to women, with the
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommending that it is not
given for more than 3 days when breastfeeding [2].
Methods
This survey was performed over a 3-week period collecting the views of women
post caesarean section, both elective and emergency. Women on the postdelivery ward provided verbal consent to receiving a phone call a week after dis charge to explore their views on the analgesia given at discharge.
Results
Fourteen elective cases were surveyed and 13 emergencies. All were offered
paracetamol, ibuprofen and 10 doses of dihydrocodeine on discharge. Five
made contact with a healthcare professional requesting more pain relief, all following elective sections. Of these, two were not taking regular paracetamol and
ibuprofen and two were later prescribed codeine by their general practitioner.
Two of the women requested more due to fear of running out over the weekend, but felt once they had it, they did not require it. One-third of the women
described pain doing activities (six elective and three emergencies); however,
none felt they were limited in looking after themselves or their baby due to pain.
Six wanted more pain relief and 10 had surplus to needs.
Discussion
Few women sought further analgesia and none felt unable to look after themselves or their baby. The taking of regular paracetamol and ibuprofen remains
an area for potential improvement as does minimising the use of codeine when
more analgesia is sought. Pain management was found to be a greater struggle
following elective procedures and the addressing of expectations of this could
be improved. The use of written information given to patients prior to their elective section and on discharge for all, could aid the education of patients. Advice
should include taking regular paracetamol and ibuprofen even when pain free,
avoid codeine and information to address expectation with the aim of ultimately
enhancing maternal experience.
Description
Abstract only: from Volume 80, Issue S3
Supplement: Abstracts of Resident Doctors Conference 2025, 26–27 June 2025, Wembley, London
Citation
Lokes, C. (2025). 'Maternal experience: exploring pain experienced and analgesia available to women following discharge after caesarean section'. Anaesthesia, 80(Suppl. 3), 9-101
Publisher
License
Journal
Anaesthesia