Question for those with BF experience

Did anyone have very severe contractions of the uterus during and between feedings? Apparently I am having them terribly in my back and somewhat in my abdomen. I am on 600 mg of Motrin for pain right now and was wondering how any one who experienced this dealt with it. I dunno if this 600 mg is cutting it but when I called th covering dr. for my ob, she told me to let her know if it gets worse, which I guess would mean pain killers which I really don't think I could handle . . .

Re: Question for those with BF experience

My uterus contracted, but I never had severe pain.. sorry - I don't know too much about it.

Re: Question for those with BF experience

After my 2nd, I actuallly asked the dr. if there were really twins and they left one in there

I was screaming one day in the hospital - it was like labor. They had to give me a shot and knock me out.

The nurses in the maternity unit said it will get worse with each child.

The GOOD thing is that, while painful, BF causes your uterus to contract faster and your body to go back to normal a little sooner.

ETA: The BAD BAD contractions ended within a few days of coming home and the pain got less and less, although I could still feel my uterus contracting for about a week.

Message edited 8/2/2009 6:46:53 PM.

Re: Question for those with BF experience

Oh yeah. Breastfeeding the first baby it was painful but not so bad. What I would classify as severe cramping. By the second baby, I swear I was ready for heroin to ease the pain - and I had both babies with no pain medication. It was very painful.

Your uterus was expanding slowly with cramping all along the way for 9 months. Now it's shrinking down back to size quickly. On top of that nursing helps your uterus to shrink back to size more quickly (they consider that as part of the perks of bf'ing).

I only took motrin & dealt with it because I wasn't keen on taking anything stronger.

Consider that your ob may need to know about the severe cramping - not just to prescribe something stronger, but they may want to see you to make sure that everything is ok. I wouldn't want you to NOT call if it's severe & you have other issues.

It does ease up within a week.

Re: Question for those with BF experience

Oh yes...after having my 2nd baby I remember the nurses telling me that the cramping would be worse and it was. With #3 it was horrible. It has not happened in a few days but for about a week the pain was so bad it had me crying. I was in the hosptial the night before I was leaving and it was so bad my whole body tensed up with the baby in my arms. My arms and legs were shaking and my teeth were shattering. I couldn't move. I think it was almost like shock. That was with the percoset in me. It will pass. I had my DD on July 24th and I would say the past 3 days I haven't had any even with breastfeeding. I was taking the Advil once I was home and it helped but it does not get rid of them. Feel better.

On a postive note...I think it helped to shrink my belly down to barely noticable with a loose shirt on.

Re: Question for those with BF experience

This happened to me and I got SO scared. But I was told it was completely normal. It only lasted a few weeks

Re: Question for those with BF experience

I had that.. it was horrible. The good thing is that it will go away in a few weeks. Hang in there it will get better.

Re: Question for those with BF experience

They were cramps with my first - totally tolerable. But with my second they were like strong contractions all over again