Presentation on Pain Management in Postpartum Woman with a Vaginal Delivery

[kriistaa16]

I am a nurse on the labor and delivery/postpartum unit and my supervisor asked me to do a presentation for the staff on pain management....in general and mainly about postpartum pain in woman after lady partsl deliveries. She wants me to talk about meds, but also talk about non-medication relief that can be given to these woman. Any information that you think would be helpful for me to include would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[justapatient87]

Frozen pads are fantastic. My hospital made them with Postpartum Herbs from Earth Mama Angel Baby. So, so great.

[kayemmejayRN]

We use the frozen pads on L&D. On our postpartum unit they use dermaplast spray and warm spray bottles

[Katie71275]

We have the dermaplast on our unit and pads that activate into a "cold pad"(however I prefer a glove with ice wrapped with a towel). We also of course have meds: Norco, Percocet being our top contenders. Our PP unit has the plastic spray bottles.

[DalekRN]

Ice diaper: open up the tabbed end of a size 1 diaper and fill with ice chips. Cover in a layer of Epifoam and place over vulva after mom is back in bed. Alternate Motrin and Tylenol, or Motrin and Norco esp with multigravidas who experience worse cramping. Alternately, cover the ice diaper with tucks pads.

[rn/writer, RN]

We use all of the above, depending on the situation. I would also encourage you to consider the source of the pain. Is the patient sore from pushing? Did she pull a groin muscle? Did she have episiotomy or a tear? I have seen some 4th degree tears that look far worse than a c-section incision. How about hemorrhoids?

Ibuprofen is the go-to med for cramping, muscle aches, and general soreness. Percocet (or Norco) along with ice pads, ice diapers, and Dermoplast spray help a lot with stitches. Tucks pads and ointment give relief with hemorrhoids. Used in combination, we can get nearly all of our vag patients comfortable. We also encourage them to use their water bottle to spray while they're urinating to decrease stinging.

I'm so glad we no longer advise the use of those plastic inflatable doughnuts. I tried to use one of those after I had a baby and all it did was squish the tender area in the opening.

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

Frozen pads are fantastic. My hospital made them with Postpartum Herbs from Earth Mama Angel Baby. So so great.[/quote']

After 12 hours, a Sitz Bath feels really good to moms with stitches. You just have to convince them that it is to their advantage to make the time to do a Sitz Bath.

Sitting in bed may be less comfortable than sitting on a firm chair. When you sink into something soft, the perineal area may be slightly pulled apart, this doesn't happen with a firmer seat. And encourage your moms with sore bottoms to get into bed on their knees and rolling into position rather than sitting on the bed and dragging their bottom across the mattress to get to the middle of the bed.

Multips may want to premedicate for cramps just before starting to nurse. A hot pack on the abdomen or the back is also soothing.

[lovenotwar14]

Speaking of personal experience the squirt water bottle they gave me to use to squirt my lady parts while I urinated was a life savor. I'm not actually sure if it was water or not but urinating without it was pure torture.