Medication and breastfeeding

[SR35]

Hi I have been taking diclofenac and paracetamol since giving birth on Saturday as I have really painful stitches after having an episiotomy. I know that paracetamol is ok when breastfeeding but does anyone know if it's okay for me to still be taking the diclofenac? I guess they wouldn't have given me it if it wasn't but I forgot to ask.

The stitches had been starting to feel a bit better but today it's agony again so I would like to keep taking them. The midwife had a look and said it seems fine and probably just getting a bit tighter as it heals but I wish it would just go away now, it's so painful to sit down!!

Thanks for any advice anybody can offer..

Sarah x

 

[Sprk]

I ink the best answer will come from your mw or gp. My gp gave me some codeine to help me cope with the pain (episiotomy) but he double checked it was ok first. I know the paracetamol is fine and so is ibuprofen. I think diclofinac is just a form of anti-inflammatory (like ibuprofen) and you have a point - they did give it to you - so I'm sure it's fine.

 

[Jajis]

The Breastfeeding Network have an amazing resource of 'Drugs in Milk' fact sheets on various topics/types of medicine. The one on pain relief is here: Analgesics (Pain killers) and Breastfeeding. It mentions Diclofenac on page three, seems to suggest it's okay because such small amounts transfer into breastmilk

You sound like you had a similar birth to me. You've probably seen it already, but this page has a variety of suggestions for making stitches and bruising more comfortable: BabyCentre Stitches & Bruising - I was sitting on carefully placed cushions for weeks! Hope you're feeling better soon, and good luck with the breastfeeding - it's so worth it once you've got through the initial weeks of pain

 

[MrsT2011]

Diclofenic is fine Hun, I had it for my kidney stones when I thought I might be pregnant and they give it after birth to help with swelling x