A postoperative pain survey in the second day after cesarean section

ABSTRACT

Blackground A mother should have contact with, and take care of, her newborn as early as possible. For this reason, after a cesarean section, care providers are reluctant to give a strong analgesic after the first postoperative day, except oral acetaminophen as some analgesics are contraindicated for breastfeeding mothers. Pain mothers are experiencing the second postoperative day at our hospital has not been graded. Objective: To determine the incidence and magnitude of pain the second day after cesarean section.Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Postpartum Ward at Srinagarind Hospital between August 1 and October 31, 2004.Method: Interview mothers in the second day after cesarean section.Measurement Pain and suffering scores were evaluated both at rest and duringambulation (both using a numeric rating scale 0-10, scores \> 5 defined moderate to severe pain). We recorded pain intensity and relief before and after taking oral acetaminophen, numbers of analgesic injection(s) during the 24 hours after surgery, the time between the last analgesic injection and the first oral acetaminophen, the need for analgesic injection(s) the second day, and mothers' satisfaction with pain relief. Results: One-hundred mothers were interviewed 78% (95% CI 69 – 86%) had moderate to severe pain and 66% suffering while ambulating. Before receiving the first oral acetaminophen, 96% had moderate to severe pain and 94% suffering; afterward the pain and suffering were reduced to 43 and 55%, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of the participants felt that oral acetaminophen provided modest pain relief, while 20% needed more parenteral analgesic in the second day. All of the mothers were satisfied with the pain relief given even though they still experienced pain.Conclusion: The second day after a cesarean section, 78% of women had moderate to severe pain and 66% suffering while ambulating 39% reported oral acetaminophen produced modest pain relief. Although all of the mothers were satisfied with the received treatment, alternative methods should be used for greater reduction of pain and suffering.Key words Pain, suffering, cesarean section, ambulation.