Medical Professionals Managing C-section Pain Without the Use of Opioids
Cutting Back on Opioids After C-Sections: A Win-Win for Mom and Baby
The opioid crisis has doctors taking a hard look at their prescription habits, and one area where changes are being made is during C-section recovery. Anesthesiologist Eric Chiang, MD, from Cleveland Clinic, is leading the charge to shift away from opioids for pain management after childbirth. Here's why and what it means for you.
Q: Why are doctors reducing opioid prescriptions for C-section pain relief?
For two decades, opioids were the go-to pain medicine not just for C-sections, but for any surgery. But this approach has led to overprescribing and an increased risk of addiction. The U.S. remains an extreme outlier in opioid use, with statistics showing we consume 80% of the world's opioids despite having just 5% of the population.
Q: What opioids have traditionally been prescribed after C-sections?
Percocet and Vicodin were common choices. These combination drugs contain an opioid and Tylenol. However, patients often took these pills for all pain without understanding the dosages. Now, doctors are separating these drugs and giving patients the option to use non-narcotic medications like Tylenol and Motrin for routine pain while saving opioids for "breakthrough" pain.
Q: What pain meds are doctors now prescribing after C-sections?
Tylenol and Motrin are now the primary pain meds for C-section recovery. Patients can use oxycodone if needed. This change has significantly reduced opioid use on postpartum floors by 70% and has helped half of C-section patients avoid opioids entirely.
Q: What benefits does reducing opioid prescriptions after C-sections have for both mother and baby?
For the mother, effective pain relief is essential for caring for an infant and avoiding postpartum depression. The new approach allows patients to regain quicker control over their recovery and reduces the risk of neonatal opioid exposure, which can lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome. Mothers are now more awake, less nauseous, walking around more, recovering faster, and passing their bowel movements sooner.
In summary, reducing opioid prescriptions for C-section pain relief benefits both the mother and baby by decreasing their exposure to opioids, reducing the risk of addiction and postpartum depression for the mother, and improving infant outcomes. It also aligns with broader public health efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
Using Tylenol and Motrin instead of opioids like Percocet and Vicodin for C-section pain management not only helps to decrease opioid use, reducing the risk of addiction and postpartum depression for mothers, but it also helps in improving the overall health and wellness of mothers by ensuring quicker recovery, less nausea, and quicker bowel movements. This shift in pain management aligns with broader science and medical-conditions focused efforts towards managing chronic diseases such as chronic pain and addressing health-and-wellness concerns like the opioid crisis.
