Is it necessary to use a pain pump after a cesarean section?
Apr 23, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
It is generally necessary to use a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump after cesarean section, unless the mother is intolerant to the medication, in which case it may not be needed. The PCA pump mainly uses a specialized device to continuously deliver pain-relieving drugs into the mother's body. Once the anesthetic used during surgery is metabolized, the mother may begin to experience pain; therefore, using the PCA pump at this point is beneficial as it helps reduce postoperative pain.
Pain pumps after cesarean section are generally necessary, but if the mother is intolerant to the medication, their use may not be needed. The details are as follows:
1. Necessary
A pain pump primarily uses specialized equipment to continuously deliver analgesic drugs into the mother's body at a consistent rate and interval, thereby achieving pain relief. Cesarean delivery involves a surgical incision that creates a significant wound in the mother’s abdomen to deliver the baby. After surgery, once the anesthetic wears off, the mother may experience pain. In such cases, using a pain pump is beneficial and necessary to alleviate postoperative pain.
2. Unnecessary
If the mother is particularly weak after childbirth, using a pain pump might lead to drug intolerance, worsening adverse reactions such as dizziness and vomiting, and could even impair her recovery. Therefore, in these cases, it may not be necessary to use a pain pump.
It is recommended that after surgery, the mother maintain warmth, eat light and healthy meals, and engage in appropriate physical activity to promote uterine contractions and facilitate lochia discharge.
