If you have any questions about this information, you can contact the Drugs in Breastmilk team through their Facebook page or on druginformation@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.

We know that the rate of caesarean sections continues to rise in UK, accounting for 19.7% of births in 2000 to 26.2% in 2015 (Wise J. 2018).

Codeine (and co-codamol) is no longer recommended in breastfeeding as morphine can in your baby if you have a particular metabolism. See our factsheet on codeine for more information. So, what happens after birth if you have had a section?

The standard drugs of paracetamol plus ibuprofen/naproxen/diclofenac may be sufficient for you, but it is likely that you will need something stronger.  Whilst in hospital it seems as if oral morphine solution (oramorph) is commonly used with the amount required varying.  This is safe when breastfeeding even a newborn because of the way the drug is handled in your body. The preferred alternative opiate tablet is dihydrocodeine (co-dydramol when administered with paracetamol) which is handled by the body in such a way that drowsiness is much less common.

Opiate drugs tend to cause constipation so if you need these drugs you should be given a laxative or stool softener. See our factsheet on constipation for more information. The fourth stage of labour – passing that first bowel motion – is no fun!

In certain situations you may be given low molecular weight heparin injections to avoid the risk of blood clots. These are self- administered and are safe in breastfeeding as the molecules are too large to pass into milk. See our factsheet on anticoagulants for more information.

If you have a c section you will receive an injection of antibiotic in theatre to avoid the risk of infection – these will be safe in breastfeeding. See our factsheet on antibiotics for more information.

Getting around after a caesarean section can be painful so pain relief is necessary.  Strong painkillers are usually not needed for more than a few days.  They are addictive so it is unlikely that you will be prescribed many but please don’t put up with pain, tell someone.

References

• Wise J. Alarming global rise in caesarean births, figures show BMJ 2018; 363

©The Breastfeeding Network. Published Sept 2019. Last amended February 2026.