BREAK THIS PRACTICE HABIT
We can achieve opioid-free analgesia after childbirth: Stop prescribing opioids after vaginal delivery and reduce their use after cesarean
OBG Management. 2020 January;32(1):29-32
January 7, 2020|OBG Management
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Routine use of opioids after childbirth should be discontinued. Three practical strategies can help ObGyns reduce opioid prescriptions and adequately manage patients’ pain.
Change is here to stay: A new culture of postpartum analgesia
The CDC continues to champion responsible opioid prescribing, while ACOG advocates for a reassessment of the way that opioids are utilized postpartum. The majority of women in the United States, however, continue to receive opioids after both vaginal delivery and CD. Consciously or not, we clinicians may be contributing to an outdated tradition that is potentially harmful both to patients and society. Reproducible strategies exist to reduce opioid use without compromising pain control or overwhelming clinicians with phone calls. It is time to embrace the change.
