C section recovery!

I’m really curious how it works here in the US. I had my daughter in NZ and it was by emergency cesarean. They kept the epidural in 12+ hours after birth so I could have pain medicine pumped when needed just straight into the epidural line. I then was prescribed tramadol and took that for about a week or two. I had no pain ever, just some discomfort. I was only in the hospital one night.

How is it in the US? I’m now in the US and due soon, possible by cesarean. A friend of mine here said that because she wanted to breastfeed, they wouldn’t let her take any pain meds! I breastfed from the beginning while on pain meds and all the doctors and my midwife were supportive and said it was safe. I went on to breastfeed her for 3 years. I would be devastated if I had to choose between the two.

Were you given pain meds? How long were you in hospital? Any info is greatly appreciated.