Safety of ibuprofen to manage pain after caesarean section for women who have hypertension in pregnancy - a randomised pilot study

This study is looking at whether a common pain reliever called ibuprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID) is safe to use after a caesarean section for women who had high blood pressure during pregnancy. Traditionally, doctors have avoided using these medications in this group out of concern that they might make high blood pressure worse, but researchers want to find out if this concern is actually justified. The study compares women who receive ibuprofen for pain relief after their caesarean to those who receive other types of pain relief. The main goal is to check whether ibuprofen causes any dangerous spikes in blood pressure after birth. Researchers also hope to show that ibuprofen works well as a painkiller and could reduce the need for stronger opioid medications like endone. You may be eligible if you are at least 18 years old, pregnant with high blood pressure (including gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia), and planning or having a caesarean section. Women with kidney problems, severe liver disease, eclampsia, or a known allergy to NSAIDs are not eligible. The study is being run at Royal North Shore Hospital.