Retained Placenta - Anyone any experience?

WelshOneEmma · Feb 9th, 2013, 15:56 PM

So my sisters SIL (does that make sense?) had a baby a few weeks ago. She has recently been taken back into hospital as she has a fever etc. They think she has an infection but arent sure if its in her stitches or that she has a bit of placenta left inside. They dont want to do an ultrasound to see if there is anything left in her. She is already on IV antibiotics and has the baby in hospital with her as she is still BF. They have said that even if she did have retained placenta, they wouldnt remove it, they would just treat with ABs.

So my question is this - does that sound right??? to me, if something inside is causing an infection surely you remove it? if it were me I would insist they do that, even if it was just with a D&C. Mind you, the hospital doesnt have the best or reputations for cleanliness!

Does anyone know? All my research says it should be removed.

Bex1408 · Feb 9th, 2013, 16:11 PM

Hiya! I had "retained product of conception" and it was treated with antibiotics, however I wasn't feeling poorly in any way I was just bleeding like a normal heavy period but passed quite a few large clots which I what sent me to the hospital. I think it depends on the amount that is retained and what affect the antibiotics is having! If they keep scanning her and it is going down then maybe that will be enough! However if she is quite poorly I'd think they would do a d&c as they were considering it with me if I had been ill in any way. However they did say that can cause infection too so I think it's up to the hospital. I was told more often than not the antibiotics will sort it, and if she is still bleeding and passing clots (as long as its not horrendeous) that means the body is getting rid! Sorry if I have rambled on a bit lol hope this helps! Xxx

Nat0619 · Feb 9th, 2013, 16:12 PM

I don't have any experience with this but I'm pretty sure it should be removed! As you say, probably by D&C. If I were her I'd definitely go elsewhere and get a scan x

Bex1408 · Feb 9th, 2013, 16:12 PM

Just noticed u said they didn't want to scan her? Why? That part seems odd as that would answer the questions in a matter of mins! I'd definately question that! Xxx

WelshOneEmma · Feb 9th, 2013, 16:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bex1408

Just noticed u said they didn't want to scan her? Why? That part seems odd as that would answer the questions in a matter of mins! I'd definately question that! Xxx

They said something about needs to be a couple of weeks after baby is born? I dont think she's bleeding excessively but apparently her temp is just getting higher and the ABs dont seem to be having much affect.

I just remember when I had the miscarriage they wanted to do a D&C to avoid things like this if the body didnt expel it (in the end it tried but couldnt so I had to have it).

I just dont understand though, surely if something is causing infection you go in and remove it???

staralfur · Feb 9th, 2013, 16:34 PM

I had some retained placenta and they basically just left it to pass as I wasn't feeling ill and regularly passing pieces.

In hindsight, I think they fobbed me off a bit and I got lucky to not suffer an infection.

But maybe there's some advantage in waiting for someone to pass it themselves? Though if she's already sick I would also think they'd do something more urgent.

Hope she feels better soon.

RoxieHart · Feb 10th, 2013, 03:49 AM

I had the same thing happen to me 3ish days after I have birth. Was really really horrible! I was admitted back to hospital and on a drip of anti biotics and fluid pretty much constantly.

I can't say if what they are doing is right because my hospital is awful anyway! ( was during my birth and when I took ill) ... But they never told me what it was they just stuck me on all the meds.

Just before I left they said I had an infection 'somewhere' they couldn't be assed to investigate where .. And I also had a skin bug .. ( something I must have picked up from the hospital during birth) what the hell ....

Only advice I can offer is make sure she stands up for herself and demands anwsers. Also make sure she does not leave un till she really feels better ! Before I was admitted the doctor tries to send me home and said take paracetamol ... LOL 1 if I left it, it could of turnt out really bad .. 2 I was really really ill and he just side tracked me !! Xx

kettle28 · Feb 11th, 2013, 17:08 PM

my whole placenta was retained so went straight ot theatre for it to be removed manually after lo was born.

most horror stories about homebirths are where some of placenta was retained and caused heavy bleeds, and the loss of blood led to death. sounds more like infection concern than bleeding concern? so maybe fine to go as they are?

if you're concerned can they ask for second opinion at the hospital? or talk to a midwife or HV at the hospital?X

Taylorr · Feb 12th, 2013, 14:30 PM

I had 'retained products'. For 24 hours I got fobbed off and told to go home as it was after pains but I eventually got rushed back in as the pain was so bad I couldnt stand...low and behold I had retained products and developed an infection. I had to stay in on antibiotics until temp went down and a scan confirmed the retained products. I was left to pass the products naturally which I have to say was more painful than the birth as they would only give me paracetamol.....it was the worst experience of my life!!

WelshOneEmma · Feb 12th, 2013, 16:14 PM

well it looks like the ABs have worked as she is now out of hospital. still think that it may have been easier to do a D&C but there you go!

Thanks everyone for your input!

Feb 9th, 2013, 15:56 PM	#1
WelshOneEmma Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wokingham, Berkshire Posts: 1,043	Retained Placenta - Anyone any experience? So my sisters SIL (does that make sense?) had a baby a few weeks ago. She has recently been taken back into hospital as she has a fever etc. They think she has an infection but arent sure if its in her stitches or that she has a bit of placenta left inside. They dont want to do an ultrasound to see if there is anything left in her. She is already on IV antibiotics and has the baby in hospital with her as she is still BF. They have said that even if she did have retained placenta, they wouldnt remove it, they would just treat with ABs. So my question is this - does that sound right??? to me, if something inside is causing an infection surely you remove it? if it were me I would insist they do that, even if it was just with a D&C. Mind you, the hospital doesnt have the best or reputations for cleanliness! Does anyone know? All my research says it should be removed.

Status: Offline

Feb 9th, 2013, 16:11 PM	#2
Bex1408 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 568	Hiya! I had "retained product of conception" and it was treated with antibiotics, however I wasn't feeling poorly in any way I was just bleeding like a normal heavy period but passed quite a few large clots which I what sent me to the hospital. I think it depends on the amount that is retained and what affect the antibiotics is having! If they keep scanning her and it is going down then maybe that will be enough! However if she is quite poorly I'd think they would do a d&c as they were considering it with me if I had been ill in any way. However they did say that can cause infection too so I think it's up to the hospital. I was told more often than not the antibiotics will sort it, and if she is still bleeding and passing clots (as long as its not horrendeous) that means the body is getting rid! Sorry if I have rambled on a bit lol hope this helps! Xxx

Status: Offline

Feb 9th, 2013, 16:12 PM	#3
Nat0619 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: West Midlands Posts: 3,825	I don't have any experience with this but I'm pretty sure it should be removed! As you say, probably by D&C. If I were her I'd definitely go elsewhere and get a scan x

Status: Offline

Feb 9th, 2013, 16:12 PM	#4
Bex1408 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 568	Just noticed u said they didn't want to scan her? Why? That part seems odd as that would answer the questions in a matter of mins! I'd definately question that! Xxx

Status: Offline

Feb 9th, 2013, 16:34 PM	#6
staralfur Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 4,841	I had some retained placenta and they basically just left it to pass as I wasn't feeling ill and regularly passing pieces. In hindsight, I think they fobbed me off a bit and I got lucky to not suffer an infection. But maybe there's some advantage in waiting for someone to pass it themselves? Though if she's already sick I would also think they'd do something more urgent. Hope she feels better soon.

Status: Offline

Feb 10th, 2013, 03:49 AM	#7
RoxieHart Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: London Posts: 789	I had the same thing happen to me 3ish days after I have birth. Was really really horrible! I was admitted back to hospital and on a drip of anti biotics and fluid pretty much constantly. I can't say if what they are doing is right because my hospital is awful anyway! ( was during my birth and when I took ill) ... But they never told me what it was they just stuck me on all the meds. Just before I left they said I had an infection 'somewhere' they couldn't be assed to investigate where .. And I also had a skin bug .. ( something I must have picked up from the hospital during birth) what the hell .... Only advice I can offer is make sure she stands up for herself and demands anwsers. Also make sure she does not leave un till she really feels better ! Before I was admitted the doctor tries to send me home and said take paracetamol ... LOL 1 if I left it, it could of turnt out really bad .. 2 I was really really ill and he just side tracked me !! Xx

Status: Offline

Feb 11th, 2013, 17:08 PM	#8
kettle28 Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: wales Posts: 1,150	my whole placenta was retained so went straight ot theatre for it to be removed manually after lo was born. most horror stories about homebirths are where some of placenta was retained and caused heavy bleeds, and the loss of blood led to death. sounds more like infection concern than bleeding concern? so maybe fine to go as they are? if you're concerned can they ask for second opinion at the hospital? or talk to a midwife or HV at the hospital?X

Status: Online

Feb 12th, 2013, 14:30 PM	#9
Taylorr Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull Posts: 778	I had 'retained products'. For 24 hours I got fobbed off and told to go home as it was after pains but I eventually got rushed back in as the pain was so bad I couldnt stand...low and behold I had retained products and developed an infection. I had to stay in on antibiotics until temp went down and a scan confirmed the retained products. I was left to pass the products naturally which I have to say was more painful than the birth as they would only give me paracetamol.....it was the worst experience of my life!!

Status: Offline

Feb 12th, 2013, 16:14 PM	#10
WelshOneEmma Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wokingham, Berkshire Posts: 1,043	well it looks like the ABs have worked as she is now out of hospital. still think that it may have been easier to do a D&C but there you go! Thanks everyone for your input!

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password