Failed placenta delivery and manual removal.

[claudinator]

Has anyone had a failed placenta removal and had to get it manually removed?? Mine had to be pulled out with a metal hook. I had a miscarriage in July and now my doctor wants to do a D&C again. I'm worried il never get pregnant again.

 

[tryfor2]

Would having it manually removed affect a person's ability to conceive again? I've never heard this myself... I did know soneone years ago who had her placenta manually removed. She said it hurt horribly and was telling me all the gory details. She was just an acquaintance and I've not seen her since so I don't know whether she had any other children. I just had my second baby 9 weeks ago. The first time I delivered the placenta normally. This time (different dr.), I wasn't asked to push it out; she wrapped the cord around a pair of scissors and pulled it out! I didn't know at the time (DH told me later), but now that strikes me as a bit weird. So I guess I sort of had it manually extracted to a certain degree.... Good luck with your next pregnancy (and I'm sorry for this loss). I'm sure your next one will be successful.

 

[claudinator]

They couldn't get the placenta out so I'd to get another epidural in theatre and it had to be taken out bit by bit with a metal hook it took an hour. I haven't come across anyone with it yet. My SIL is a midwife and she never even heard of it. I'm terrified now.

 

[Missnurse]

Not quite the same but DD I had 2 lots of the injection and it still wouldn't come away, thankfully a doctor got it out with forceps or theatre would have been the next step

DS last year no problem delivering placenta but I kept losing blood which wasn't slowing down, turned out I had clots round my cervix that had to be manually removed (sheer agony, worse than childbirth!) then a week later ended up back in hospital with endometritis scared myself stupid on Google etc thinking it would affect my fertility but here I am 13 weeks with #3 DS is a year old next month!

Speak to your doctor if you are really concerened thet would be best ones to ask

 

[xQuinnx]

I had this when I had my first baby 11 days ago. I had a big bleed during labour, part of the placenta had come away from the wall. When it came for the placenta to be delivered it wouldn't come out, after being given some meds part came away but part remained and I had to go to theatre to have it removed manually. To be honest no one said anything to me about it effecting my ability to concieve in the future or how it may effect anything 'down there'....The consent form I had to sign said nothing about this either so I'm presuming and hoping it won't have lasting effects. I felt really traumatised after the experience and like you am still worried about what it means for the future...I know I've not really got answers but hopefully it helps to talk to someone else who had it x

 

[tryfor2]

They couldn't get the placenta out so I'd to get another epidural in theatre and it had to be taken out bit by bit with a metal hook it took an hour. I haven't come across anyone with it yet. My SIL is a midwife and she never even heard of it. I'm terrified now.

Sorry--I misunderstood. I was picturing the cord wrapped around the metal hook rather like the way mine was wrapped around the scissors. I hope you don't think I was trying to diminish what you endured. Having your placenta literally scraped out sounds awful. I have never heard of it. Maybe post on one of the other B&B forums that gets more traffic. I hope you get some answers.

 

[fortunecookie]

I had a manual removal in my first pregnancy. I have now had another baby so it is possible to conceive again. Second time round the placenta was refusing to come out again, I had more of the drug injected down the cord that you usually get in your leg on a managed 3rd stage and eventually it did come out but then I had a major haemorrhage. Guess my uterus just doesn't like giving up the placenta. You can conceive again but are at higher risk of having a retained placenta next time.

 

[claudinator]

I had a massive haemmorage with my son I got 6units of blood. And then two more at 5minths ppm. The thing that worries me the most is that I literally had no energy and couldn't catch my breath I used to walk with my hand on the wall with my eyes closed because I was so dizzy. My DH worked 6.30 until 7.30pm so it was just the two of us. And I'm terrified that the next time il loose allot of blood and il have two babies that I won't be able to manage because I can't catch my breath.

 

[fortunecookie]

I felt like that too but was put on iron tablets and this passed after a week or so. I think it is just low red blood cells from blood loss xx

 

[Ashla]

I second what fortunecookie said. I've had a retained placenta twice now. The first time I had a D&C to remove the placenta and the second time I had a manual removal and a large hemorrhage. My doctor said it wouldn't stop me from having a third baby if I wanted one, but that I was very likely to have a retained placenta again.
By the way, I would mention to your doctors next time that you were so weak after the first birth. They have a duty of care to provide you with a blood transfusion or iron tablets so that you are in a fit state to look after your baby. I was as weak as you and ended up going back into hospital a few weeks after the birth (just for the day) to have a transfusion. I felt back to normal within days of having it.

 

[claudinator]

Did either of you ladies have bad rectal bruising after the removal?? I had really bad bruising. I couldn't walk up stairs and I found it hard to sit down and stand up. I would only leave the house if I knew I could sit for a while as it was too painful. And I could not get in the car at all. I also had stitches across my butt cheek so that didn't help either.

 

[Ashla]

Wow. That sounds awful My manual removal was done by an Obstetrician and he used his hands. I was given a spinal block right before he did it and didn't have any pain or bruising at the time or in the days afterwards. The obstetrician also said that my placenta was "really stuck into the wall (if my uterus)." Your removal sounds brutal- I am so sorry you had to go through that Have you spoken to the hospital? It sounds to me as though some of your pain and bruising may have been a result of the method and technique used by the doctor rather than being unavoidable.

I would definitely be telling your health professionals that you are concerned that the removal may impact on future pregnancies and demanding a doctor examine you and ensure that no damage was done.

 

[fortunecookie]

I'm not sure about bruising...I did have some issues with feeling like I was pooing when I hadn't and I had incontinence issues for a good year or so but that may have been to the two hour pushing stage followed by a ventouse delivery.

 

[dairymomma]

My sis had a manual placenta removal after her last delivery. She also had a major hemorrhage and came within minutes of needing a transfusion. But she hasn't had any issues getting pg again. She's due this winter and her babies will be 19 months apart.

 

[kanga]

My history is 3 mc, all d&c. Then one baby where the placenta was stuck and I had manual removal in theatre (a man stuck his hand up there and pulled it out but by bit).

Then another mc naturally. Then second baby and placenta came away quickly and ab fine.

So I guess I'm just trying to give you comfort that the d&c s didn't affect me long term. Xx