haemorrhage in last birth scared about second birth

[flosie]

I have just had an appointment with my consultant as I haemorrhaged after giving birth to my dd. I was told I lost a litre of blood at the time but was told at the appointment it was 3 litres of blood and was as a result of 3 major tears which were due to a very fast labour and birth.
The blood loss explains why I felt so ill in the first few months of my dd's life I really struggled but didn't understand why I found it so hard, I wasn't told the extent of my blood loss nor were my iron levels checked until my dd was 11 weeks.
I'm terrified I will lose this much again. Has anyone else experienced this amount of blood loss and gone on to have a second? If you have was it better second time. I have been told my birth this time will be more managed does anyone know what they mean by that?

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

My mother did with me and almost died. She went on to have two completely normal vaginal births with my younger siblings. Hope you have an easy birth this time!

 

[ellahopesky]

i haemorrhaged very badly with my first, went on to have 3 more children with no problems at all.

as for 'more managed' i think it just means they'll be keeping a closer eye on you and will be prepared in the event of another heavy blood loss xx

 

[flosie]

Thanks for your replies. I'm really hoping I won't have the same problems this time. Now I know I lost alot more than I thought it explains why I struggled so much for the first few months

 

[kanga]

I did too and had second degree tears and retained placenta requiring manual removal. My second labour was totally different and everything went right. I am sure yours will too. X

 

[mjemma]

I had a haemorrhage last time too and my uterus wouldn't contract so ended up with a special balloon inserted to keep it compressed and to blood transfusions. I am scared too but trying to remain positive as I know every birth is different. I haven't had many reassuring answers just the same - we'll watch you closely and it probably won't happen again but can't be sure! As far as I understand, more managed means they will monitor you more, insert a canula ready to give you fluids if needed, manage the delivery of the placenta and just be aware of your history.

Good luck, I hope neither of us has to go through all that again!

 

[Eleanor ace]

I can't believe they didn't monitor your irn levels until 11 weeks pp, I would have thought that after a transfusion monitoring iron levels would be a very obvious step! I'd push your MW/doctor for answers on why you were left without appropriate monitoring after losing so much blood (I didn't even think you could lose so much blood and still be OK!) and ask exactly what they plan to do this time around to prevent the same situation. They probably have specifics in mind and knowing what they are should (hopefully) be reassuring.

 

[MemmaJ]

Did you have a blood transfusion? I'd be very surprised if you didn't need one after that amount of blood loss? Usually your iron levels should have been checked within 24 hours of birth so it may have been done while you were still in hospital and you mah not remember with everything else going on?

With regards to this labour/delivery, it just means you will need to be on a high risk unit (rather than a birth centre or something similar), will definitely need to have the injection to help the placenta separate/deliver (as opposed to a physiological placental delivery), you will need to have a canulla in - ready to be used to give fluids/drugs if needed in an emergency, and they will potentially give you an infusion through this canulla straight after delivery anyway, just as a precaution/to lessen any risk (or they may just have the infusion made and ready nearby incase it's needed).

As you can see by the replies though, lots of ladies go into have a completely normal delivery the next time

 

[amelia26]

I lost 1.6 litres but they seem confident it won't necessarily happen again. I had a lot of risk factors for pph last time which hopefully we will avoid next time.

I had my levels checked after birth and had a blood transfusion - 2 units. If you have any blood loss at all next time I would insist they check your levels.
I would also want to discuss what could be done to avoid the risk of blood loss this time.

 

[flosie]

In my notes it said I lost 1 litre so I think thats why they didn't monitor me properly. They gave me two iron infusions instead of a blood transfusion and my levels were checked at 24 hours then not again until11 weeks. I had a consultant appointment and she said my iron levels indicated to her an approximately 3 litre blood loss and the midwives estimate at delivery was way out.
I felt incredibly ill for about 5 months but didn't realise I was so anaemic as no one had tested or monitored me since. I told the consultant how I felt after birth and she said I would have been pretty much bedridden. Thats how I felt but pushed myself as my inlaws were adamant I should be doing all the house work and you just work through the tiredness as everyone is tired who has a baby!!!! At the time I just thought I wasn't cut out to have a baby, I felt very isolated and had very little support as my partner worked very long hours.

 

[ttcnewbie123]

I lost 2 litres with DS1 and so 2nd time round they said they would be managing things better. By this they meant they had blood on stand by for me should I need it and the injections for straight after the birth which makes your blood clot. 2nd time round I haemorrhaged again, lost 1.5litres. Refused a blood transfusion so went away with iron tablets which in turn make you constipated etc etc. Losing that much blood just makes you feel so weak, people just don't understand! We are now TTC number 3 and I'm hoping for a more positive experience this time around. Having said all of that I did ask the consultant and he said that just because you have haemorrhaged once it doesn't mean you are going to again! Good luck!