How many people here had post-partum hemmoraghes?

[amberliam]

Hi there,
As title says, I have 2 children already and had PPH's with both. My son I lost 900ml and with my daughter 1200ml and that was an awful experience.

I am 10 weeks pregnant again and am already starting to panick, I am already classed as high risk and am booked in to see a consultant at some point.

Just wondering anyone else there had PPH's and if so was you given any reasons for them? I have had drs say it may have been to do with their weights (son was 9lb 7 and daughter 9lb 14) and also I had trouble delivering the placenta both times. I'm convinced its gonna happen again, I', even considering asking for a c section even though I don't really want one and know they won't let me anyways.

 

[Tillys_Mum]

I had a PPH and a second haemorrhage later on. My baby was 9.3. I had 2 tears and my uterus wouldn't contract. The second haemorrhage was because of retained placenta.

Wishing you a speedy and complication free birth xx

 

[goddess25]

I delivered my 3rd baby at home in my bedroom and had a PPH, estimated 1000 blood loss. Thankfully it stopped with a few injections and medication under my tongue. My baby was stuck a little and needed some manipulation on the way out plus he was 10lb. My midwife thinks that I had my PPH because my labours are very quick. I went into labour shortly before 11pm and baby was out @ 1.03 am. She reckons because my uterus works so hard during labour when its trying to stop once baby and placenta are out...its not able to do the job effectively.

 

[Feronia]

I had a PPH after my home birth and lost over 1,000 ml of blood. Unlike Goddess, mine was because I had a long labour -- 56 hours! My midwife said that my uterus most likely was too tired to contract properly. I didn't tear at all, so it wasn't that. They handled it very well at home. I needed an IV, an oxytocin injection, uterine compression, and manual removal of clots, but my midwife did it all at home and I didn't have to go to the hospital.

I'm still planning a second home birth right now even though I might very well have another PPH. Why are you so worried about it? The fact that you had it happen twice means that they'll be ready for it the 3rd time, so that's great! I wouldn't see how a c-section would be advisable, especially since you are still likely to have a PPH even with a c-section.

 

[MindUtopia]

I would look into if there was anything during your birth that complicated things and might have led to the PPH and then do things differently next time. I've never heard of a PPH being related to baby's size as baby would already have been born before the bleed. Some women do lose a lot of blood if they tear badly (which *might* be more likely with a large baby for some women, but certainly plenty have 10lb babies and don't tear at all). But that wouldn't (or shouldn't) really be classed as a PPH as the bleeding would be external rather than uterine in origin. Were you induced? Induction carries an 80% greater risk of PPH than a spontaneous labour because of how the drugs cause the uterus to contract in a way it isn't really supposed to. If that's a possible cause, then you can opt not be be induced again. PPH often, as you said, has to do with how the placenta detaches from the uterine wall. When it goes well, your body makes enough oxytocin to sheer the placenta off the uterine wall and then contract down to close off the blood vessels that connect the uterus to the placenta. When that process doesn't happen properly, the blood vessels don't get closed off and the blood that's running through them has nowhere to go, but out.

Did you have a natural or managed 3rd stage in the past? One thing you might do is to opt for a managed 3rd stage as it can decrease the risk of PPH, though obviously that isn't the case for all women (you can still have a PPH even with a managed 3rd stage). Another thing you might try is just to make yourself as relaxed and comfortable as possible and think of things you can ask your midwives to do to help keep the atmosphere in the room calm and quiet and relaxed. If after baby is born, you and baby are separated or there is a lot of bright lights, rushing around, panic, stress, etc., your body will switch from producing the oxytocin it needs to safely detach the placenta to making cortisol and adrenaline. These can block the body's ability to detach the placenta easily and make it more likely you'll have a PPH. You might state that you want immediate skin to skin (if you haven't already), help with BF (if you are choosing to BF, latching on right away will stimulate oxytocin), and ask the midwives to give you time to rest and relax after birth. They can monitor you from afar without hovering over you or panicking you. In my birth plan, I requested an hour to ourselves (midwives were in the room) to have skin to skin and rest before I'd discuss having the jab if the placenta hadn't come or before they examined me or baby. In the end, I did need to have the jab as placenta didn't come for 1.5 hours, but it was fine and we appreciated having that time together.

 

[Sun_Flower]

I had a 1350ml PPH with my first, due to my daughter being 10lb 7oz which meant my uterus didn't contract quickly enough after she was born and flopped over - it's called uterine atony and is the reason behind almost 90% of PPH's. Can be caused by a large baby, precipitous (very fast) labour, multiple birth, high number of pregnancies etc.

I'm not too worried, as previous posters have said, it's actually better to have had one before as they'll be prepared for it to happen again. With me they'll have a drip ready for me to use to prevent it after this birth xx

 

[Feronia]

Yeah, i is true that 90% of PPHs are caused by uterine atony. Here are the risk factors for atony:

-prolonged labor; (This was the reason for me)
-the use of oxytocin (Pitocin) during labor;
-general anesthesia;
-twin or multiple births;
-increased amounts of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios);
-delivery of a large baby;
-history of more than five pregnancies;
-abnormal labor (dystocia); and
-infection (chorioamnionitis).

 

[AJCart]

I was induced and delivered my 8 pound little girl via forceps. Had a PPH of a bit over 1000ml as my uterus didn't contract the way it should have.

 

[Buttercup84]

I had a pph with my DD in 2011 due to uterine atony, I lost 2500ml and needed a 2 bag blood transfusion afterwards. My risk factors were being induced with pitocin, having large baby (9lbs 4oz) and my own BMI being in the obese range. I also had a second bordering on third degree tear which obviously contributed to the amount of blood I lost. I'm a bit apprehensive about it happening again as although I recovered fairly quickly it was a scary experience and I believe contributed to my PND and struggle to bond with my DD. This time around I had a consultant appointment but she decided I could be under midwife led care unless any other risk factors crop up. The plan is for me to give birth on delivery suite with a cannula in place from the start and syntocinon on standby in case I have another pph. I've had the OK for intermittent monitoring as long as i'm not induced so i'm hoping for a better experience this time around and fc no pph!

 

[goddess25]

Large baby, 6th pregnancy and fast labour did it for me then.

 

[SarahSausage]

I had a PPH with my second but went on to have my 3rd with no complications. It mightn't happen again but if it does at least everyone will be prepared for it. Hope all goes well.

 

[amberliam]

So it seems there is a correlation with bigger babies and PPH's? I have consultant app in October so will see what they say then.

 

[Feronia]

Not necessarily. If you have a bigger baby, you can try better positions and supporting the perineum in order to prevent tearing (which is a cause of PPHs). However, the most common cause of PPHs is uterine atony -- usually caused by extremely fast or extremely long labours.

 

[Sun_Flower]

My uterine atony was caused by a large baby xx