Those with 2 or more children

[butterflywolf]

I hope this is the right spot for this. So anyway we had a very normal pregnancy, no red flags or anything. I went into labor Aug 1st at 8:30 at night. Got an epidural by 11 and at around 2 ish they started me on Pitocin. I started pushing at 6:30 in the morning and our baby girl was born at 8:01 in the morning at 9 lbs 3 oz and 22 inches. No one would have guessed she would have been that big. Anyway that all went fine...until after she came out. They couldn't get me to stop bleeding. My uterus wouldn't contract/go down in size. And my hemoglocen (sp) was at a 14 two weeks prior to labor and afterwards fell to a 6. I should have had a transfusion but I semi refused it since I had no symptoms afterwards (dizzy, faint, etc.). I was even brave enough to look down at the doctor and I am not kidding she was coated and soaked in my blood as well as the area around me. But just knowing that I almost bleed out freaks me out on wondering if we should ever try for a number 2. I'd love to have another child but...what if I bleed out next time?

I do plan on talking to my doctor come the 13th of Sept (my check up apt.). But for right now I guess I just want to know if someone has gone through this and ended up having another child and not bleeding out.

 

[Amygdala]

I'm still working on baby2 but had quite a large blood loss first time around, they estimated 1500ml. I recovered fine though, without a transfusion or even iv iron or fluids. I'm not majorly worried about it. After all, I did stop bleeding before it got serious and so did you, seeing as you recovered ok without the transfusion. Do you know how much you lost? By all means, ask your doctor about it, but I don't think it's something that should worry you for next time around.
Congratulations on your little girl!!!

 

[butterflywolf]

I'm still working on baby2 but had quite a large blood loss first time around, they estimated 1500ml. I recovered fine though, without a transfusion or even iv iron or fluids. I'm not majorly worried about it. After all, I did stop bleeding before it got serious and so did you, seeing as you recovered ok without the transfusion. Do you know how much you lost? By all means, ask your doctor about it, but I don't think it's something that should worry you for next time around.
Congratulations on your little girl!!!

I just know from grams that it went from 14 grams to 6 grams. I had a lot of fluids put in me during the time during the after birth. Honestly I can't tell you all the stuff they put in me and what not. They joked afterwards that I'll never bleed again. I was put on iron supplements. I'm actually still suppose to be taking them up thru 6 months but because I am me and I am stubborn, I have stopped taking them two days ago and I'm fine.

 

[Guppy051708]

I had PPH due to severe low iron at birth as well (mine was 6.5-7 and they wanted to do a transfusion). That was w my first.

In my second oregnancy i took a plant based iron and never had an issue. It absorbs alot better than the synthetic stuff. My iron was golden. Had a great birth. No issues w the placenta (took less than 7 min to come out) and i had very very minimual bleeding. MWs were impressed. My PP bleed was very light and only lasted a week.

W my first it was heavy and lasted 8 weeks. I bled out the max they allow before intervention at the birth so they gave me a pitocin injection to stop the bleeding and to elp the placenta come away bc it was in there for an hour and i was bleeding badly and it wouldnt come out. A totally different experience!

So i would recommend a plant based iron like blood builders or liquid verision like Floridex. It wont constipate u like the synthetic stuff and ur body asborbs it much better.

I know what u went thr was scary but it doesnt have to turn out like that next time

 

[Eleanor ace]

With DS I bled quite a lot (though mostly from my tears), I was over the threshold for a transfusion but my iron levels were fine and other than tiredness I was fine so didn't have one.
With DD I had transfusion notes stapled to my green notes as I have an unusual blood type and they wanted to be prepared to act quickly if I bled a lot I guess. I hardly bled though (recorded as 150ml on my birth notes but I didn't see any blood!)- I had her in a birth pool and the water was clear. The midwife told me that no two labours are the same, but if you've lost a lot of blood in a previous labour they will pay extra attention to your blood loss the second time.

 

[lynnikins]

I would be taking iron supplements if i were you if you had a severe PPH last time and your levels dropped pre-delivery then id be worried about it, the risks of major issues and being seriously unwell arent something id want to mess with.

my hB has been lower than the "acceptable" level this time around and im doubling up on my Spatone supplements as synthetic iron makes me ill , I had a post birth blood transfusion after having my second child due to my hB levels being checked and being at 64/6.4 when they want them at 105/10.5 at the lowest prior to birth to reduce the risks of PHH. it took me weeks to regain my iron stores , currently im doing ok with being nearly due and my level last check was 103/10.3, which the homebirth MW's are having fits over but its really quite good for me normally let alone in pregnancy lol.

be careful your LO needs you as does this baby so you need to take care of yourself

 

[butterflywolf]

thanks for the replies ladies. My iron was fine until after delivery. I plan on asking my doctor at the next apt to see why I bled so much since I shouldn't have at all. I do remember the placenta coming out fairly quickly after Claire was born, and then just blood blood blood due to my uterus not wanting to contract. That's all I can remember. I don't think they said anything while I was in the hospital (was there from Aug 1st at 9pm until Aug 4th until 11 am). I only saw my actual doctor once when he was able to sneak in (he was on call and they were delivering the max babies that weekend too). I actual had a good cry about this and talked with DH about it finally and I feel a bit better. I just need to know what went on now.

 

[Guppy051708]

How many days/weeks before ur delivery did u have ur iron checked? There can be lag between when ur iron is actually dropping and when it actually shows up low in blood work

Also it's not uncommon for the placenta to delivery quickly. In fact when it takes longer that is *sometimes* a red flag for an issue as opposed to fast but its nt a guarantee nor always the case


Glad u r feeling better just remember next time doesn't have to go the same way

 

[butterflywolf]

How many days/weeks before ur delivery did u have ur iron checked? There can be lag between when ur iron is actually dropping and when it actually shows up low in blood work

Also it's not uncommon for the placenta to delivery quickly. In fact when it takes longer that is *sometimes* a red flag for an issue as opposed to fast but its nt a guarantee nor always the case


Glad u r feeling better just remember next time doesn't have to go the same way

12 days before I gave birth did I have my iron checked.
And thanks *hugs* I'm still scared though about having another child. As much as I would LOVE for our children to be close in age (2 years or less) we're going to wait at least 3 years before we even think about it again. I'm sure I'll feel better after bringing up my concerns to my doctor though.

 

[Laurenmomma]

Il let you know in a few weeks! I had a rather large bleed unexpectedly after the birth of ds then really heavy bleeding for 6 weeks straight afterwards, I didn't have a transfusion although I should have,
I am taking iron this time as my levels are already low so I hope it doesn't happen again as I felt so shitty last time! x

 

[butterflywolf]

Yes please let me know how it goes this time around and I am keeping you in my thoughts/prayers that it doesn't happen this time around for you!

 

[butterflywolf]

Just an update after talking to my doctor today. Found out I lost about 2 liters of blood maybe a little more. My uterus just did not contract the way it was suppose to and is what gave us the problem. Waiting to hear how my hemoglogan is and will find out later today. Feeling better about having another kid when we choose the time is right.

 

[Guppy051708]

Just wanted to share w you, i gave birth 6 days ago and had very minimual blood loss and very light locheia. Just thought id let you know to give you some more hope since i had the same issue w my first that you experienced

glad to hear you got your iron checked and are feeling more optimistic about babies in the future.

 

[butterflywolf]

Just wanted to share w you, i gave birth 6 days ago and had very minimual blood loss and very light locheia. Just thought id let you know to give you some more hope since i had the same issue w my first that you experienced

glad to hear you got your iron checked and are feeling more optimistic about babies in the future.

Congrats!!! Glad everything went okay, always great to hear that. How is the little one doing?

And they didn't call me about my hemoglobin yet but I get updates on their site and it's at a 13.8!!! Yay so no more iron.