Worried about blood loss with second child

[oneconfusedchick]

Hi

I had a PPH (hemorage) after the birth of my first child in 2013 - approx 900ml lost. For various reasons I have only just found this out!! I was just going through my notes from last pregnancy at different hospital.

I am now 39 weeks pregnant and concerned over what could happen this time around. Has anyone else experience of my situation? I plan on letting my midwif have this info when I see her next!

[Junosmum]

I lost somewhere between 800ml to 1l, I've needed iron tablets but other than that I was fine. Not wanting to sound mean, but if you didn't notice last time then it can't have been that bad. I was told it was unlikely to happen again and wasn't 'typical' but I'm generally the unlucky one!

[Etak15]

Was it normal delivery? I had 900 ml loss with my first but had episiotomy and forceps (ouch) I don't remember it being anything extrodinary at the time, think they did a round of Iv fluids and they gave me iron on discharge. Next too were normal blood loss, normal delivery number 4 was also normal but huge blood loss to the point where I felt like I would pass out but in my notes it said 600 mls - it's a bit of guess work I suppose not like they can wring out the sheets to measure it?! They didn't do anything just made me lie flat for 5 mins and I recovered with a cup of tea!!

[Etak15]

Posted before I'd finished! So try not to worry, you'll be fine

[hayleycookie]

I think it depends on why you lost that much. Like PP said if it was a normal birth there's not much reason to worry, especially as you didn't even realise you had had a big loss and didn't suffer because of it.
I lost 1500ml with my DS but it was due to a retained placenta, which apparently if you have one then you're more likely to have another.
Ask your midwife to look into it, see if there was any specific reason for the loss. If not, then try not to worry :)

[babyconverse]

Lost 1.5l here - with a hemorrhage. Had IV fluids and then they monitored me for a few hours and did a blood test to check iron levels. They'd rebounded in a couple of hours and I was released with iron tablets. If I were pregnant again I think I'd make sure to be in hospital for the birth just in case it happens again but beyond that I'd try not to worry.

[Tatie3]

I lost 1500ml in my second labour and am due again in May. I asked my consultant if I'd be at increased risk of having another PPH this time (I have consultant care due to a history of pre-eclampsia) and she thought I might be slighly more likely to have another so once admitted in labour they will fit a cannula and have blood ready should it be needed for a transfusion. Your midwife might already be aware but you should maybe let her know just in case they need to put something in place for when you are admitted. I'm not sure how effective it'll be at this stage but I've read that eating dates and drinking raspberry leaf tea can help tone the uterus and reduce your risk of bleeding so you could try those.

[genome]

I lost ~2 litres with my first and needed a transfusion. I had a long labour (27 hours), given syntocinon and ended on episiotomy with forceps. I think these things all contributed to the pph.
My second labour was much, much quicker (1.5 hours)! I had a completely normal blood loss and a small graze. I was advised to give birth in hospital and was given a cannula just in case I needed emergency fluid or blood. Putting the cannula in was difficult as I was pushing while they were trying to do it due to the speed of labour!

[Seeline]

I don't know how much I lost first time, but did need a transfusion of 3 units afterwards. I hade very low haemoglobin levels, and they said that was the best way to boost it quickly - whether that was due to blood loss I don't know. I felt hugely better after the transfusions and was able to stand without passing out! It had been a long labour ending in episiotomy and ventouse.
Second time, I was fine.

[oneconfusedchick]

I had an epiostomy and ventouse so that's maybe y. I've called the hospital and told them and they said they would still manage birth same way but would add it to my notes.

Thanks for all your replies

[MirandaWest]

I had a 1500ml PPH with my DS - had a second degree tear after a forceps delivery:

With DD I was a bit worried but her birth was a lot smoother. I only had a graze with her. Still lost 450ml but I think some people tend to lose more blood than others/

[Persephone76]

I had a 2l loss with baby no. 1 and had an iron count of 4 afterwards. Even with a transfusion my iron was a 7...I was discharged and still felt dreadful.

At 28 weeks with no. 2 they found I was anaemic and I had iron tablets. Going into labour i therefore had a great iron count - 13 I think. They placed a cannula when I arrived at hospital. i still lost 1.3l but my iron was a 10, no transfusion needed and I felt ok.

So even if you do bleed badly twice, you may not feel as rough.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I think you are slightly more at risk aren't you? I was told I was. I had a vaginal delivery with my first and lost 1.8l then had a section with my second and lost 900ml to. Both times I had ragged membranes to :/

[MillieMoodle]

I had a pph with DS. I don't know how much I lost as I went very dizzy and can't really remember much. I was induced and had a 2nd degree tear. I had an IV line and had iron tablets on discharge from hospital as iron level was 6, but didn't have a blood transfusion. Also had to stay in for 2 days.

I'm now 9wks with dc2 and saw midwife last week. I've been told that there's a slightly higher chance of it happening again, that I'll have to give birth in hospital and that they will put a cannula in as soon as I go into labour and have IV fluid at the ready. Also she is referring me to the birth afterthoughts team to discuss what happened with DS and also to a consultant so that when I go into labour they are aware of previous history (I had DS at a different hospital). She seems very on the ball!

Good luck OP, if your midwife is aware of your previous birth history then that can only help!

[NerrSnerr]

I had a c section and had a 2 litre pph when I was in recovery. I had 2 units of blood afterwards but still felt quite rubbish. I am nervous about having a second child and it happening again but know I will be consultant lead so will be in the best hands.

[kansasmum]

I had PPH with 1st baby after protracted labor and forceps delivery. 2nd and 3rd babies both delivered vaginally with zero intervention and no haemorrhaging at all.
Try not to worry too much, it doesn't mean it will happen again. ( Was dreading my 2nd labor after first but it was 6 hours and easy as pie!)

[oneconfusedchick]

Thanks :)