Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

anyone had retained placenta first time round and gone on to have home birth next time?

10 replies

CatIsSleepy · 01/09/2008 15:19

had my booking-in appt today-said I was thinking of a home birth this time
midwife said she wouldn't recommend it as I had a retained placenta last time and it was 'statistically likely' to happen again
is this really true? would I be daft to still consider/push for a home birth this time?

am quite worried about having retained placenta again tbh-and when i said i would like to go for physiological third stage this time again she said she wouldn't recommend it because of increased risk of blood loss (I was anaemic last time and ended up having a couple of units of blood tranfused)

but I'd like a home birth...waaaah....

OP posts:

Report

CatIsSleepy · 01/09/2008 15:29

OP posts:

Report

Tommy · 01/09/2008 15:32

I had a retained placenta with DS3 (had ahomebirh after two hospital deliveries). The consultant I saw afterwards said that she would be happy for me to have a homebirth again is I was so inclined to have another baby but that I should make sure I have that injection (can't remember what it is) to deliver the placenta straightaway.

HTH

Report

mankymummy · 01/09/2008 15:34

i had a retained placenta and was told that if you've never had one before the chances are 1 in 200 of having one and if you had had one before it increased to 1 in 100.

Statistically speaking not a reason to not have a home birth IMHO.

Report

lulumama · 01/09/2008 15:38

statistiacally, you might be more likely, but if the odds are still low, then it is not that much more of a risk IFYSWIM

a friend was advised not to have a HB to due PPH, she did have a HB, she did have a PPH, but as everyone was 'on guard' for it, she was transferred swiftly, with no ill effects.

i would not have the injection as it can actually marginally increase risk of retianed placenta

it is your body and your birth and you can make an informed decision to have your baby at home

Report

CatIsSleepy · 01/09/2008 16:22

oh thanks so much for those replies!

well I have to have to see the docs at the hospital anyway so will discuss further with them the risk of having retained placenta again

that's what I thought lulumama about the injection increasing the risk of retained placenta but the midwife didn't seem to think that was the case

a possible compromise seems to be delaying the injection and seeing if the placenta will deliver naturally within a given time

am quite keen on a home birth so perhaps I should stick to my guns...hopsital is v. close anyway (10 mins drive ) so quick transfer shouldn't be a problem

if the midwives advise against home birth though do things get awkward??

OP posts:

Report

lulumama · 01/09/2008 16:24

if you have a drug free home birth, then a physiological third stage is the natural progression, putting baby to the breast can help release the hormones that can release teh placenta. standing up if you have gievn birth in water or lying down can also help

if MWs get a bit funny, then see supervisor of midwives and contact AIMS

Report

CatIsSleepy · 01/09/2008 16:29

ta lulumama!

OP posts:

Report

onwardandupward · 01/09/2008 17:43

I had the injection first time and retained the placenta.

The midwives say that given that I was on an augmentation drip plus the injection for the placenta, there is absolutely no way of telling whether my body, left to its own devices, has the slightest likelihood of retaining the placenta. As far as they are concerned, this current pregnancy is a dry run as far as "does o&u retain placentas?" is concerned.

These are independent midwives, btw, so may be less tied into NHS procedures than community ones would be.

Report

Wisknit · 01/09/2008 18:32

I haven't been in this situation but a friend of mine has.
1st time she was transferred to hosp. for the retained placenta after a successful HB, 2nd time she had another (unattended as so quick. MW 5 miins too late) HB. No retained placente.
I would say go for it, especially if you are near a hospital so if it happens again you can transfer easily.

Report

CatIsSleepy · 01/09/2008 19:37

that's interesting onward-i was also on augmentation drip etc but you are probably right about the independent midwives vs NHS midwives thing

and that's good to hear about your friend wisknit
am so close to the hospital i can't see it as a huge problem even if the placenta is retained again