Childbirth - PPH

[Diminskif]

Hi, Just joined mumsnet tonight and have been reading all the stories about the horrendous childbirths some of you have had. I had a really rubbish time with my 1st child now 2. I had a very long labour and the dilation was very slow. I ended up having to go to theatre because baby was back to back and they said they would try to turn her and deliver her by foreceps (I also had an episeotomy). Once she was delivered all hell broke loose and all the medical staff were running around and my husband got told to leave the room. They were putting needles in me everywhere i had an inflated blanket put on me, oxygen masks put on etc, just chaoes.

After being in theatre for a few hours I was wheeled into high dependancy, where I was lying there like a rabbit in the healights and not really knowing exactly what had just happened. I remember my mother and husband said that my face had blown up like a balloon but i still don't know why that happened. I was told I had a massive PPH of more than 3500ml and that they had to inflate a balloon into my womb. I remember during the night being so much pain below and screaming at the top of my voice for painkillers. I was kept i high dependancy for 3 days but on day 3 they told me I had a blood clot in my stomach (placenta) and it would need manual removal but there was a chance I would need a hysterectomy. They managed to removed it sucessfully thank god.

I have never been so terrified in my whole life. I never ever want to experience that again but I don't feel the same person anymore. I ended up having to get counselling and when I returned to work after mat leave i went off sick with terrible post traumatic stress and depression. I am feeling so much better and now starting to think about baby number 2 because i'm 31 and don't want to be too old.

Has anyone had the same experience as me and had another baby by c-section? I was told by the Registrar that a c-section increases your chance of pph but my thoughts are, if you are in theatre getting a c-section and things start going wrong again, then at least you are in theatre with a medical team around you.

I would love to hear from you.

xx

[Northernlurker]

No experience of anything as major as that but I did have a mild pph after dd3's birth. There were a scary few minutes - can't imagine what the major emergency you underwent must have been like for you and dh.

However you labour next time they will be keeping a very careful eye on you and you should be able to talk through with the team taking care of you what the plan will be if any serious bleeding occurs.

I think you are very brave to think about another dc - I wish you lots of luck with that.

[idlevice]

I had a long labour, then augmented with syntocinon drip & after having my son had a retained placenta & 3000ml PPH, was in ICU for a day but did not need intervention like you received to stop the bleeding. It was pretty traumatic, like your experience, but I found it more so in retrospect. I haven't had counselling but had a couple of sessions with an independent obstretician going through my notes & discussing future birth options. Tthat was helpful but I find it frustrating there cannot be one single definite reason for the PPH, as in most cases.

I am now pregnant with DC2, DS1 is now 3.5 & I would have liked to have a second child earlier (I'm 38) but the previous experience was weighing on me, along with other factors too. I have yet to discuss the likely delivery plan with my current doctors but am wavering between wanting a CS and trying VB again. DS1 was posterior which I am convinced contributed to an ineffective labour last time so if there is any issue with DC2's position I will not try VB. I think ideally I would like a straightforward CS but am concerned about recovery & also don't know the medical position yet on PPH risks during a section.

I'm pretty sure you would be allowed to go for a CS if you requested one given your history, unless there was a dire medical reason against it related to the previous PPH. I'm sure you would be offered further counselling options during your antenatal care for a second pregnancy, if not ask for it if you want it, or if you think you need extra support even before getting pregnant, organise something now. Have you considered an independent midwife or doula as an extra support person during a subsequent pregancy, birth & postnatally? Just something that might provide further reassurance. Also check the Birth Trauma Association website if you are not already aware of it.

[breatheslowly]

I had a completely different experience to you, so can't comment on that aspect, but...

When I had my birth debrief with a MW from the hospital she suggested that I have a pre-conception appointment with a consultant to discuss my options so that I would be confident of getting the care I need. She suggested getting my GP to refer me when I wanted this. So I would suggest a chat with your GP and a referral to a consultant. I would suggest that you ask your GP which consultant they would consider most experienced or capable and ask to be referred to that consultant by name.

[smileyhappymummy]

I had a massive PPH - 7 litres - due to group B strep septicaemia. I had an emergency caesarian so a little different to your experience but also ended up with a uterine balloon + B lynch suture and ICU admission. I too found it absolutely terrifying and remember it being very painful as the epidural wore off (bloody ICU nurse who told me to try the paracetamol before giving ANY other pain relief). I wonder if your face may have blown up because of the amount of IV fluid you'd have been given - might not be but I know I was very puffy all over for days after because I'd had massive amounts of IV fluids to try to maintain my blood pressure... just a thought.
It's true to say that PPH is more common in sections compared to vaginal deliveries but I will definitely be having a section next time. Part of this is perfectly logical as the scar on my womb is likely to be relatively weak because I was septic when it was healing but a large part is emotional - I want to feel as though what happens next time is more predictable and I think I would be absolutely terrified going into labour again - whichI suspect would make successful VB rather less likely.
I would ask for a referral back to obstetricians now. I did this a few months ago when we were first starting to think about TTC no. 2 - my husband and I were both so scared by the experience that we felt we needed to do that before we even thought about another pregnany. It was really helpful.

[Poppet45]

Well I had a 1300ml PPH with my 9lber DS after having him by emcs after he got stuck in an unbirthable position 19 hours into labour. And just recently I had another emcs after I went into labour with my DD 13 weeks prematurely, and she turned breech and had terrifying heart decels. I had been planning to have a VBAC because while my PPh was nowhere near as serious as many others on the thread it did see me end up in HDU and was certainly the most traumatic part of DS's birth. With DD I'm trying to work out quite which bit to pick for most traumatic... I think it was her arrival in silence (initial apgar of 1), the fact I never even got to see her before she was rushed away so small I couldn't even see her in the paediatricians cupped hands, or my hubby weeping. :( And with her I also had a PPH but it was much smaller 750ml because they were ready for it and had given me every drug going. The reason I'd wanted a VBAC was because it gives you the lowest odds. Your risk is aldready increased threefold for a future normal vaginal birth because you've had one, your risk goes up fourfold if you have an elective section, and like me if you have an emcs it goes up ninefold. Anyway it wasn't so bad, I knew what was happening this time, it was much less so I was fine, and DD is getting there, currently 30 weeks old (gestationally) and a grand 2lb 12 oz.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Having a long labour is also a risk factor for a pph and possibly a factor in your pph. If you had an elective section next time you would be lower risk for a pph than last time as you wouldn't have had a long labour prior to the lscs. Though you would still have an increased risk due to a previous pph. Maybe you could ask for an appt and ask for actual figures of risk so that could help you to quantify the risks.?

[NorthLondonDoulas]

Hi there,

I am so sorry to hear of your previous traumatic experience! As idlevice commented, you may find it helpful to enlist the help of a Doula or someone similar to help you through your birthing experience this time, to give you the knowledge and reassurance that you deserve to give you the confidence to make this time an entirely different experience. I have no idea where you are based, but of you would like any information about doulas, what we do and where you can find one in your area etc please dont hesitate to get in touch and i would be happy to help. please feel free to either PM me via mumsnet or you can drop me an email to [email protected]

Congratulations and im sure you will be fine!

Victoria.x