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Childbirth

PPH/post partum hemorrage

10 replies

hels321 · 08/01/2013 11:13

Hello, I had a pph following delivery of my son 3 months ago. It was pretty scary but st Thomas' were brilliant. I'm now worried about it happening again if I have another baby, which I desperately want to do! Any advice?

OP posts:

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cleverbit · 08/01/2013 17:38

I had a pph with my DD and am due to have a second baby in May. I've asked several midwives about it and they all felt it was due to my being induced and them needing to use forceps to deliver my daughter and that it was unlikely to reoccur. They have scheduled me to see a Dr in a few weeks (also at St Thomas) and I'm happy to report back to you if I learn anything interesting. Were you induced?

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leannac · 08/01/2013 19:02

I had v bad haemmorage with DD & am now due in march with DC2. Unless the reason for the haemorrhage was due to your uterus not contracting then there's no reason to think you are any more likely than anyone else to haemmorage again. Similarly to above my haemmorage has been suggested possibly caused by 3 hrs of pushing followed by emergency ventouse. You are considered slightly higher risk than previously but not by much, I am actually having a home birth this time (due to the trauma of the haemmorage & subsequent surgeries etc last time I am now terrified of giving birth in hospitals) & I'm sure they wouldn't allow a home birth if they really thought I was at risk of it happening again. I can report back in march!

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StrangerintheNight · 08/01/2013 19:33

I imagine you'll be advised to have a cannula inserted at a very early stage of labour so that they're prepared if it happens again. This seemed to be the key precautionary measure they took with me.

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littone · 08/01/2013 20:21

I had a large pph with my first, so was referred to consultant with second. No known cause for the haemorrhage. The plan was to be typed and cross matched on entry to labour ward, two cannuals to be sited just in case and a simitrosine (sp) drip for 24 hrs after delivery. In reality I was typed and cross matched. I had one cannuala sited (they said they could get a second in quickly if needed) no drip. I did have two midwives at delivery, one for me and one for baby in case of issues, but all good and no repeat pph! I hope you avoid another one too, an experience I could definately have lived without.

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charlmills · 08/01/2013 21:14

I had a massive pph with my first due to my uterus not contracting enough. With my second I had to have a managed third stage - which was a drip to help my uterus contract straight after delivery. All was fine and labour and delivery was just over an hour! I was very worried in the months leading up to it but they were very good in the delivery suit. It is such a traumatic thing to go through, I still think about it 3 years on. My advice would be to keep talking to midwives, and you should be referred to obstetrician to discuss the possibility of it happening and how they will manage it. Good luck and congratulations on your son.

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leannac · 08/01/2013 21:15

Jeez now I'm a bit concerned after reading about all the precautions taken for others with haemorrhages. I lost 5litres if blood with mine so pretty damn serious (hence the too terrified to go back into hospital) and they still say i would be unlucky to have it happen again. I am getting 3 midwives for the birth though (2 for me, 1 for baby) so maybe that's their precaution?

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jellybeans · 08/01/2013 21:42

I had massive internal hemorrhage after a crash section and was rushed back for more surgery and in HDU unable to see my baby for 3 days-baby was also critical. I was terrified when i got pg again and was on blood thinners for multiple early and late losses which scared me even more. Happily I had no excess blood loss with the next birth. I had a planned c section with senior consultant (this was my 3rd section).

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inadreamworld · 08/01/2013 21:50

I lost over 1 litre (1250ml I think it said on my notes). I was induced so I wonder if that was the reason. I was given fluids as already had drip in for induction. Didn't need to be given blood - took iron tablets but iron levels got back up to normal v quickly. Stayed in hospital overnight. Felt dizzy for a couple of hours after the birth but felt fine after that. I am now due (tomorrow) with baby 2. I haven't seen a consultant but am under consultant led care at the hospital just in case it happens again.

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CitizenOscar · 08/01/2013 21:56

I had PPH due to uterus not contracting (prob). Am now pg with Dc2 and was referred to consultant and booked in as "high risk".

Consultant strongly recommended delivery unit (not midwife-led unit or homebirth) but still gp/mw care during pregnancy.

Said they'd put a cannula in on arrival in delivery suite & take blood, just in case. Also need to have a managed third stage.

I did lose a lot of blood last time, needed general anaesthetic & blood transfusion - and all after a straightforward delivery - so am pleased they're taking precautions but trying not to dwell on it too much.

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hels321 · 10/01/2013 03:50

hels321 says: Thanks for all the posts! I had a pretty big bleed at 39 weeks which they couldn't explain but thought might be the placenta rupturing slightly. It had previously been low but had moved by 35 weeks. So they did induce me but to start with they artificially broke my waters. It was all going fine but then slowed down so they put me on the hormone drip and gave me an epidural and it was pretty quick after that. I think the problem was my uterus wasn't contracting properly. I am trying to set up an appointment with the consultant to understand it better. Sounds like the hospitals manage it well though and I shouldn't be put off trying again....