If you haemorrhaged after you first birth, what was your second like?

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I lost about 2.5 litres of blood after DD was born. Lots of running people and panic and a doctor had to manually evacuate clots from my uterus. I avoided a blood transfusion but my iron levels were very low. I don't remember much of it but DH is fairly traumatised.

I am pregnant again. I was feeling fairly relaxed about the risk of it happening again, which is still quite low. Yesterday, I asked the midwife to read through my notes from last time. She was not melodramatic about the way she did it, but it brought home to me that it was quite a serious thing to happen.

I want to try and maintain my perspective. If you haemorrhaged after your first birth, what was your second like?

I lost 2 litres with my first (forceps in theatre) - they think the bleeding came from the episiotomy but my notes didn't specify and it could have been due to long, induced labour on the drip.

My second was a c section (due to severe Polyhydramnios). The anaesthetist had to administer a drug to stop me haemorrhaging, he seemed very pleased he had managed to achieve this as I was very high risk! This drug made me very, very nauseous and sick so I spent most of my c section wrenching on the table (despite the anti emetics he was administering).

What sort of labour had you with your first? You'll know obviously you are at s greater risk to have another one next time round

1.8 l PPH first time round, forceps delivery.

I’m not sure how well this was recorded in my notes as midwife didn’t seem aware 2nd time round until I mentioned it at about 38 weeks when. She said I should probably have seen a consultant at some point.

Anyway when I was admitted in labour, they asked to put a precautionary cannula in, in case it was needed in a hurry, although t wasn’t.

I decided I wanted to try the pool for pain relief, which was fine except the doctor in charge said I would have to get out to deliver. In the end the midwife overruled that as all was proceeding smoothly, and I had a lovely calm water delivery of a hefty 9lb 10 baby :)

I was advised to get out to deliver the placenta, but there were no issues and it was a world away from my first experience.

I lost the same with my first. Second time around I was put under consultant care and blood bags were there waiting for me in the delivery suite. Once I’d given birth the midwife spent some time firmly putting pressure on my uterus (which I wasn’t bothered by at all because I was holding my newborn).

What actually happened was that I didn’t have any significant blood loss. 100ml, which isn’t classed as a haemorrhage.

Oh yes that’s right I did have to have a cannula put in beforehand as a precaution (despite avoiding a transfusion previously).

I had a 2.8l pph with my first - emergency CS under GA due to cord prolapse. Had to have several transfusions and I was on iron tabs for ages.

Had my second 8 years later, another emergency CS as baby was in distress. Another 2l haemorrhage but declined the transfusions and was on iron tabs instead.

No more babies for me, DH got the snip.

Meant to add, I was trying for a vbac with my second. I so wanted a 'normal' labour but hey-ho I have 2 healthy children which is the most important thing. 🙏

I lost 3 litres. Was very unwell, DH traumatised after literally being left holding the baby.

Pretty sure I had some sort of ptsd (undiagnosed) post birth and later had a panic attack when visiting labour ward in new hospital after we moved to area whilst pregnant with second. I was terrified of going through same.

Second labour was a dream. I stayed at home labouring on my own in bath. After about 8 hours I told DH I really thought I needed to go to hospital. He called, they said I didn't need to come in as wasn't in enough pain

Waited an hour drove in, burst in to tears whilst waiting to be checked in as I was scared they'd send me home.

Examined 10cm dilated. DC born a couple of hours later. Home in bed later that evening. Amazing.

Good luck

I suffered the same with my second birth, horrendous experience that I'm still struggling to process.

At my debrief I was informed that the risk of it occurring in subsequent pregnancies was low, so hopefully it wouldn't occur again.

Congratulations Lovely and best wishes for your pregnancy, birth and new bundle x

My consultant during my second pregnancy really talked me through it. He said the blood flow to the placenta is massive so if it doesnt clot straight away even as many as 3 pulsations is a huge amount of blood to lose.

I lost 2.6l, it was very traumatic and my second birt was totally fine, lovely in fact! Best of luck to you.

I only had a small pph, just enough to be labelled as such and to be horribly anaemic after. I had a home birth though and it was calm and no panic and all was fine. It was just a bit more challenging than I’d hoped and I felt awful after.

Second birth, totally a breeze. I had another home birth. It was textbook straightforward, natural 3rd stage, I felt great after. No anaemia, up and running about the next day.

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences. Some sound very difficult.

My first birth went smoothly. Eight hour labour and vaginal birth without assistance, gas and air for pain relief. I had a managed third stage as the placenta didn't deliver quickly. When it did come out it was torn. They thought they had got all of it but they hadn't.

I have a consultant appointment in a few weeks so it will be interesting to understand more about it. I'm very reluctant to have my full labour in hospital as I came in last time when I was ready to push and that worked well for me.

Happened after my second birth but didn’t happen after my third or fourth although I did have a missed miscarriage between the third and fourth where I haemorrhaged again. It was caused by retained placenta after my second birth and retained ‘products of conception’ after my miscarriage.

I had a PPH after my first, like others my DH was sat in a corner holding the baby and completely panicked, he said it looked like a murder scene!

Second could not have been more different, it was much quicker and no PPH, I had a cannula put in as a precaution, I’ve a vague memory of being given something to make me clot quicker but I may be totally wrong in that! My bleeding afterwards was much less as well although, TMI, I remember passing a huge clot a day or so after and calling the midwife in a panic, I’d never had that with my first. I was back home less than 12 hours after giving birth, eating the best KFC of my life

That's interesting definitely about the drug to make you clot quicker. Maybe that's something I need to ask about.

I passed a clot the size of a grapefruit when I got home after two days and had to go straight back in. I was gutted about it but thankfully everything was ok after that.

I didn't enjoy spending two nights in hospital (which I know is a small price compared to some) and just want to go home and get on with enjoying my baby this time.

I lost a fair amount of blood with my first-not sure I was ever told how much but it led to me being under the consultant during my 2nd pregnancy and on the labour ward. I was fairly traumatised and terrified to give birth second time round but it was so much easier-pushed for 10 minutes and out they popped and minimal bleed-was home home later that day. Best of luck

I lost 2L, no real reason but story like yours. For the next my blood was so minimal she was actually surprised (and she hadn’t seen my notes at that point, fast birth).

A young consultant told me I’d have IV access, drip... all sorts second time. Labour ward the lot.

It was fairly fast though and none of that happened.