My c-section incision keeps gushing blood and the doctors insist it’s normal?

[Ijustdontknowwhattodoanymore]

I had a c-section 9 days ago and it went fairly smoothly, I lost 1200 ml of blood but they didn’t seem hugely concerned and I was discharged the following day.

All was fine until I got out of the shower on Friday and my incision gushed blood, it was pouring down my legs onto the floor. I phoned maternity triage in a panic and they told me to keep an eye on it and only come in if it got any worse which it did, it gushed and poured again later that day so I went in. The doctor had a look and said it looked absolutely fine with no signs of infection so he wasn’t concerned (he did take swabs which came back clear). He sent me home with precautionary antibiotics and some gauze to put on the wound.

Yesterday morning it gushed again, it was pouring down my legs and all over the floor- it even sprayed at one point which terrified me. I went to triage again and this time the doctor told me to encourage it to bleed by lying on my stomach once a day and if I started to feel weak or dizzy, phone my GP . She said it’s likely there are pockets of blood behind the incision which need to drain. I told my community midwife today and she said it was dangerous advice I definitely shouldn’t follow.

It gushed again when I stood up this evening. I never do anything crazy, it just randomly happens when I stand up to use the toilet usually. There’s always a puddle of blood on the floor when it happens and I’m starting to feel slightly fatigued and spaced out now...

I don’t know what to do in all honesty. Every doctor or midwife who looks at it says it looks normal and none of them can seem to figure out where the blood is even coming from but when it pours out it terrifies me.

This surely isn’t normal, does anyone know what I should do?

Hope you’re ok op and managed to get seen by someone

Hope you've gone to A&E.

My section gushed blood about 7 days post section. Luckily I was still in hospital (slightly poorly baby) so maternity took a look. There was a hole in the wound and it was infected. I need antibiotics and dressing and cleaning by the district nurse every day.

How are you doing this morning?

Hope this gets sorted quickly op. In my experience this isn't supposed to happen.

Thank you all for your advice, it prompted me to go back to triage for a third time. I think they actually took me seriously this time when they saw the blood for themselves, I made sure I left a pad in there so they could see how soaked the pad was. When I went the past two times I had blood all down my legs so it was obvious I’d lost a fair amount but they still just seemed to fob me off.

I saw the senior consultant this time and he admitted me to the postnatal ward. I had full bloods taken and I’m just waiting on the results, have a cannula inserted and they said I’ll have a transfusion if necessary.

They’re dissolvable stitches and yes, they know I’m referring to the incision rather than lochia. It’s been looked at by a few doctors and midwives now and they all say it looks really healthy but I fail to see how bleeding that much could ever be healthy really. I was stood in a puddle of blood yesterday! Hopefully they resolve it now so I don’t have to return.

I’m glAd they started listening to you, but how on gods earth that can be “really healthy”, I don’t know!?

I’d hope they check clotting too

While I didn't bleed as much as you, I did have a couple of gushes from my wound which were a couple of haematoma behind the incision site. The hospital evacuated my wound (got rid of the rest of the liquid/blood) and I had an i.v antibiotic. The remainder of the haematoma was left to reabsorbed over time. Hope you get the wound sorted and feel better soon. I know how scary it feels at the time.

You’re in the right place op, glad they’re sorting it out now.

Well thank heavens for that! I was genuinely worried for you. What sort of an IDIOT tells you to lie on your stomach and bleed out???

Absolutely appalling treatment. I suppose you were imagining it all.

FFS.

How were your bloods do you know?

I appreciate you're probably passed out from lack of blood, so don't worry about responding. Whenever you're well enough again. Do NOT let them fob you off - if you're borderline needing a transfusion - DEMAND ONE - I didn't, and ended up with PND. You need good blood levels. God love you, and all with a new baby too. You didn't need this neglect. I honestly can't believe it. And the NHS is supposedly state of the art??

I reckon the “lie on your stomach” guy was suspecting a large haematoma rather than an open wound, so I can sort of see the logic, it’s the manual version of hoovering it out. But someone really needs to check what they’re dealing with first!
Hope you’re getting sorted OP x

I’m sorry I don’t want to alarm you this doesn’t sound normal to me. I had a section a few months ago and it opened several times because an infection. The blood was only drops really that didn’t come through the dressing.

I think you should immediately contact your maternity emergency unit. You need to demand that they take you seriously. Take photos of the blood to show them.

Ah sorry just seen your replies above. Glad you are getting sorted.

They did an ultrasound and all she told me was there’s a 9cm strip of fluid trapped behind the wound. I have to wait for the doctor to see me now and tell me what will happen next, not entirely sure what the plan will be.

My bloods were fine apparently which is odd, I still feel a little woozy and spaced out. They’ve dressed my wound properly at least so I’m no longer sitting soaking through maternity pads. I’ve had IV antibiotics and they’re keeping me in overnight again.

Thanks again for the support .

Oh goodness, you poor love! It sounds like you're on the right track with treatment now though, I hope it resolves very soon.

I wouldn't believe them about the bloods (I get told all sorts of lies). I'd demand to know the actual values of haemoglobin etc.

Glad your getting sorted.

I had c section with ds. I had a straw (well that's what it looked like!) inserted into one side the following day to allow some air out of the wound. No idea how they knew it was there!

They came and put it in and removed it after a minute or 2 a few times.

I agree as well ask for actual blood results.

You've been treated really badly. Glad they're finally taking it seriously and I hope they come up with a proper plan and don't just fob you off again.

Aw bless you it sounds horrible! Hopefully you'll be better and back with your baby soon!

How's it going OP?

OP please ask them about negative pressure wound therapy. It's really effective for c section and dealing with fluid and bleeding. This all sounds horrendous

I’m glad you’ve been admitted. I was wondering about this thread and hoping you’d been seen. Hope you get sorted soon. This is not an ideal start for you and your baby and if you feel up to it once you’ve recovered, it would be worth raising a complaint so your case can be reviewed.