Anyone who had a big PPH giving birth

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How did you get over your fear and have another child? I lost a lot of blood and there was no reason/ risk factors for it. I know it increases my risk of it happening again. It really puts me off having DC2.

Longish Labour with 1st who was back to back. Baby was dragged out (forceps) and I had big PPH meaning 3 pints of plasma transfusion.
I demanded and was given a elective Caesar for the 2nd. I passed out due to PPH but it was all sorted very quickly because they hand massaged my uterus to stop me bleeding out.

The elective Caesar made all the difference to me but I knew I wouldn’t do it again after two.

Good luck with whatever you decide OP.

I had one with my youngest and its put me off having any more (well the whole birth experience not just the pph but the pph probably tipped me over the edge). Mine was due to my bladder being full so could have been prevented by giving me a catheter when I had my epidural but for some reason they didn't

Having had a previous PPH you would be under Consultant led care regardless, and they should talk you through what they can do to mitigate blood loss. Where I work as standard women at risk of massive PPH would have at least one cannula, cross matched blood available, injection for placenta plus a bag of higher strength oxytocin ready to put up once placenta delivered, and the midwife would have a low threshold for calling in help. As a shift coordinator I would allocate a very experienced midwife- maybe this is something you could put on your birth plan.

I don't know the stats I'm afraid but many women who have a PPH first time round don't second time.

 @stupidsocialmedia that's heartbreaking.

It's not more dangerous specifically. They would just be mindful of the fact that your starting blood volume will be slightly smaller than someone much taller/broader. Whereas, for example, a 1.5L blood loss would be a typical trigger for activating a major haemorrhage call, it might be that for someone very petite then closer to 1L might be more appropriate (obviously this is generalising a lot...there are lots of other factors that contribute to decision making around managing bleeding). This is literally what obstetricians, midwives and anaesthetists do for a living though - childbirth, by whatever route, can turn pretty bloody at short notice for all sorts of reasons (which probably isn't very reassuring!) and the drills for managing it are pretty well rehearsed (hopefully more reassuring!).

I had a PPH after DC 1 but I was so out of it I had no idea it was happening so it didn't occur to me worry about it with DC2. With DC2 the bleed was worse. I wasn't so out of it so I was aware that there was more blood than there should have been and at one point I nearly lost consciousness but the staff were so calm and I kept giggling and saying "I'm a little bleeder!" Both times I had transfusions and drips for 48 hours.

For the subsequent babies there was nothing like that. I didn't do anything differently but no haemorrhages.

With my second the consultant suggested I had a caesarian. They thought there was a risk of shoulder dystocia and incontinence, not because of the pph but the tearing from the last time and the second baby being large too I think. I was out of hospital quicker after the caesarian (48 hours) than the vaginal birth

I had a major pph with my eldest. It was caused due to tearing high up which went unnoticed after delivery. My DH had to catch me when I fainted as the midwife didn't believe me I wasn't feeling well.

Before we conceived my second child I spoke to my doctor and got it in my notes that if I was to fall pregnant again I would have a planned c-section.

Due to my previous history the hospital brought in extra blood for me, to have on standby, but thankfully I didn't need it. My c-section recovery was amazing compared to my natural birth.

I had a huge pph , fainted after the delivery and then again during the night when I went to the bathroom ended up with a head injury where I smashed my head on a wash basin and a 3 unit blood transfusion the following day . It was the final saga in what had been an awful pregnancy . We had another but I had an ELCS , not just because of the pph but because of the whole birth experience with the first who was 10lb 3 oz . We have a 6.5 yr gap .

@Greybeardy I'm guessing... anaesthetist?

They take all bleeds very seriously, and I absolutely know from experience it's scary, but as pp have said they'd have everything ready just in case and if you do bleed again, it's sort of not as scary the second time as you know what to expect (i.e. you got through it).

They didn't know the cause of mine either, apparently I'm "probably just a bleeder" was their summary.

Bleeding after my first was really bad and I needed multiple transfusions. With my second, I had a couple of extra scans and took iron tablets during pregnancy (which helped haemoglobin levels when I did bleed during second one, so didn't need a transfusion or more iron.

Mine was a bit different as they worked out that it was the 3 day labour/ pessary/big baby that's caused mine (2.5l). I had another baby 2.5 years later. Planned c section. No excess blood loss. They had the consultant present and a lot of blood on standby.

I don't think I've really processed pph bit in terms of danger to me, the worst but of it was that she was being resuscitated.

I lost a litre with DC1. Was fine with DC2 a couple of years later. Honestly I didn't really worry about a second heamorage, probably because I didn't spend much time thinking about it. I did inform the doctors when I got to the hospital and as a precautionary measure I was given a cannula straight away but it wasn't needed.

It sounds like part of your anxiety stems from having not been listened to during your first labour. Maybe getting a doula or someone very strong to advocate for you would help with a subsequent pregnancy?

I'm also small (BMI 16.8) and was told that that wouldn't cause a PPH but would make a difference to severity in the sense that I have a smaller blood volume, so the same blood loss may affect me more. Which makes sense, I'm too small to give blood - they don't take it below a certain weight as they say you have a smaller volume to start with.

busted!! 😆

I lost 3l of blood and had a third degree tear which required surgery. Was bleeding during labour and they had to get her out sharpish. I was unconscious almost as soon as she was born and anaemic for a while afterwards.

DD is 17 now and I couldn’t risk doing it again, so I didn’t.

Personally I'd have an elective c section.

I think your risk of bleeding is higher with a C section so not sure it helps. Although maybe it terms of feeling (more) in control it would.

@Greybeardy always the voice of reason! Love our anaesthetists, several of whom have grey beards incidentally!

I lost nearly 4 pints and ended up in intense care. I had to wait until a couple of days later to remove some packing and I think a balloon but can't remember and see if it would carry on bleeding. I was so scared it would start again and I would die (probably irrational but noone would reassure me about what was going on)was remember coming round in intensive care wondering where my baby was and wondering why I couldn't walk 😔.

I had I think a magnesium drip (!? Does that sound right? Why? ) after the blood/plasma transfusions.

The whole thing really messed with me and we definitely weren't going to try again. They did say a c section wasn't any less riskier though?

Definitely not an easy decision. Fwiw,
I don't think I have a friend who had an elective after a traumatic first birth who didn't feel it was vastly more controlled and a better experience.

It's mostly a question of what would make you feel confident, able to face it? Nobody can give guarantees.

I had a major PPH (emergency surgery, 2 blood transfusions) with 2nd baby after a very quick straightforward birth. Consultant care for the 3rd one and the plan was cannula in, cross matched blood ready, extra syntocin. In the event she arrived in 80 minutes from first twinge before anyone had got a catheter in, midwife hadn’t even filled in admission notes, and it was all fine, very little blood loss.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Yes so sorry for your loss 😔. I was in a state because I couldn't see my baby (baby not allowed in icu) not because of a baby death. That must have been awful 😔. No words.