New Pregnancy after Stillbirth.

[ShanRock1999]

Hi I’m new to this, I have been reading other people’s posts and there’s some of them I can relate to, and really seek for some advice. In September 2018, I had a stillborn due to having the chord rapped around her neck 4 times and around her arm 2 times, I was 19 at the time, and I was told that my chord was longer than average, after this traumatic birth I then had a haemorrhage shortly afterwards and was in Hospital for a week through being anaemic. Since I have had no appointments with consultants that I was promised BTW (by the way). To sit with them and discuss how they can prevent this from recurring next time.

During this time, I have now been pregnant again I am now 19 weeks and 3 days and I’m confused to what is going on? I was prescribed 75mg Aspirin at 12 weeks and told to take 2 a day up until 36 weeks, but I have been googling, and apparently it’s telling me that it can cause placental abruption, that it’s not usually recommended during pregnancy and that it could cause haemorrhages. I’m really scared, and on top of that I was told I’d be having regular growths scans and been given letters for the upcoming growth scans in the months and the scans I will be having are every month when I was told they where every 3 weeks. A lot of people are telling me their having scans weekly or every 2 weeks and when I confront my midwife on this I’m being told to speak with the consultant?

Can anyone help me please and give me some advice on what to do? And weather the Aspirin is safe to take please?

Op I'm sorry for your loss!

The aspirin is to avoid preeclampsia. Perhaps something showed up on your scan or they are concerned about your blood pressure. I'm on it and have been reassured by the consultant that it is perfectly safe. Don't stop taking it unless you've spoken to the Doctor.

You need to be very forceful with them. You have lost a baby and are anxious. The MW should refer you to see the consultant. If she doesn't call the consultant MW yourself (look up the number on the hospital website) and email PALS. They are not treating you properly if you don't even know why you are taking aspirin.

You should have had a debrief after your first birth. If you have not had this demand you are referred straight away.

Does your MW know about your experience? I'm shocked they are not looking after you well.

So sorry for your loss.

I was on daily low dose aspirin for the duration of my IVF pregnancy with no issues. I took one tablet daily until 36 weeks I think.

Do you have a way to contact your consultant? A phone number for his secretary? Sadly I think you sometimes have to chase up what you have been told and be clear you expect to follow what has been said by the consultant.

I had extra scans as IVF pregnancies were classed as high risk in my area. They did not start until 24 weeks and were 4 weekly, but obviously that is a very different circumstance to you.

I think some people can be dismissive of younger mothers and this is wrong especially with your previous experience. If you feel someone is fobbing you off ask them who you should contact. Do not be afraid to phone the hospital midwives to discuss concerns if you do not feel your own midwife is helping. Assuming you have a local midwife at your surgery.

Hi Iano, Thank You,

Tbh, I’ve not even been told about any concerns with my blood pressure or preeclampsia? I’ve had to google everything about stuff. All’s I’ve been told off my Midwife is that I’m on Aspirin through using an E-cig. Which they’ve also me is safe to use. I’ve not spoken to a consultant yet but I do have an appointment with him on the 17th this month.

I’ve been trying to be forceful with them and their just saying to me that there’s nothing they can do. No I haven’t had a debrief after my first birth can I ask what a debrief is? And how would I be able to have one?

Yes, my Midwife knows all about my last pregnancy, on my last appointment I was really concerned because apparently I had said to her when I was pregnant with my last birth that I had bearly felt my baby kick, I don’t recall saying this to her but if I did say this then she should have got me scanned straight away so I’m thinking, but she never she sent me home on the Friday told me my baby was happy and that their fine after listening to their heartbeat and then the following Wednesday my Lizzy Lou passed away.

Many Thanks. 💕

Hi, Ripasso, Thank You,

I’m being told to take 75mg Aspirin 2 times a day? Up until I’m 36 weeks. Which I’m concerned about through reading up on what it can cause in pregnancy. I wasn’t told about preeclampsia or low blood pressure I was just told I was taking it through smoking my E-cig which I was also told that was safe to smoke. But that was all.

I haven’t had a appointment with a consultant at all during my pregnancy but I do have an appointment with him on the 17th of this month.

Well, tbh local midwife is off maternity leave and I’ve had 2 other midwifes since, and one of them have told me to speak with the consultant but I feel as though I’m not getting enough scans or information and I’m confused on what to do as I’m 20 years of age this time and I don’t want the same thing to happen again and they know this through me explaining to them. I don’t know who I can speak to, to help. I tried E-mailing Sands and they didn’t reply back.

Many Thanks 💕

A debrief is where you go through what happened in your birth with the consultant MW and possibly an obstetrician.

It allows you to ask questions about what happened and why and what options you have for this birth (eg you might want and be entitled to a c section this time).

Try ringing the consultant MW to arrange this.

I guess the aspirin might be because of the e cigarettes. Can you get help from your GP to stop using e cigs? Maybe that way you can drop the aspirin.

Don't let them fob you off. If you're unhappy with your care complain.

Hi Iano,

I’ve not had this debrief of any sort. Would I be able to complain about this to my consultant on the 17th of this month? And arrange this with him on the day?

Tbh I want a C Section because of what happened to my daughter but I’ve been reading people’s posts on Facebook that are pregnant and they’ve been saying they’ve been given injections to stop blood clots before having their C Section which I’ve not been given this, only Aspirin.

I can arrange an appointment with my GP and they’ll refer me to a none smoking midwife which I’ve had before in my last pregnancy and she told me I was allowed to use it as it’s safer than cigarettes.

How do I complain? And who do I contact?

Many Thanks 💕

Defo mention it to the consultant. You can ask him for whatever you need! The medical staff are there to answer your questions and support you.

I'm not sure he'll be able to do a full debrief with you on 17th as it can take a while. but he'll be able to answer questions like whether you can have a section. As far as I know you can insist on having a section btw.

I don't know about having injections prior to the section. I had an emergency one and no injections. I think the injections are not needed until after so don't worry too much. Again, ask if you're worried something has been missed.

Maybe mention the e cigarettes to the consultant and get advice from him.

If you get nowhere with the consultant write an email to PALS (details will be on the hospital website) detailing your problems with them and asking for a debrief.

Good luck OP! I hope this time will be a better experience for you!!

Hi Iano,

Thank you so much for this advice as I didn’t know I was entitled to any of these things because I was not told! I have expressed my concerns to my Family Nurse and we have sorted out where she will be sitting in with me on the appointment to give me support because she agrees with what I’ve said and what I should be entitled to.

But I can arrange an appointment with him on the day for the debrief to happen? Well tbh I was not told this either which I’ve been told of my Family Nurse to write down any concerns I have and I will be expressing the C-Section to him as well as the rest, of it does not get sorted then I will make a complaint to PALS.

I will also ask about that as well, thank you for letting me know about the injections because it was really making me worried about it. And I will also mention the E-cigarettes as well. I will do so.

Thank You soo much for you’re help and hopefully because you have helped me with soo much advice this time it will be a better experience Thank You. 💕

Be prepared to state your case for requesting a C section. I believe maternal request is a valid reason under NICE guidelines but there is a pressure to keep rates of C sections down.
I requested a section and was given one after discussion with my consultant.
It is worth doing some research just so you can show you know the risks and can give reasons for your choice. This link may help www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-choosing-to-have-a-c-section.pdf

Good luck with your meeting with the consultant this month. I find having a list of what I want to cover helps me keep appointments on track.

Hi Ripasso,

Thank You for the information that I have read carefully through, I only want a C-Section if they find that the chord is rapped around the babies neck how it was with my first daughter. Which I will explain this to the consultant and if the chord is around the babies neck I will insist on wanting a C-Section,

I will be making a list of all the questions I want to ask the consultant so that I am fully prepared, Thank You ever soo much.

Many Thanks 💕

Hi @ShanRock1999. Sorry for the loss of your 1st baby. I lost my daughter in January and am now pregnant again too. Did see a bereavement midwife after your baby died? If so contact them they can help. Yes you should have had a review to discuss what happened and outline plans for future pregnancies. It seems late to me for you to be having your first consultant appointment, could you ring the hospital and bring it forward? Also there is a SANDS forum called SANDS online community for support too.

OP, I am so sorry for your previous loss

I am not sure that they would be able to tell on a scan whether the cord was round your baby's neck - probably worth asking your consultant. Also quite a lot of babies are born safely with a cord round their neck so it's possible that there was another underlying problem with your baby daughter which hasn't been explained to you. My son had nuchal cord as well but he also had fetal growth restriction which meant he had an unusually long and thin cord with only two vessels (there should be three), when the cord wrapped round his neck and compressed then it cut off nutrition to him. It was explained to me that in a healthy baby with a normal thickness of cord then it wouldn't have been such a danger.

I definitely agree with the posters who are suggesting a birth debrief because I suspect there is more to your baby's story than has been explained to you. In any event it would probably still help you prepare for your new baby to go over what happened with your daughter. Your community midwife can probably put in a referral for you with the hospital or you could contact PALS for advice. You might also benefit from requesting your medical notes from your previous antenatal care and birth, which you are now entitled to free of charge. I had a birth debrief as my son nearly died just before he was born. I found it very beneficial to talk things through.

I was also taking Aspirin until 36 weeks which was due to a pre eclampsia risk. Some people are prescribed Clexane but usually only before the birth if they have a risk of DVT. If you have a section you will probably need to inject it for 6 weeks after (I think!).

Usually a week of Clexane injections post c- section. OP I am so sorry for your loss.

Hi BlueBelltulip,

Thank You, it feels comforting knowing that someone else has gone through a similar situation and that I’m not alone. No I didn’t see a bereavement midwife I only saw her when I was giving birth to my daughter and throughout the time while I was in the hospital but when we came home me and my partner was left expected to just get on with the following days after which was horrible for us to go through, feeling as though we had no support and we still have no support now that’s why I’ve joined NetMums, truthfully they haven’t contacted after having Lizzy to inform me about anything that’s suppose to be going on that’s why when I see the consultant this month on the 17th I will be discussing with him about it.

I contacted Sands via e-mail and they didn’t e-mail me back.

Many Thanks 💕

Hi Miss B83,

When I gave birth to my daughter I was wanting to send her off for a postponement I think the word is called. But the Midwife told me that their was no point as it was clear when she was born that the chord was longer than usual and that it had managed to wrap around her neck 4 times. Well that’s what I keep getting told by my midwife that babies are born all the time with the chord rapped around their neck, but she said it’s just unfortunate what happened with Lizzy, but she didn’t say anything else that could have gone on with the chord. A couple of weeks after Lizzy had died I was on google searching, trying to find answers for myself and I’ve always thought that there could have been more to her death than their leading out for there to be.

I’m going to see the consultant on the 17th and ask him about the situation and if he can’t give me any answers after my appointment I will go to PALS and make a complaint as I deserve to know what happened to my daughter and weather it could affect this pregnancy.

Do you know how I could request my medical notes please from my antenatal care? And birth? They’ve currently put me on 75mg Aspirin and I’m taking 2 a day and all’s the midwife told me was that it’s because I’m smoking my E-cigarette which I was told my a smoking nurse was safe. Which I will also be discussing with my consultant on the 17th, and thank you for letting me know about the injections as I was confused and thought I needed them? Would I need them if I was going to decide I wanted a C-Section?

Many Thanks 💕

Hi noseoftralee,

Thank You for you’re advice and sympathy.

Many Thanks 💕

I would definitely ask the hospital why you had no aftercare sorry you had no support, possibly try going through PALS. It is an awful thing to go through and you deserved better aftercare than that.

I've not contacted sands directly but there are lots of people on the forum which have been helpful, they have a dedicated section on pregnancy after loss. I still come on here for support too. Feel free to send me a pm too if you want to.

OP, google and find your local PALS for the hospital where you are being looked after. They should be able help you with requesting notes and also procedures for making a complaint.

Also low does aspirin is being increasingly prescribed in pregnancy but definitely talk to your consultant about the reasons for taking it.

Hi BlueBelltulip,

I don’t know on what to do tbh, I don’t know weather to leave it till after my appointment with the consultant or see PALS as soon as I can to tell them everything that’s gone on, how would I contact them? And how do you PM? I’m not really good with technology even tho I should know considering I’m 20.

Many Thanks 💕

Hi MissB83,

Do I contact PALS via E-mail or phone or to just go in to them?

Many Thanks 💕

Hi BlueBelltulip,

When I see my consultant on the 17th of this month I will ask for an explanation as to why I am on Aspirin.

Many Thanks 💕

I was offered aspirin for forming blood clots in the cord. This is were I assume the problem comes. If the cord is twisted and the blood clot forms it blocks it. I don't know your case so only can speculate.

to give you some hope a friend of mine lost her little boy in exactly the same circumstances as you her now 3 year old rainbow boy is a delight and she had no problems with her next pregnancy xxx all the best with this baby

E-cigarettes are not safe in pregnancy. There are untested on pregnant woman and nicotine is known to cause problems in developing babies. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/substance-abuse/e-cigarettes-pregnancy.htm?CDCAAA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Freproductivehealth%2Fmaternalinfanthealth%2Ftobaccousepregnancy%2Fe-cigarettes-pregnancy.htm