Episiotomy that severes a large blood vessel?

[picklechops]

Can anyone help?

I had a horrific birth last year. I was given an episiotomy (without consent or being told) and during it, the consultant OB apparently "severed a large blood vessel" which helped contribute to me having a mass hemmorhage.

I know this as I wrote a letter of complaint ( about several aspects of my care) and this was their explanation. The trouble is, any other medical professional I've asked about it is somewhat shocked as apparently there is no large blood vessel there and back tracks and tries to change the subject.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what the hell happened? How did she manage to cut this? And surely if she waited until the area was properly thinned out you would see it there before you cut?

Argh. I'm just so fed up.

I'm not sure to be honest but I was talking to my midwife earlier and we were discussing risks, one of the risks obviously is bleeding and she told me that sometimes you can bleed a lot from only a very small tear, so there must be some fairly big blood vessels around that area.