birth after previous retained placenta

[RockerMummy184]

Hi ladies, wondering if anyone has any advice or experience they can share.

I went 14 days overdue with DS and was induced (waters broken and straight on the drip). I retained my placenta and spent 2 and a half hours in theatre having it manually removed. I then hemorrhaged and had to have a massive blood transfusion.

I didn't stop bleeding for 8 weeks after I had given birth and after numerous trips to my gp, calls to the midwife and labour ward I had a massive bleed and my husband had to call an ambulance. It was only at this point anyone took me seriously and a scan showed there was still a part of my placenta attached. I had an operation to have this removed shortly after.

My concern is that this is going to happen again when I give birth this time, as I am aware that there is an increased chance of it happening if it's already happened once.

I am also aware that induction can increase the risk of it happening, so was wondering if anyone has declined induction to go into labour naturally if they've gone overdue?

Thanks in advance.

Hi there. I'm not sure on the statistics but this happened to us first time round so I'll be grilling our community midwife soon about the chances of this happening again.
my current midwife is very good and I keep saying I don't want to be induced and she keeps saying it's an option not forced. Well it didn't feel like an option first time round but if you get near induction again maybe ask about all information possible about whether to decline induction. I know a lady who declined induction on her 5th birth and she went into Labour naturally a few days later. Think AIMS might have books around information on this.
Best of luck xxx

Hi, retained with first but not with second, they did make me go to the big maternity hospital though. Good luck x

I had a retained placenta with both of my births. Sorry, I don't know about induction but both births were assisted ventouse ones.

I've not been for my booking app yet but have been for an 'early bird' appointment. I discussed my concern with the midwife I spoke to then, but she was not helpful.

She told me I'll only be allowed to go 7 days over before being induced now, as they changed the guidelines last July. I asked her about declining induction and she got quite nasty. She made me feel awfully guilty, telling me I would be putting my baby at a massive risk of being stillborn as my placenta would have started to deteriorate at 40 weeks. (however she had no answer when I asked why it is only over the last 9 months that this was true, when women had been allowed to go 14 days over for the last god-knows-how-long).

I'm glad to hear you didnt retain second time round Gigi, this gives me some hope. :)

First labour went on for 3 days, second a couple of hours, makes u wonder if long labour contributes. That midwife sounds awful, most are fantastic but there's always one!! Let us know how u get on xxx

I retained with my first and had manual removal but have had two subsequent births without problems.

I spoke to the obstritician and whilst statisically once you have retained you are at and an increased risk of retaining again, it does not happen often.

I also had retained placenta first time round but not second time. Second was home birth - no one made a big deal out of the increased chance of it happening again. It was mentioned but no dwelled upon. No help with induction question though. Good luck!

I had a very similar story to the OP with a very late presenting trained placenta and I am pregnant again. I have asked to be induced at 39 weeks if all favourable as I had a quick and mild labour last time so worried about delivering at home and haemorrhaging. Consultant said that if they can induce with prostaglandins only then risk is low (the drip increases the risk). He has also said he will scan me one week post Partum to ensure all placenta is out (any earlier than that and scan looks fuzzy and cannot see well I seems). Perhaps these are options for you?

Retained not trained placenta - if it had been trained well this would never have happened! :-)

I was induced with my first 4 but no retained placenta. My 5th child managed to arrive naturally, but I had a retained placenta, which was a similar outcome to you. Haven't had any more children though to compare.