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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

So how much blood is there?

50 replies

Junosmum · 17/12/2015 22:19

I've heard conflicting things about birth, from it looking like a scene from a horror movie to 'nothing more than when you leak on your period'. All from
women who had 'normal', uncomplicated/ none-hemorrhagic births.

I'm talking specifically about the birth part- I'm not fussed, just interested.

I'm waaaaay more bothered about the post birth bleeding, which I'm fully expecting to be horrific (I hate, hate, hate normal periods! so much so I've only had 3 in 5 years).

OP posts:

weeblueberry · 18/12/2015 10:30

Oh, I did wee myself during labour though. Several times

During my first birth I was about 8cm and had dilated seriously fast so there was no knowing when the baby would appear. I needed to pee between contractions so told the midwife I was going to the loo. She was adamant I wasn't and that I should just pee on the bed. I said unless she was going to hold me down I wasn't weeing on the bed and shuffled myself across to the loo. DP was mortified and said he was going to blame me if our daughter was born in the toilet.

Ughnotagain · 18/12/2015 11:38

I didn't really have a choice, I was leaning on the birth ball and suddenly just weed it was while the midwives were changing shift and the new one who came in was very discreet in putting a pad under me and changing it as required. I decided I liked her from then!

weeblueberry · 18/12/2015 12:56

Oh no wasn't suggesting you did.

And if it makes you feel better there's definitely times post birth I've not had quite the same bladder control.

stairway · 18/12/2015 12:58

500mls is average

Millie2013 · 18/12/2015 18:25

I had a PPH, so lots of blood, apparently, but i didn't really notice (just felt odd as my BP fell). Once they'd got that sorted, I was on a bed mat (had a spinal block) and the MW kept changing it, so again, I couldn't really tell how much I'd lost. By the time I was up and able to change my own maternity pads, it was just like a v heavy period

returnofthehumanegg · 18/12/2015 21:19

My second birth I ended up giving birth on my cushions on the living room floor, I remember thinking it would be a mess but when I eventually got up... Nothing, apart from the clear amniotic fluid. The placenta hadn't come out yet so maybe that's why, after that there was. Or I've blanked the crime scene memory out which is possible.

LibrariesgaveusP0wer · 18/12/2015 21:54

I didn't bleed at all during labour.

After delivery, some. Must have been. But dimly lit birth pools and didn't notice.

After placenta, lying wirh baby, a fair bit. Not horror film, but fairly soggy towels I was lying on. Didn't see much though.

Loft653 · 19/12/2015 06:41

I'm similar to Lilac on this one, my notes said 350ml but I thought it looked like a horror movie. I think that was mostly down to the facts that I was leaning over the bed when she came out (mess on floor), moved onto bed for placenta (mess on bed) then placenta wouldn't come out so midwife had me walking around and sitting over the toilet (with cord and scissor clamps dangling below - nice!) (blood trail on floor and in en-suite).

Generally I think they clear things up pretty quickly, the bed and surrounding area was cleaned straight away but the rest of the floor had blood trails on it until we left for the ward about 4hours later as they were short of staff.

Which ever way it works out you'll be fine, you'll have your little bundle to cuddle.

PurpleThermalsNowItsWinter · 19/12/2015 07:07

I didn't see any blood, I haemorrhaged too and had 3 blood transfusions.

If you're squeamish I won't share DH's observations of this event. But feel safe that I never saw any blood.

whatsoever · 19/12/2015 09:06

I haemorrhaged (750ml) immediately post- afterbirth but had had a spinal so didn't notice the feeling of bleeding or see it (as I was on my back in theatre). OH is very squeamish but luckily he was off holding DS in recovery and had stayed at my head end throughout so wasn't traumatised.

The medics didn't tell me until I was all stitched and they'd stopped the bleed so it wasn't frightening.

Lochia lasted 5-6 weeks for me. A few days of very heavy (2 maternity pads at once in big pants) then normal night time sanitary pads. But much of it just pantiliners towards the end of that timeframe. I had expected the bad bit to go on longer so was relieved.

KatyN · 20/12/2015 19:27

I have no idea how much blood I lost but when they put me in stirrups (for a ventouse) they also attached a bin bag to the end of the bed. My son was plopped onto my belly before being whisked off to nicu. He managed to transfer a lot of blood (and muceonium) into me which I then managed to smear around before I got clean!
I had a bed bath and it took quite a while to clear all the blood, I don't think there was much in quantity but it just smeared around.
If you don't like blood I would recommend taking a dark flannel and towel for washing with afterwards! I had a white one originally and my hospital provided very small white towels too.
I am impressed by how few periods you've had... And rather jealous too!
Kxx

RoseDog · 20/12/2015 19:36

I haemorrhaged after dc1 there was pools of blood on the floor, the midwife and dp were covered, my pillow was covered. It looked like there had been a murder, I am terrible with blood and still have flashbacks.

With dc2 I lost a normal amount but I was also kindly given a clotting injection, no idea what it was.

BertrandRussell · 20/12/2015 19:42

I bled all over dp's shoes- not sure how. They were grey suede and he took great pleasure in showing people the stains. I was very pleased when they wore out!

BooOzMoo · 20/12/2015 19:56

I did not really notice much bleeding .... You do have streaks down your legs etc ... I generally have really easy labours and bleeding afterwards was no more than 3 weeks ... More like 2!!!
You hear all these horror stories ... With my first I had so many maternity pads I put them away for the second baby!

Velodromedary · 20/12/2015 20:04

I gave birth in a pool and it looked like a shark attack had occurred, the entire pool immediately turned red. I had lost a fair amount though, they had to guess at 600ml but I had low iron afterwards and was very tired & wobbly on my feet for days after so it might have been more.

RatherBeRiding · 20/12/2015 20:10

I honestly didn't notice any but I had no cuts or tears. There might have been a bit of a smear. Obviously the placenta is a bit messy but the midwives just whisk it all away. The bleeding afterwards - lochia? - was quite heavy for the first 12-24 hours but nothing maternity pads couldn't cope with and it slowed up pretty quickly.

Everyone's different!

Minesril · 20/12/2015 20:13

I didn't see any blood - was lying flat on my back with legs in stirrups. Dh said there was loads, all over the theatre floor. My notes said it was 1200ml...which might be expected from a failed ventouse, forceps, episiotomy and 3rd degree tear!

Was on iron tablets for six weeks and bled for about a month.

Newlywed56 · 20/12/2015 20:32

Lost 2 litres ... Never seen a drop! Dh said it was everywhere lol. I did watch the two transfusions go in I needed after it though

Doublebubblebubble · 20/12/2015 20:48

With my DD (6) - I remember there being a fair amount of blood. I got into a lot of trouble as I went to go and have a shower and dripped blood everywhere. I was a very naive first time mum so I didn't know that id lose that much. Id say it was about 9 months of periods worth. I had a manual placenta removal ouch so I dont know if that made it worse or not. I think I bled for 6 weeks after.

I had a stillbirth of identical twin boys in 2012. I dont remember there being a lot of blood as after they were born I was taken round to theatre to have their placenta removed. They wanted to use forceps to get it out which to be fair they probably did use once the sheet was up - I didn't care once id had the epidural but I had very much had enough. Bled for about 3 weeks after.

With my ds (9 weeks) I ended up having an emcs. (i couldnt get past 5cms, he was 10lb 1, he'd pooed, and was 12 days overdue little monkey!) They sucked all the blood away great days!-- the only blood I saw was the dried blood on ds' head. I bled lightly for 10 days afterward!

shoopshoopsong · 20/12/2015 22:42

I didn't notice much blood at the both but I couldn't really see and was in hospital and they cleared it up quickly. I wasn't prepared for the amount afterwards though and wish someone had warned me what lochia (sp?) could be like because it was like flesh falling out of me and I was really scared

DefinitelyNotElsa · 21/12/2015 10:33

I lost 1300ml but neither DH or I saw any. I was on my back in stirrups having had a spinal anaesthetic and DH was whisked out of the room.

I just remember feeling very odd.

SunnyDays1987 · 21/12/2015 13:02

I lost 2.2 litres of blood due to a retained placenta. It was removed in theatre but I'm guessing they had a good clear out then because I barely bled after the first day. Like a very very light period for a few weeks!

SunnyDays1987 · 21/12/2015 13:05

Oh and yeah it was a bit of a blood bath. They had to weigh the sheets to see how much blood I had lost. I also passed out due to blood loss whilst laying on the bed after giving birth. Good times

Demoncove · 21/12/2015 23:21

I bled heavily from my initial contractions, apparently it was just a massive show...it was non stop though!

BlueBananas · 21/12/2015 23:34

First baby - no problems, lost 400ml, bled for 9 weeks after

Second baby - 350ml delivering, 750ml during PPH, bled for 6 weeks after

Third baby - 500ml delivering, 2.5litres in surgical haemorrhage to remove placenta, bled for 5 weeks (now having the dreaded first period from hell at 7 weeks post partum!)

Every birth is different so this thread won't be too much help to you OP
Although it is strangely compelling reading

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