Placenta fear of dying after last birth

[Mum856912]

Hi everyone 8 years ago i gave birth it was all going great, quick birth beautiful daughter but then something happened with my placenta, it wouldnt come out i started bleeding heavily, i woke up a blood transfusion later and some kind of balloon inside which they took out later on, anybody else had something similar? Did it happen again?im petrified of dying after birth am i being dramatic does this happen alot?i was so scared of what happened its took me 8 years to get pregnant again , im over joyed i cant explain how happy i am but im having bad dreams most nights i die during one of the best days of my life and my husband has to tell my daughters i won't be coming home, i asked how many women die during childbirth to my consultant and he just said dont worry about things, i am worried thou :( sorry for such a long post.

Oh that sounds awful, I've not had it but have a friend who has, the balloon is to stop the bleed and prevent a hysterectomy so it's a good thing that it worked for you although terrifying none the less. Have you spoke to your midwife and consultant about the chances of it happening again? Tell them your fear is related to bleeding as it happened before, they may suggest something for you? my friend had a second vagibal birth with no issues placenta delivered beautifully, make sure they listen to your concerns they are very valid x

The balloons are to infate inside the arteries to stop you bleeding excessively.

Of course you are worried, it was a traumatic experience and your consultant is dismissing you - they should instead be talking through your experience and reassuring you of what would happen this time/what they would do if it happens again.

I would write the following questions down in a notebook and ask them next time. Take someone calm and supportive with you if you need to.

What happened last time?

What is the correct medical name for this (was it placenta accreta for example?)

What are the chances of this happening again - I need a percentage number.

I am suffering from severe anxiety after the last birth and I would like to be referred to someone who can help with this

How will this birth be managed in the light of the last one?

If this happens again, how will it be managed?

If your consultant won’t answer, or brushes you off, you need a stock phrase like ‘I’m afraid just telling me it wont happen again is unproductive - I need to have more information, to understand what happened, why and how the next birth will be dealt with.’

It may also be worth asking for a birth debrief. Also avreferral to someone who can help with anxiety.

In terms of numbers it’s very unlikely you’d die. Without knowing exactly what happened it’s hard to say what the chances are of it happening again, but with your history they will be on high alert to any problems that occur.

Good luck.

I too have a massive fear around giving birth again after a traumatic experience last time (my DD is 10months now)-

I've just had my first midwife appointment (I'm 10 weeks) but I'm so nervous - my OH and family (also midwife) have all said 'Csection'...but I never wanted a Csection either and have my own fears around that!

But apparently I have no say!!!

I'm seeing an obstetrician shortly so am just going to have a rant about everything that's going on in my mind -

tally

Do speak to the consultant - you can use similar questions to above. All this is a balance - they may have very sound reasons to push a c section, and if those are solid you’d be unwise to refuse, but you should always be given the chance to discuss and put your opinions forward to say why you’d like a vb and see what they say.

Thanks Bowl - I will do - I know the C-section is probably the right plan -

OP I have the same nightmares if that helps at all - especially about the 'not coming home explanations to LO's' - chokes me - for me I know its due to the Trauma (does sound the same for you too?) - I didn't actually realise how much it effected me until I found out I was expecting again and my head went straight to 'the birth' and then 'total fear'.

I just think the only way I can cope with it (I have an enormous fear of judgement too btw which doesn't help with me admitting my 'feelings') is to just open my mouth and say it all to my consultant on appointment - else I fear its going to eat me up over the next months - and I really think we should be able to enjoy our pregnancy!!!?

Good luck OP x

Thankyou everyone my husband is being very supportive but my family are angry im "putting " myself through it again but i was so desperate to become a mum again and i am overjoyed , your right i need to be a bit more firm with getting answers, the hospital has offered to induce me at 37 weeks but to be honest both times before hand i knew i was going into labour its the placenta delivery im worried about chances of it happening again,or dying, my consultant said i can have antidepressants if it becomes to much but im mostly happy just as time is drawing near nervous.thankyou all so much for the replys thou its nice to have a moan :)

I’ve been through something similar and I’m currently 21 weeks pregnant with DS2.
With DS1 My placenta ruptured and I lost 2 litres of blood. Had to sign a form stating that I give the drs authorisation to remove my womb if they can’t remove all the placenta! I had no time to read the form, only sign it as it was life or death. I started becoming more and more tired as they rushed me to surgery due to loss of blood. Luckily they managed to ‘fix’ everything. Had a couple blood transfusions and was in hospital for 4 days. I’m also petrified that this will happen again! My midwife has advised it’s unlikely to happen again but has referred me to speak to a specialist who deals in traumatic births. I’m trying to put it at the back of my mind but I understand completely how you feel. We just have to pray that everything goes smoothly second time around!

In the pregnancy after I had a massive bleed due to placenta issues (and medical screwup), I was also quite scared. I found having that fear and the issues clear up front in my birth plan helpful. I discussed it with the midwives when I was admitted to hospital who were very kind.

There was an issue with the placenta but it was entirely different (it was slow to pass, the midwife said that was likely due to it being 'massive'). It did require extra staff to come in to help, I don't remember all of it but there was quite a lot of abdominal and internal massage. It was a bit scary, especially as the emergency button had been pressed (again) but it was dealt with relatively quickly and no issues afterward.

I also had a retained placenta in my second labour, just refused to come away. I had the injection, uterine massage, nothing. The consultant had to wrap the cord round his hands whilst the MW held my uterus and pull. I remember the pain to this day, also remember the MW saying "be careful, it's going to snap!" - slightly medically mismanaged I feel, but it came away in the end. Ended up with a small PPH and lost 800mls blood. I looked like a ghost when I got home!

I think its fair enough to relate to OP by telling similar stories but I also think she possibly and more importantly needs some support in what she's feeling around the fear of this happening again - I know that's what's affecting me most right now?

I’m someone who needs information - so I definitely think that for me, a birth debrief from last time and talking to the consultant would be the way forward.
It’s important your fears arent dismissed - it is VERY unlikely you’d die, but that doesn’t mean your fears are irrational or daft. Someone needs to address them with you in a calm way, not brush them aside.

Thank you so much im finding talking about it has really helped, at the time i was scared but got on with things due to our new baby but after a while i started having panic attacks and i think it did scare me alot this time round i was confident until my eldest daughter said she was worried id die shes 14 and i suddenly panicked that i might not make it this time and i already have to great daughters i couldnt leave ,ive reasurred her and she miles better ive also told family to stop mentioning there concerns near her but to be honest im pretty worried,i cant wait to quiz my consultant in less then a month, i feel awful reading the posts how others have suffered im just glad it turned out ok for us in the end, hoping it does this time aswell x

Do you have a midwife team at your hospital who specialise in mental health? I was referred during my last pregnancy when I was diagnosed with total placenta previa and had to prepare myself for possible bleeding towards the end of my pregnancy, a long hospital stay and a complicated c-section. It was amazingly helpful.