Elective c section after bimanual compression

[Lorenzo3000]

This is quite a specific question but wondering if anyone has had an elective c section after having bimanual compression in their first labour.

I had a fast labour with my son which led to a pph which required bimanual compression. It was incredibly painful and scary and recovery after birth was tough. I struggled for a long time after it with coming to terms with what happened (very fast, never explained, no debrief) and 4 yes on, pregnant with my second, anxious feelings are emerging.

You will most likely be considered at increased risk of another PPH due to the simple fact you've already had one.

In my own experience, after retained placenta/PPH/plenty of trauma with DC1, for the second birth I was advised against a section as even without a previous PPH there is more risk of bleeding with one. This didn't make sense to me, given that you'd already be in theatre etc, but the explanation given was that the body would not be able to implement any of its own defence mechanisms against blood loss which can be quite a help, obviously,

You need to talk it through with your HCPs of course. If you go for a VB, they should put procedures in to mitigate against a bleed, eg have blood on standby, put canula in place beforehand so ready if needed & administer an injection promptly after birth to encourage prompt delivery of placenta & thus lower PPH risk. Also make sure you are not in any way anaemic, as prior anaemia will make the detrimental effects of a large bleed worse.