WARNING graphic photo of passed unknown tissue?!?

[Crystalann]

Had DS 13/12/20 vaginal with 2nd degree tear (no stitches) haemorrhage of 650ml immediately and large clots (some palm sized) for the first week. Lochia has remained red in colour, sometimes darker sometimes brighter but always clear red and has stayed at light-to-average period level bleeding.

At the end of December I had phone GP appt as had pain when urinating but this was not burning or weeing sensation pain rather lower abdominal cramp pains. GP said likely UTI and first antibiotics had. 13th Jan spoke to GP (phone) again as foul odour, increased pain and heavier bleeding - prescribed 2 antibiotics for one week. I felt better.
Monday (3rd day no antibiotics) started to get suspicious might not have gone but slight odour and some light pain only.
Thursday - sudden out of the blue huge pain of labour intensity that started at 4pm. By 7pm I had a high temperature (38.4) and couldn’t hold my baby just cried and rocked through the pain so we went to the walk in centre.
Was immediately placed in an isolation room due to temperature (despite us shielding as my husband is vulnerable) no one came until 3 hours later when pain had mostly subsided. Felt fraudulent and was prescribed another two weeks of two antibiotics (same kind as already had before).
Yesterday went to the toilet felt pressure and passed this unpleasant picture. Phoned postnatal ward but was told at 6.5 weeks am not covered by them anymore and to ask GP. Emailed GP photo and symptoms and was told to attend A&E. Went there and bloods ok ish (as expected for bleeding this long) urine test done for pregnancy (negative).
They said 100% this is not retained placenta as the pregnancy test was clear and most likely is fibrous tissue. One wanted to test tissue at the lab but was overruled as unnecessary.
Tissue was different from all other clots - hard in texture and smelled horrid.

I’ve a scan Monday to see if anything else remains but want to know if this isn’t placenta what can it be?!
Anyone know next steps if they do find anything? Anyone experienced similar?

I have just googled the images of a fetus papyraceus and it’s does look very similar. As stated above it’s likely ‘mummified’ but does look like the suggestions made. Just letting you know in case you didn’t want to google image yourself :)

@Barracker

Was it taken from you in A&E and destroyed? I think you have a right to know. I also can see what PlanDeRaccordement can see, although it's not possible to know from a photo.

I hope you are recovering well.

Yes they disposed of it once it was decided they would not be sending it to the lab for testing

@Ivy48

I have just googled the images of a fetus papyraceus and it’s does look very similar. As stated above it’s likely ‘mummified’ but does look like the suggestions made. Just letting you know in case you didn’t want to google image yourself :)

Thank you, I haven’t yet braved that one

I am shocked too that they are fobbing you off. But at least with photo and the records, you can demand an obstetric pathologist review your case once Covid calms down.

How many weeks were you then on 10 May? You gave birth on 13 Dec 20 (congratulations btw), were you past your due date at all?

I think what others have said about twin pregnancy makes total sense Op.
I honestly think I the hospital have been negligent though - with your symptoms you’re ticking the sepsis warning signs which can be deadly.
I hope you keep feeling better now you have antibiotics but any sign of sepsis (if you have residual infection) extreme pain, temperature, confusion, excessive sleepy ness, difficulty urinating, please call 999. Sorry if that sounds dramatic but I had sepsis after an infection and it wasn’t picked up (hospital ignored me and told me I had a low pain threshold!) and I ended up in ICU and nearly died so I’m a bit paranoid about it!
Congratulations on your healthy baby. I hope you continue to recover well.

So sorry for you OP. I’m really angry NHS has left you with only photo and pack of antibiotics. You deserve better than that. Don’t let this drop, contact you GP and push them to send your case to a pathologist.

For all you know you did miscarry in May, but they didn’t think to look for more than one baby at the scan. So angry and sad for you at same time.

It looks like part of the placenta (I am a midwife) Are you on antibiotics now?

@LondonernotinLondon

It looks like part of the placenta (I am a midwife) Are you on antibiotics now?

Yes I’m on antibiotics again. The hospital said it can’t be placenta because my pregnancy test was negative - is this in line with your knowledge?

@PlanDeRaccordement

So sorry for you OP. I’m really angry NHS has left you with only photo and pack of antibiotics. You deserve better than that. Don’t let this drop, contact you GP and push them to send your case to a pathologist.

For all you know you did miscarry in May, but they didn’t think to look for more than one baby at the scan. So angry and sad for you at same time.

Only 6.5 weeks

Twin pregnancy that had failed was my immediate thought on looking at the photo, which would fit with the dates of your suspected miscarriage I think.

I agree with Plan - press for a case review once the current covid crisis has calmed down.

And any signs of possible sepsis phone 999 immediately.

Thank you - I feel vastly better now it’s cleared (physically) my temperature is now remaining down without paracetamol/ibuprofen and pain/bleeding is so minimal comparatively but I would definitely seek help if I took unwell again to be safe re sepsis. I’ve still got another 11 days antibiotics too.

Glad to hear you're feeling better.

on your new baby, btw. Sorry the birth has been married by this happening afterwards.

Hi OP I had this exact same thing . I gave birth via EMCS in august, bled for 14 weeks passing clots etc , was unwell. Went to hospital 3 times just sent away with antibiotics. Went for a scan eventually after passing out and they found it was retained placenta ( negative pregnancy test too). In the end it all passed and I didn’t need a removal like they had eventually wanted to do. But it went on and on for weeks until they listened to me but mine looked identical to yours .
I hope you’re ok. It’s horrible but I feel like a new woman since it all passed . It made the first 4 months of being a mum horrendous though and I’m sure it contributed to my PND.

I'm glad you are feeling better but what a horrendous thing to experience when you have a new baby.
When I first looked at your picture I thought it looks very much like one of the medical swabs that they put inside a vagina when they stitch you up?Did you have an episiotomy/tear?
Especially when you have mentioned that A&E was quite vague about examining it properly I have a feeling that someone was quite keen to cover the things up.

You poor thing. Glad you're feeling better and glad you've been given some good advice here. What a horrible time to go through this, I think post natal care is shocking at the moment. Congrats on your new baby, I hope you continue to feel better and can put this behind you

@PumpkinSpicedLatte

Hi OP I had this exact same thing . I gave birth via EMCS in august, bled for 14 weeks passing clots etc , was unwell. Went to hospital 3 times just sent away with antibiotics. Went for a scan eventually after passing out and they found it was retained placenta ( negative pregnancy test too). In the end it all passed and I didn’t need a removal like they had eventually wanted to do. But it went on and on for weeks until they listened to me but mine looked identical to yours . I hope you’re ok. It’s horrible but I feel like a new woman since it all passed . It made the first 4 months of being a mum horrendous though and I’m sure it contributed to my PND.

Thank you, that’s reassuring for me. My mood has definitely been impacted by feeling rough too but hopefully here’s the end of it!

@3JsMa

I'm glad you are feeling better but what a horrendous thing to experience when you have a new baby. When I first looked at your picture I thought it looks very much like one of the medical swabs that they put inside a vagina when they stitch you up?Did you have an episiotomy/tear? Especially when you have mentioned that A&E was quite vague about examining it properly I have a feeling that someone was quite keen to cover the things up.

No, although I tore it was only grade 2 so was not stitched but thank you

If you look up decidual casts they vary massively. Some look like chicken skin and are floppy - some much more solid and look more like yours. I’ve had one of each and the solid one was huge. I don’t know scientifically why but at a guess I would say it’s related to how much blood is in the lining.

Mine happened spontaneously (not on the pill or an ectopic). I do have endometriosis and adenomyosis so would assume it’s related to that, but it does seem that most instances are related to hormonal changes so makes sense it could happen after pregnancy.

Yes, bleeding stopped very quickly afterwards as you’re basically shedding the whole lining in one go rather than in bits.

Obviously I don’t know that this is what it is but that would be my suspicion - if you google you’ll find photos that are nothing like yours and some that look very similar.

Hi

Thanks everyone. I’ve had my scan and spoken with gynaecology now. My uterus only shows fluid remaining. They’ve officially marked it as retained products of conception but said they can’t determine if it’s placenta or baby tissue due to a&e disposing of it and my negative pregnancy test which should have been positive.

Plus note is it’s gone and I only have light bleeding now. 10 more days antibiotics and told to take it easy

Glad you are recovering well ! Best wishes for future.

I'm so glad your doing better. I can't stop thinking about the photo you posted, you can just go to the toilet one day and that pop out! My goodness.
It's annoying that you didn't get a chance to know exactly what it was but the main thing is you feel better.

looks like placenta to me