Heavy bleeding after first birth

[Meredithgrey1]

We’re currently TTC our second child. With DD I had a home birth but after she was born I bled heavily, was put on a drip and blue-lighted to hospital. Everyone was very calm but I lost a lot of blood and I’m not sure if, had I been in hospital, there’d have been some sort of emergency button pressed and lots of people, or if it wasn’t quite as serious as that. I didn’t need a transfusion.

Anyway, does anyone know the stats on whether a previous heavy bleed increases the chances of it in a following birth? Or does it not make a difference?

I am not sure about any official stats, but in my experience I had a bigger bleed 2nd time round.

When I discussed birthing options with my midwife for my 2nd baby, she said that it doesnt necessarily happen again, but they are cautious and normally advise to give birth in a hospital for any subsequent births.

Good luck with ttc. The midwife will be able to advise based on your individual history when the time comes.

Depends what the cause of the bleeding was. If it was a tone issue (which putting you on a drip suggests it may have been) then it could happen again. If it was because of something like retained placenta or a tear then that may be less likely. Your obstetrician/midwife/GP should be able to give you a better idea than anyone here. Given that the blood supply to a term uterus is massive there has to be a low threshold for hospital transfer at the first hint of bleeding... saves the carpets getting really messy.

@Meredithgrey1 I had a post partum hemmorage after DC1 after retained placenta and blood transfusion.

DC2 was born yesterday, no hemmorage, one graze! So it won't necessarily happen again :)

I was put under consultant care/in delivery suite for second birth because I had a PPH after the first. I was told there was a higher chance of bleeding after the second because I’d bled after the first.

I had a bigger bleed the second time round but because of the previous pph and transfusion they were well prepared. They’ll probably put a canula in at the start of labour and you’ll be monitored more closely. Although my bleed was worse the second time round I found the recovery quicker but I think that’s because I didn’t have to wait as long for my transfusion.

Should also have added that I had a bigger bleed second time round.

I also had to have consultant led care for second dc after a haemorrhage with first ds. No bleed at all second time and a much less stressful birth. I was worried but had lots of support but could not give birth anywhere but in hospital.

Thanks for the responses everyone.
I had a bad tear, second degree but bordering on third (so they were planning to take me to hospital anyway before I started bleeding, as the midwives weren’t sure if it was 2nd or 3rd). The placenta also took a long time to be delivered. Don’t know if both/either of these things were relevant to the bleeding.
I wouldn’t want to give birth at home again, but I guess in an ideal world would want a midwife led unit if safe - at my hospital the MLU is just the floor above the delivery ward so it’s not in a separate location. Obviously if/when I go get pregnant again I’d speak to the midwife to see what was recommended.

I have low platelets and I haemorrhaged with my first and not at all with my next 2.

@Meredithgrey1

Thanks for the responses everyone. I had a bad tear, second degree but bordering on third (so they were planning to take me to hospital anyway before I started bleeding, as the midwives weren’t sure if it was 2nd or 3rd). The placenta also took a long time to be delivered. Don’t know if both/either of these things were relevant to the bleeding. I wouldn’t want to give birth at home again, but I guess in an ideal world would want a midwife led unit if safe - at my hospital the MLU is just the floor above the delivery ward so it’s not in a separate location. Obviously if/when I go get pregnant again I’d speak to the midwife to see what was recommended.

Both of those things could have contributed to the heavy bleeding. And yes if you’ve had one haemorrhage you’re more likely to have one again. In my trust you’d be expected to deliver on labour ward, the MLU wouldn’t accept you