Retained placenta twice is it safe to have another baby if via planned c section.

[GS1990]

Hi.
Really hoping someone can advise or share their experiences...
We have 3 children (big age gaps) with 14/10 years between eldest two and our 18 MO. I can't help feeling as though youngest is growing up like an only child as older ones are already off doing own thing alot. So, we're toying with the idea of a 4th and final. BUT...
I had retained placenta on my last two children (was tricky to get out on first but experienced mw managed to get it and no problems).
On second it was emergency situation where they tried removing manually without pain relief - I haemorrhaged and they finally took me for manual removal in theatre. This failed and I was back having dnc 3 months later.
After this was never having more but spoke to MW team at GP surgery and they assured that no guarantees it would happen again and if it did, they'd be ready for it. So, along came baby 3.
They were ready and the management was much more efficient and humane, however I did haemorrhage again and ended up in theatre having removed again. Thankfully, without any following complications this time.
Now Ive asked my MW and she said I am safe to try for number 4, especially if I opt for C section as they will be in and more able to stop any bleeding. (All three have been normal vaginal delivery). I'm willing to do section for my and baby safety, but have never had one. So, has anyone with a history of retained placenta continued to have more babies with safe removal, either vaginally or section?

Thanks to anyone with more info/knowledge than me ...

You can request a birth reflections meeting and discuss it with a consultant.

Best to ask an ob/gyne doctor.
How would you feel if the pregnancy led to a hysterectomy?

I had a retained placenta with my DS and had a similar experience to you with the removal in theatre. I went on to have my DD by c-section (elective due to the placenta complications of my first) and it was absolutely fine. In fact, I very much enjoyed the experience. It was calm, peaceful and uncomplicated. My recovery from the section was so much easier than from the vaginal delivery of my DS.

@Pennyandolive thank you for this as it gives me a little bit of hope that number four is possible and I'll be safe! I am concerned about healing from section as would still have a toddler to pick up and carry around but loads of women cope and my hubby is brilliant as are the older kids. X

@CurlsnSunshinetime4tea I was considering asking them to tie my tubes whilst open anyway. Although this is different and a lot less invasive than a hysterectomy. I suppose I hadn't really thought about it, but in terms of not having more babies then ot wouldn't worry me - just i imagine it would be alot harder to recover from than a section. Although if that was what they had to do to save my life and stop bleeding then I'd still feel blessed to be here and have four beautiful children...

in case no one's mentioned it yet, there's no absolute guarantee they'll get all the placenta/membranes out at c-section. They do of course aim to get everything out and it's rare not to, but definitely not unheard of to have retained products and still end up in the same scenario. Probably best to chat to an obstetrician - they may be able to give an idea about what's caused the problem to happen twice (eg if placenta didn't detach at all, or did detach but got stuck behind a closing cervix); whether there's anything in addition that makes it more likely to keep happening for you; what the pros & cons of an elective section vs a vaginal delivery with a low threshold for going to theatre if the placenta doesn't do the decent thing PDQ are. Have never seen them do a section-hysterectomy for contraception reasons - it's usually only done in the event of life-threatening bleeding (not sure if that was what PP was getting at).

@Greybeardy Yes I was under that impression that a hysterectomy would be a last resort if they couldn't stem the bleeding. Hopefully though it wouldn't come to that. My cousin's wife had her tubes tied (England) following a c section after baby number 4. I'm hopeful that they'd tie tubes for me at the same time (considering the history of retained products/bleeding etc). I think you're all right though - it's best to see if I can meet with a consultant to discuss the cause. I'm sure it wasn't due to cervix closing, I remember them telling me that my body 'is really good at being pregnant and holds onto the placenta'. They did get it out manually in theatre both times and I avoided a transfusion by the skin of my teeth - so hopefully they'd be able to get it out (surely easier) following a section?
After @Pennyandolive sharing their experience, I've been looking at posts on c sections and many are really positive in terms of the experience and the healing. Thanks all for the advice :)

100% not the point of the thread but if you do end up with a c section and want to be sterilised at the same time you should ask them to remove rather than "tie" your fallopian tubes. It's now thought that a lot of ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes and removing them can be protective. I think I read that the American College of Gynaecologists now recommend that any woman undergoing any gynaecological surgery consider removal of her fallopian tubes (if she is finished having babies, of course).

@ILoveMyCat23 I did not know this at all - granted I haven't even looked into it at all because I'm only just thinking about the idea of having another baby. I will certainly do some research if we do decide to go down this route in the future. It's quite scary because even the idea of a section seems like a major operation to me. Thank you :)

Hi there I am a labour ward midwife. I honestly think having a CS after 3 previous vaginal deliveries is a very bad idea. CS is a major surgery after all, with the increased risk of bleeding, infection and blood clots. Recovery is a lot harder too. Please do ask for an appointment with a Consultant obstetrician or a Consultant midwife to devise a plan of care that would allay your anxiety. I can assure you the team will be aware of your history and be ready for action anyway. However an appointment might help to explain what precautions would be put in place. I have seen far too many elective Caesarean ending up with a 1.5- 2 litres blood loss without any previous risk factors. The recovery is a lot harder too

I had a retained placenta requiring theatre removal first pregnancy and went on to have a very normal delivery next time.