who bled during labour (i.e. before the birth?)

[MGMidget]

Just thought I'd do a little bit of research to find out how common it is to lose some blood during first/second stage labour - i.e. before the baby is born. Did anyone lose any blood whilst in first/second stage labour and if so did this get treated as an emergency situation or just as normal? And if it was an emergency how much blood did they tell you you'd lost?

I planned a home birth but when I started bleeding (not much) I was told I had to go to hospital - I was having pretty full-on contractions and could hardly get dressed and walk to the car, and unsurprisingly by the time I arrived on ward (clinging to the walls!) I had high BP. I was all strapped up and unable to move whilst the midwife (I don't think she ever actually spoke to me) and the doctors discussed things just out of earshot. They discovered it was a breech presentation, bit late in the day to find out, and just as I was ready to push and I think I was pretty much fully dilated, I was told I needed a c-section due to meconium. It was all pretty awful and I felt completely out of control, and not sure why I had to through to fully dilated if a c-section was necessary, or why breech was undiagnosed. I have no confidence in the midwives/doctors that dealt with me, I think the midwife must have just qualified and was learning on the job. But I suppose at least me and little one were ok, just a shame the experience was so traumatic and the information and people-skills weren't there. Or empathy.

lisalou76 That all sounds so familiar are you from the northwest by any chance?
I started contractions at 3am by 8pm was in so much pain but contractions were still only 5 mins apart and I was only a cm gone. I had a bit of blood but they assured me it was fine and sent me home ( I could stay and have pain relief but my hubby had to go home). Who wants to go through that on there own?? so i went home crying. By 12 I was still only 5 mins apart but screaming the house down and had alot of blood on my towel the doc examined me then holy hell broke loose blood everywhere. Ended up with emergency section but again no commuication and bad attitudes. Still dont know why I was bleeding.

I haemorrhaged at 34 wks due to placenta praevia and list 3 litres of blood.

But Im an NHS midwife. Theres no difference between private midwife or NHS one - just the pay. I was a private mw and came back to nhs as i missed the hustle bustle too much anyway...'............

Anything up to 500 ml is considered normal after labour but during labour there should only be bloody show... no dripping or soaking pads. If there was a problem i.e. placenta abruption therewould be extreme pain - far worse than contractions.

Basically if there was significant bleeding - there would usually be other signs along with that to indicate a problem.

Antepartum haemorrhaging is rarer in labour unless there was a diagnosed problem i.e. placenta praevia - but this would be picked up on ur scans

Hope this helps
Zoe xxxx

I had a little blood and mechoium when my waters broke! So freaked out, but midwifed at hospital were not bothered by it! All was fine.

I woke one morning thinking my waters had gone, slipped out of bed to the loo and was covered in blood. Went into DH pulled back the covers and the bed was also covered in blood.
I rang the hospital and they asked me about the colour and told me to come straight in as it was bright red (I was 12 days overdue at this stage)
I was seen immediately and in the end I had an emergency c-section.

Wow, zombie thread!

I had a PPH after ds2 was born but nothing during labour.