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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Heavy bleeding during labour

10 replies

bremusa · 08/04/2010 20:33

I wonder if anyone can give me any advice/information?

Last year I watched my dd give birth to my lovely grandson. Just after, or during, (I'm not sure which) delivering the placenta she began to haemorrhage. It was very scary as she was completely out of it, having fluids pushed in both arms and had to have a blood transfusion. The room was full of nurses/midwives and obviously I had my grandson and had to keep out of everyone's way. The doctor was marvellous thank goodness. He spent quite a while removing blood clots and stitching from what I can remember.

I would like to ask if anyone can tell me what went wrong/what happened to my daughter? Nobody told me anything really, and she point blank refuses to discuss it. She was a bit frightened with what happened so if anyone can shed any light I would be grateful.

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 08/04/2010 20:36

It does happen

recently happened to a friend (due to tearing) but can happen for a number of reasons

it sounds like she had fabulous care and i hope she is recovering well

if she is upset she can ask for a birth debrief with her MW or contact the Birth Trauma Association

congratulations on your grandson

GladioliBuckets · 08/04/2010 20:37

Sorry but no info here but must have been scary for you both. It's a flipping lottery isn't it, childbirth?
FYI If she wanted to, she could phone up the hospital and get her notes sent to her. Might help her if she's at all stuck in a hole about it.

ConnorTraceptive · 08/04/2010 20:45

This happened to me with ds1. It is very frightening at the time and the doctors are so busy trying to getting everything under control they have no time to explain what is happening.

When I fell pregnant with ds2 I was worried about it happening again so my midwife went over my notes. There were alot of possible factors, being 2 weeks overdue, induced labour, ds1 was a big baby (10 pounds) all these things can contribute. Also my mum bled heavily in her births and I think part of it is i'm just prone to it.

I did bleed heavily again with ds2 but because I understood what was happening and how it was being dealt with it wasn't nearly as frightening as the first time.

Original poster

bremusa · 08/04/2010 20:52

It's difficult really as she just says she's not having any more children, which I totally respect as her choice. I just feel it's a shame her bad experience has put her off, she's a fabulous mum .

Maybe time with put things into perspective for her, and I don't like to push. She'll talk when she's ready I think.

Thank you for the congrats and the replies

OP posts:

Jacksmama · 08/04/2010 20:52

There are several things that may have happened, but one of them is that when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus, parts of it may tear off and stay attached to the wall of the uterus. The placenta has a huge blood supply so that may be where some of the blood came from. Or, when bits of it stay attached to the uterus, the uterus stops contracting where the retained bits are (it normally clamps down pretty tightly to stop bleeding) and you can have quite a bit of blood loss.
Also, she may have torn quite badly when the baby was delivered, which explains why the doctor had to spend a lot of time stitching her up. That's what happened to me, a third-degree tear, with a horrific amount of blood loss.

I hope she'll be ok - I agree with everyone who said a debrief is a good idea, or perhaps some counselling?

xxJM

Original poster

bremusa · 08/04/2010 20:56

Connor, dd was also 2 weeks overdue and dgs was 9lbs 13, although she wasn't induced but was in labour a few days. Like you say probably a combination of things.

OP posts:

GladioliBuckets · 08/04/2010 20:58

Leaflet you can print out and leave lying around helpfully.

I'm not sure I could have made the decision to have another baby after my first birth as I suffered with Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Luckily (in hindsight) the decision was made for me by DC2. Sent me back into a tailspin all over again but having had him the way that made me feel fully in control (elective Caesarean), I was pretty much cured and 2yrs later broody for a third!

ConnorTraceptive · 08/04/2010 22:02

I was adament I wasn't having anymore either. She may feel differently in time

GladioliBuckets · 09/04/2010 09:02

After about 2yrs you realise you're not longer in the baby zone and your confidence comes back. But then you start to get baby envy...

heth1980 · 09/04/2010 09:35

I had the same thing happen to me (I lost 1500ml) and was told it was due to a big baby and fast labour.....DD2 was 9lb 6oz and my labour was 3 hours. I did however have the doctor pulling clots out of my uterus for quite a while and have no idea what that was all about! I think in time I will probably request a de-brief so that I can get a bit more info. I don't feel traumatised by it fortunately, I would just like to know what the chances are of it happening again should I choose to have any more children (although lying in HDU afterwards I told DH I never wanted any more !)

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