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Blood loss during birth leading to deficiencies

1 reply

spickapan · 18/08/2023 22:10

I had a c section for my first baby and from my hospital notes I didn't lose a lot during the actual birth but I lost A LOT postnatally, like to the point that it would drip down onto the floor as I walked to the toilets to change yet another pad. From what I recall my bleeding was checked just once while my feeling was still gone from my legs and wasn't checked again.

My baby was born in the height of covid so I was on my own for a lot of it so I just think I stupidly didn't mention the heavy bleeding, or know any better that it wasn't right, and I just wanted to get home. Bleeding continued about 6 weeks going up and down with how much blood I was losing.

I then spent the next 2 years feeling dizzy, light headed, blurred vision, tired and just not 100% and after having my b12 checked and being told it was fine, nothing really happened and I think I just learnt to live like it.

Fast forward to now I've just had another baby again born by c section but the blood loss this time was SO different, pads didn't need changing for a much bigger time gap and never really felt full. I recently went for further blood tests after mentioning the way I always feel and it come back that my folate, folic acid and vitamin d were all low so I'm on tablets for the next 6 months to try and fix myself. Is it likely that my first labour could have played a part in this, and I could have avoided 2 years of pain if I'd have just mentioned it when it happened so I didn't lose so much? Can this even cause a deficiency?

Thanks so much if you've read this and sorry for waffling x

OP posts:
Olivia199 · 18/08/2023 22:37

Sorry to hear you've suffered so much! I lost a lot of blood in my section with my DD. Then a lot more postpartum. I did have a blood transfusion a few days after birth which certainly helped but felt very similar to you. I also found my periods were horrifically heavier for the first year and needed TXA to slow them down some.
I had some routine bloods when all my hair kept bloody falling out which showed quite a few deficiencies - likely linked to the continued blood loss. It took some time to get things under control again but I felt like a new woman. I think I forgot how you're meant to feel?!
Hopefully the treatment helps over the coming months and you'll see all the benefits.

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