Retained placenta

[JFP1]

Hey, so my little one is 3. I’ve just turned 40. I had a horrendous birth , retained placenta rushed to theatre… 3 blood transfusions and a week stay in hospital…

Im started to think of having another. My partner is not keen as he doesn’t want to take the risk of losing me. We were also ivf so going through all of that again, but we do have frozen blastocysts.

I obviously have big concerns of it happening again, not surviving (I know sounds ridiculous) but they did say I may need to have a caesarean if I went again . Can this still happen if I had a caesarean?

Also are you more prone to issues with placenta if you have had issues before?

Thank you for reading

It sounds like a birth debrief with a midwife/obstetrician would be a good idea if you’ve not already had one. They’ll be able to give you an idea of what caused the problem & how likely it is to happen again. There are definitely things that can be done in anticipation to reduce the risk if it were to happen again (cannula, 3rd stage drugs, having blood cross-matched in advance etc). It’d be relatively unusual to advise a c-section after a straightforward manual removal so it sounds like either wires have got crossed in communication or there’s a bit more to it.

I had a retained placenta with my first child. Third degree tear and forceps with post partum haemorrhage after being induced. I was in hospital for 10 days. I thought I was going to die.

I really understand what you’ve been through and i’m sorry you’ve experienced such a traumatic delivery. I was terrified about having my second, as was my husband. I decided to have an elective Caesarian. What a difference. Such a positive experience and I was home in two days. The healing was much quicker and I was able to hold my baby the moment he was born. The first time it was 8 hours before I could hold him. I would wholeheartedly recommend a Caesarian after such a horrendous first experience. Your placenta can’t be retained in a Caesarian because they literally lift it out. I asked this question too when I had a midwife de- brief during my second pregnancy. Good luck xx

Yes that is a good idea! Never thought of that but I will ask about that.
Sorry I should have said I had a third degree tear and due to the scaring etc they said that’s the way I would have to go. However they would check at the time.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it

Wow that is so similar! I had a third degree tear too , definitely probably all caused from being induced as it was so fast. No forceps though.

That was exactly my worry, I was worried if it happened the first time it could happen again. Wasn’t sure with the placenta and if it was still the same procedure but if it’s not and they lift it would that is more re-assuring.

Thank you so much for replying and for the reassurance, it’s really appreciated x