Don't know where to post this - heavy bleed a month after c section

[areyouseriousss]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this.

4 weeks ago I had a c section.
This morning I woke up to blood gushing from down below. Really pouring out. A held a bath towel down there but it made no difference and the blood kept coming, going everywhere.
DP called an ambulance but they said they'd be hours. So we went to the hospital in the car with me still holding the bath towel down there.

Has anyone had this before? I'm terrified it's going to happen again.

The doctor said it could be a period...???
They also said that sometimes some placenta is still in the uterus but this rarely happens with a c section.
They've prescribed antibiotics in case I have an infected womb. Although they did check inside with a speculum and said things looked ok.

They said they're not sure if it could happen again or not as they don't really know why it did.

Anyone had this happen before?

Bump

Hello,

Yes I had something similar. Around 3 weeks after my last section I started to bleed (the lochia had faded away) and passed a HUGE clot. It was very weird and horrible.

I was still under the care of the maternity unit so phoned them and they admitted me overnight, did various poking and prodding and a scan to check for endometriosis.

No real cause was found, there was reference in my notes to my placenta being partially intact, meaning it's possible a piece had broken off and formed the clot, but they're not sure.

In the end I went home and just waited it out (with antibiotics) and it got better.

Hope you feel a bit better soon. This was my 3rd and definitely final C-section. The recovery was very, very hard.

It happened to my bestie. It was a bit of retained placenta I think. Very scary at the time.

Thank you for your replies.
The doctor said it's unlikely to be retained placenta because it was a c section and usually everything is cleared out.
I've been reading online about the placental scab.

And also that sometimes when you do too much the bleeding can become very heavy. I did walk quite a bit yesterday.
It was just gushing so much, it was terrifying. It just wouldn't stop. I was so scared.
I'm going to try and take it easy over the next few days, carry on with the antibiotics and hope it doesn't happen again.

I had similar experience, think it was about 1/2 weeks after c section.

Doesn't sound as if mine was as dramatic as yours, but it was definitely a bleeding much heavier than a period. My midwife said it was because I'd done too much the day before and probably dislodged the scab. When she explained that the placenta detaching basically leaves an open wound in my uterus, which 'scabs' over and heals eventually, it made a lot of sense. It's hard to rest after having a baby, but it is important not to overdo it.

Pressed send too early -

Hope you are sorted out with some rest.

Me! I had this..:

Echoing what others have said, it's usually because you've done too much the day before. I went on a long walk, lots of lifting the pram in and out the boot etc etc because I'm an idiot, basically.

3-4 weeks after a section is when this seems most likely to happen, the scabs seem to come away around this time if you over so it.

Sorry about your experience, it sounds terrifying. Hope you're ok now.

@PaddleBoardingMomma @KarmaComma

Yes I wonder if this is it. I walked quite a bit the day before. But felt like I was finally getting a bit back to normal, wasn't in pain or anything.
Since yesterday when that happened, when I go to the loo there is a lot more blood. It's more like the blood I had in the loo on the first day after the c section. There are also more clots.

If it’s not stopped soon go back and request an ultrasound. Whilst its uncommon to have retained products after a c section.. I have oddly seen three in the last week post C Section (I’m a Sonographer) They should scan you ASAP. If you develop a temp or pains go straight to A&E.

My friend's experience was after a section so another example.

@Poppiesway1

Thank you for this. I will definitely do that.
Yesterday we went to the closest hospital to us but it wasn't the hospital where I had the baby.
The hospital where I had the baby are usually very thorough with investigations. I've recently had a couple of health scares and they were excellent.
I do wish we had gone there yesterday as I feel they probably would have done a scan. But we just didn't have time and went to our closest one. But they didn't really do much at all.
If this continues I'll definitely be going back to them.
That is odd that you've experienced this 3 times lately! You'd think nothing could be left behind in a c section.
It was an emergency section I had and I was under general anaesthetic.

Just wanted to send an update to say those who commented about retained placenta - you were right .... I have still been having some pains this week so I contacted a different hospital and they asked me to come in.

They've done a scan today and have said some placenta has been left in there.
They said they want to admit me tonight so I can be put on antibiotics via a cannula and then look at having the procedure tomorrow to have it removed.

Can't believe the other hospital just sent me away without checking. No scan, nothing.

Thank you all for the advice!! I really appreciate it! X

@Poppiesway1 .. When you said you'd seen it 3 times this week, it made me think it was more of a possibility so definitely wanted to get it double checked. Thank you for that x

@areyouseriousss I’m sorry your going through this, but I’m so glad you went back and it’s being sorted now!! Wishing you a speedy recovery so you can get on with enjoying baby!

@Poppiesway1
Thank you. I hope I'll be back home very soon. I'm missing being away from baby so much already

Best of luck @areyouseriousss. Hope by now you've had the procedure and ready to make a complete recovery and enjoy your new baby