Trigger Warning (still birth) Hemorrhage Recovery.

[OnNaturesCourse]

Start by saying I don't know where to post this and it could be triggering as mentions miscarriage/still birth.

I delivered my baby at the start of this week. It is recorded as a miscarriage as the pregnancy was under 24 weeks.

I was induced/given termination meds to start labour. I started bleeding about 5 hours before the birth when my waters broke and it steadily got heavier until the birth. I was passing clots before birth.

After birth I was passing big clots, it got heavier and heavier, every time I moved or my midwife pushed my stomach blood poured out of me. Midwife manually removed a bunch of clots but the bleeding continued until I had a seizure and passed out while blood poured out, and I was sick.

My blood pressure bottomed out and my HR was about 190 apparently. I was whipped away to another ward for one to one monitoring on fluids and various drugs to stop the bleeding.

I bled out approx 1.5-2L. They were not able to record it all as most went down the toliet or all over the floor.

After 12 hours my stats etc were all stable and I was allowed to say goodbye to my baby and get home.

I am aware its going to take me some time to physically and mentally recovery from this but I wanted to see if there was anyone who could share their stories of hemorrhaging pre/post birth so I have someone to talk to about it all?

I am pretty much on bedrest. Very shaky and dizzy when I stand up no matter how slow I go, and any type of walking requires support and then a half hour nap afterwards. My bleeding had stopped yesterday but today if I move too much it starts up a little again. I also today have developed a throbbing headache that won't shift despite the strong painkillers I am on (had a back labour so my spine is very sore atm)

I am making sure to drink loads and try eat as healthy as I can (soups etc) Iron tablets from GP are arriving today (hospital error discharging me without them)

Anything else I could try? I want back on my feet so I can arrange my babies funeral etc, I need back on my feet for my eldest children.

I think you need to speak to your GP asap. Did you not have a blood transfusion? At the very least you need repeat blood tests as the results after 48 hours are often much worse than immediately after a haemorrhage.
I am so sorry for your loss. What a horrific experience. I hope you have practical and emotional support around you.

I didn't get a transfusion as the hospital said my levels were OK / rising on their own. I had bloods taken right after I collapsed and then maybe 6 hours or so later. They took more to check before I left and I was told they'd be in contact if needed.

My GP and local midwife contacted me yesterday and said I needed the iron tablets.

You've been through / going through a horrific trauma. Get onto your GP and midwife. They should be following you up

They have, both on the phone yesterday.

I opted out of the midwife doing the usual home visits as it felt too raw.

I just wondered if my symptoms were normal for a big blood loss. The hospital did say I'd be tired and a bit shaky but failed to really explain what to expect (and I wasnt in much state to question)

Thank you for the replies 💐

Do they know you are still bleeding? I would not be happy with that advice. Have you told them about the headache and dizziness?
Back in my day (and I accept that I am ancient) we always took repeat bloods 48 hours after a PPH because of a physiological process called haemodilution. You can replace fluid by drinking plenty, but your Hb level could be lower than 6 and 12 hours post bleed.

You really do need the midwife to come and check you over.

I was still bleeding when I left the hospital, and was told as long as it doesn't get heavier not to worry. It had stopped but is now on/off yet still no heavier than it was when I left hospital..

GP aware of the dizziness etc. Headache started today.

I will give them a call.

For the headache I've to take Ibruprofen on top of the painkillers I have. Call them again if it's still there tomorrow or if the bleeding gets heavier. Until then rest and let the iron tablets get into my system.

When I haemorrhaged during a miscarriage I was put on a drip. It wasn't bloods, it was fluids. I was in hospital for 5 days after that. They didn't left me go till I had stopped bleeding!

Iron can cause constipation. I hope you've been prescribing something to counteract this

First of all I am so sorry about your baby ❤️ what a horrible thing to have to experience.

I haemorrhaged during the birth of my first child, was rushed to theatre and apparently lost 2L blood. They were extremely hesitant to give me a blood transfusion and in the end I didn't get one as like you my levels were rising. I felt like absolute shit and was white as a ghost for weeks but just assumed it was normal postpartum. Have since learned that I probably should have had a blood transfusion or at least an iron transfusion.

Please reach out to someone (GP/Hospital?) and at the very least you need something like 12 weeks of iron tablets. Also get some lactulose as the iron tablets completely constipate you!

I was put on "quick flow" fluids which to be fair did have me back sitting up and "with it" again in a few hours.

Good point about the iron as I haven't been for a movement since the birth so may already be backed up a bit. I had a ridiculous clear out before birth though.

My bleeding goes from red blood on a slow flow like I had leaving the hospital, to brown discharge then back to red.

Really sorry to hear about all your stories. It really is a awful experience.

I’m so sorry OP. What an awful thing to go through.

I haemorrhaged after giving birth and they read the numbers wrong so didn’t give me a transfusion. I felt the way you describe for weeks, it was awful. But assumed it was just how one feels after giving birth. A few months later they were doing a random case review and my case was selected. I was called back into hospital for a formal apology and they admitted that my low iron levels probably contributed to my severe PND and inability to establish breastfeeding. Please do go and get your levels checked and if the iron tablets don’t work rapidly, insist on an iron transfusion at the very least.

I’m so so sorry for your loss.

I had two haemorrhages, first was was about 2L and my levels were fine without intervention, took about 2-3 weeks to feel more like myself.

Second was internal bleeding and required transfusion, felt lots better after transfusion.

definitely go back to your GP if you continue to feel awful, in the interim, are you on iron tablets? Take some over the counter ones if you’re not already on multivitamins, take it with orange juice to help with absorption

Sorry I didn’t read properly, saw you’re already on iron tablets, hope they’ll kick in soon

Very different situation but I lost an estimated 2l likely more, I had a ferritin of four and four transfusions.

I'm amazed you didn't t have a transfusion.

Just sleep, eat and rest.

Eat good, healthy meals to nourish your body.

If you're taking iron tablets, take them before breakfast with a glass of orange juice to help with absorption.

Thank you all for your kind words.

I do think I'll give it until tomorrow afternoon and if my head is still hurting and/or my heart feels like it's going to come out my chest just by walking I am going to contact the ward I was on and insist on being seen.

I just feel horrible as soon as I move.