Just read the thread on likelihood of retained placenta happening 2nd time round & glad to see it's not common place.
I had a retained placenta with dd1 after a pretty serene water birth which put a huge blot on my whole birthing experience. I was left for almost 2.5hrs before a registrar came into the room to give me the 'All creatures great and small' treatment. I had the jab, gentle tummy massage, gentle cord pulling, the lot, but it would not budge. I was being geared up for theatre when the registra came in, had a few muffled angry words with the midwives (who were lovely throughout I have to say), rolled up his sleeves, said 'This might be a tad uncomfortable' and proceeded to have a rummage around and eventually expel my placenta.
OH MY GOD, the PAIN ! I had NO pain relief, no epidural, no spinal block, NOTHING. They had to literally pin me to the bed. It was excruciating & seemed to go on for an eternity. On showing me my placenta he said 'Well, there was no way that was coming out on it's own!'.
DH had gone downstairs to phone family about the arrival of dd1 so I was on my own with the medics and still a bit 'away with the fairies' after gas & air to ask too many questions.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience ? Some midwives at my post natal meetings said I should have made an official complaint as it was deemed barbaric in their eyes. I never got an explanation, only that they didn't have time for theatre as the placenta had to come out there & then