C-section after retained placenta

[Babyclark20]

I wondered if anyone had experience of having an elective C-section following a retained placenta in a previous pregnancy? I've had 2 retained placentas and they didn't remove them completely both times so lots of issues afterwards...I was pretty definite about having C-section this time but at appointment today I was being persuaded to go for natural birth again...Am only 16 weeks so lots of time to ponder but any advice/wisdom welcome.

Did they give reasons for retained placenta? I was told you were unlikely to have more than one but two out of three were retained they we the ones where I had the drip to speed things along? Apparently that can be a "side effect"

That's interesting. No reasons were given to me. I've had 2 out of 3 aswell and was told once you've had it, more likely in future. With the first birth, the placenta came away without issue. All 3 were straightforward births without induction or interventions.

I had a c section after retained placenta because baby #2 was breech. They did explore natural birth but I was clear I didn't want to risk it with the history. I'm glad I didn't as in on the day I hemorraged as the placenta was difficult to remove and also it turned out there was a true knot in the umbilical cord so if I had tried to push it could have ended really badly. As it was everything was fine, the recovery a lot harder than vaginal birth but nothing insurmountable.

I had retained placenta in my first pregnancy - not noticed, until i collapsed with a secondary haemorrhage and ecoli blood poisoning 3 weeks post partum.

I was understandably keen not to do that again but although i was automatically on consultant-led care, i found the consultant very resistant to the idea of a csection for dd2, as “there is no reason to suppose it will happen again.” Luckily, at my 36 week apt it was found that the baby was measuring very big and they told me they were very sorry but i would have to have a CS (whilst i tried not to actually cheer).

Not sure this helps, but i did get the feeling that if i had absolutely insisted, they would have given in, but i was a pushover and initially went along with their advice although i was unhappy about it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sounds like your C-sections were meant to be so I guess I'll see how the rest of the pregnancy progresses and see if any other reasons present themselves. My gut feeling is c-section would remove some of the anxiety I have due to previous experiences. I'm also 40 this time so thinking I may be induced at 40 weeks otherwise which I don't fancy...Thanks 😊