Giving birth again after previous PPH

[pinkmarshmalloww]

Has anyone given birth again after a PPH? I'm only 12 weeks and I'm literally terrified I'm going to die giving birth after my previous traumatic experience. How was your experiences giving birth again after?
I had an extremely fast natural birth 5cm to birth in 20 minutes.
Then seconds after my son was born they hit the alarms 🥺

Would you consider a planned c section given your fast delivery?

I'm a midwife. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience last time. Do they know the cause of the pph? I'd advise to discuss what will be done this time to prevent. Where I am we would recommend an oxytocin infusion straight after delivery.

Have a talk to your consultant. They will be able tk talk through risks and go through options in a way mumsnet really cant

I was told a c section was more risky for a second pph (but probably would have liked the control that would have given me tbh.

I ended up really traumatised by my pph and decided we wouldn't have more children, so completely get the "fear."

It’s hard but please be reassured…they will put a canula in before active labour so if it happens they can quickly administer the drugs. I was told induction and epidurals are a factor so that could be something to consider…chat to your midwife but the likelihood is it will be fine. I was with my second…sending positivity ❤️

Epidurals are definitely not a risk factor for PPH (doi: obs anaesthetist)

Completely understand your fears, I had a pph with my first delivery and the trauma stayed with me. Had two more vaginal deliveries after, much more straightforward and no repeat of the trauma of the first.

That’s what I was told by my consultant who led my care with my second child.

I had a big PPH with 1st baby, was petrified for number 2. They prepared me with a cannula but everything went smoothly and the birth was a MUCH more enjoyable experience.

It was actually quite healing and helped me to get over the trauma of the 1st birth experience.

I had a big PPH after a 50 hour labour. I had an elective section with my second and it was just bloody amazing. Would do again in an absolute heartbeat!!!

Thank you everyone. I don't believe I was told why my last PPH happened but maybe they'll have that in my birthing history saved somewhere?

This pregnancy is baby number 5 and my labours have gotten quicker with each pregnancy. Which a lot of people may think was a blessing but I found the contractions relentless with no breaks between and 3x more painful than my first 2 slower labours.

I also have the "fetal ejection reflex" I think it's called. This kicks in meaning I don't voluntary push. It's more a reflex I cannot control or even stop and my body takes over pushing the baby out extremely fast and within a few contractions.

I have a feeling these factors may have caused the PPH.

I have thought about asking for a c section but I hear the risks of PPH is higher. But I also feel more at ease knowing everything is there and ready to stop the bleeding and I'm open. I'll also be numb 😮‍💨
I don't tend to make 39 weeks though and these are done after then?
Plus my labours are so quick even if I was offered a section earlier if I go into labour. I won't make it in time for one. I feel have no option but to birth naturally.

I have an appointment with the consultant in a few weeks and I'll deffo be mentioning everything.
And to make things worse I was told my blood platelets are just slipping below normal. Normal being above 140 whilst mine were 138. Rechecking again in 4 weeks but that hasn't helped my anxiety at all.

Sorry for the essay. I feel it might help even getting it all out on here.

@bowiesmum I would be extremely grateful for further advise if you manage to read all this

Have you had a full birth debrief from first baby? It really helped knowing what had happened to me with my first birth. In the end I went for a ELC however that was also because I had horrific hyperemesis and I couldn’t labour

I had retained placenta and a PPH with my first. No issues at all with my two subsequent pregnancies.

Also (with my GP hat on) platelets would need to be much lower than that before you would be at a significantly increased risk of bleeding - there's quite a wide margin of safety there so platelets of 138 would not be a concern at all.

@AppropriateAdult glad to hear your further 2 pregnancies went ok. Yeah the nurse didn't seem concerned and said I was only just under what they wanted to see but she did say they want to retest in 4 weeks to have a look see what it's doing. I'm just an incredibly anxious person and probably due to past health trauma i just expect the worst.

A pregnancy I had before my last birth unfortunately ended up being an Ectopic that ruptured leaving me internally bleeding and rushed to surgery.

I also went through a cancer scare before this pregnancy that ended up being Thyroid Disease but thankfully cleared of cancer. I think since these things I just don't trust my body whatsoever and always think the worst is going to happen.

My partner is 💯 getting the snip after this one 😅 I thought I could manage the anxiety if I fell pregnant and felt really confident, but now I'm pregnant I really can't x

What intervention did you have during your pregnancy and labour prior to the PPH?

How much blood did you lose?

I’d suggest a birthing debrief with a specialist midwife and ask whether being consultant led is more appropriate for you and know their plans for your labour.

I had a PPH with my first delivery (EMCS), lost 3.2l. Was very worried about the same thing in delivery 2 (ELCS) however I think I only lost around 700ml and was told it was due to adhesions that I even bled that much. It’s not a given that it’ll happen again.