Trauma in birth

[Kayleyanniex]

Hey girls, I’ve just came on here for some support/advice. I gave birth around 3 weeks ago and I suffered a very bad hemorrhage from a retained palcenta. I lost around 2 litres of blood. I’m doing very good now and recovering. I am just wondering has anybody else had a blood loss during child birth? Thank you.

Oh that’s quite a lot. Apparently I lost 900ml but via csection. I don’t know how accurate that amount is though because I think the doctor estimated. I was ok after the first 4 days. I feinted in the shower on day 2 and put it down to the csection at the time and not a lower blood level. Then I was also quite dizzy when walking the first 3/4 days - walking to the neonatal unit. After that though I was fine. That was 17 months ago, now in early pregnancy for a second.

Did you have to have a transfusion? How are you doing now?

Yes lost roughly 1.8lts with my first. Did you have a transfusion? I didn't, but was on the cusp and monitored closely by the consultant for 24 hours. Have you been given iron tablets? I will warn that, compared with my second, it took me a lot longer to get back to normal as my iron levels were depleted for many months. Be kind to yourself.

@Blue2020 hi thanks for the reply, sorry to hear that, I hope that your second birth goes a lot smoother for you! It’s not horrible feeling when you first try to walk around! Yes I had two blood transfusions. If my palcenta didn’t get stuck then it wouldn’t of happened 🙁 x

@FluffMagnet hi thanks for the reply, sorry to hear that, can I ask how you lost the blood? That’s large amount of blood too. I hope you recovered well. Yes I had two blood transfusions and have been given iron tablets for 3 months. I’m still in disbelief that happened to me so it’s nice to talk to people who have similar experiences xx

Hi OP,

No that didn't happen to me- sounds awful. I hope you're ok and enjoying your bub? Sometimes that's hard.

All the best

Mine was during a CS - the surgeons knew the cut across the uterus would cause a bleed before it happened because of the way the blood vessels had grown apparently (not sure if that meant they had to go in via the placenta, but it was at the front so maybe?). No one told me though, so from my perspective all I could see was blood drenched doctors and anaesthetists ramming on more and more fluid whilst a midwife patted my hand and told me everything was fiiiiiiiiine and I could just go to sleep if I liked. I did NOT like to sleep, as I knew the sleepy feeling was because something was very wrong. I've never more more panicked in my life and sadly for the midwife still hold a grudge against her for my fear being "ignored" even though with the benefit of hindsight I know she was just trying to keep me calm and sadly had the exact opposite effect because I felt ignored and fobbed off in my time of need. I'm so sorry you went through this - I find it hard to explain what it feels like to lose so much blood, but it isn't the calm, slowly dozing off shown on TV (Daddy Issues set me off crying the other night!).

@FluffMagnet oh gosh that sounds awful! Yes it’s definitely not like in the films. I didn’t realise I was bleeding out at first because they kept it low key and I was slightly out of it. I didn’t realise how bad it was until I lifted my legs up on the operating table I saw the blood. I felt very hot and I was sweating and I felt faint. I’m sorry you went through this too. I can understand why you feel annoyed with the midwife’s not telling exactly what was happening. In my case I‘m sort of glad at the time because if I knew in the moment how bad it was I would have gone into panic mood. I was really scared too I thought I was going to die. My boyfriend and my baby was in the room too and I couldn’t even look at the them because I didn’t think I was going to see them again. It’s really helpful talking to people who have gone through similar experiences because most people don’t understand. ❤️

So sorry to hear you had such a scary experience. I lost 1.5lts during labour 6 months ago. I suffered a big tear and then had episiotomy during ventouse delivery. Baby was in distress and had got stuck so the doctor needed to get her out quick hence the tear. Thankfully baby was absolutely fine ❤I'd had epidural so only realised I was bleeding lots when other midwives rushed into the room to help and then I started struggling to stay awake. Been on iron since then and my levels are nearly back to normal now 😊 Hope you continue feeling better and better!

That must have been really scary. I am right there with you, I gave birth in November and had an PPH, I lost an estimated 3.5 - 4 litres of blood. I actually ended up in an coma for 36 hours and needing 5 blood transfusions. Please take it easy with yourself and keep in touch with doctors if you're not feeling well. It took me a long time t- about 6-7 weeks to stop feeling exhausted and woozy as my blood levels were regulating themselves and have been on iron supplements since. Also, please please if you are struggling with birth trauma speak to somebody! Birth trauma is so real and so many women ignore it because "so many women give birth and are fine" but every birth is different and affects you differently. I am actually 9 weeks pregnant again now and I have been speaking to somebody as I am terrified to have another baby! Glad you have recovered well :)

Yes I lost about 2 litres but it was during an emergency c section with my first. I did experience birth trauma from the overall experience, not just the haemorrhage. It's completely normal to feel a bit shell shocked or numb for a while. Just go easy on yourself and if you feel like you need extra support definitely reach out to your GP or health visitor. It's still very fresh for you so try and be kind to yourself, it does get easier. My second birth I didn't haemorrhage and fingers crossed this one I won't either, so it doesn't mean it will happen again.