Homebirth and retained placenta

[clothmumma]

Hello. I have just got my BFP for baby #3. DS was a c/s, DD was a VBAC (hospital). With DD I failed to deliver the placenta after 4hrs (no drugs given until 3hrs PP) and opted to have the placenta manually removed.

My question is, what are the chances for another issue like this arising? I would love a HB this time, but my hubby is worried about complications, namely placenta issues, PPH etc.

Any insight would be much appreciated

[DahliaRW]

If the placenta is retained, they will transfer you for the medical options you would have in the hospital. As far as PPH, most midwives carry pitocin and other things to help stop the bleeding. But they will transfer you if the bleeding is excessive.

[clothmumma]

Is the chance of another retained placenta high? I just really dont like the thought of transfering after birth (nor do I like the idea of transfering before the birth)

I appreciate your reply

[babylightsagain]

My MW manually removed my placenta or pieces of it atleast. I am a bit blurry as to what happened. I do know that she made several swipes and was nervous about PPH. I ended up transfering because of the bleeding but it was because of a sulkus tear that needed stitches and not because of the placenta. She did give me lots of drugs like pitocin and the 'm' one that I can't remember. Looking back these were probably not necessary as the bleeding was from the tear and not from my uterus.

That is a good question if the uterus retains the placenta once is it more likely to occur again. I'll have to ask my MW about this at my next apppointment.

Did you try anything to get the placenta to deliver? Nursing, manual exterior, pitocin?

[clothmumma]

For 3 hours I just nursed (had no contractions, but they said that was ok), then I accepted the synto injection, but all it did was give me a hotflush, and they tried external massage and pulling, but I remember them saying it was still stuck pretty good. So at about the 4hr mark I was taken to theatre, where they tried the synto again, but still ended up reaching in and removing it.

[babylightsagain]

I'd ask your MW about it. Maybe there are other things that they could do. Herbs or homeopathics?

Wasn't that awful having them manually remove it?! Ugh!!!! I do not want anything going in this time. NO way. It was way worse having the 4 internal swipes than having the baby come out.

[clothmumma]

Oh yup, the manual removal was just horrid, I just stayed focused on my new baby girl.


I am meeting a middie next week, and will be asking lots of questions. She has worked with my doula (who was there for DD) quite a few times, so everything will come out in the open, including all the bits I forgot, lol

[blissful_maia]

The chance of having another retained placenta is about 10%, so it depends if that number is worth it to you! If your midwife carries drugs/IV supplies in case of a PPH, my personal choice would be to birth at home and transfer if needed. But it's exactly that, a personal choice!

A client of mine had had 3 (3!) retained placentas. Her first 2 were home births, and then the third was a hospital birth (due to the >50% chance of having another retained placenta). In her 4th pregnancy, she went to see a homeopath who recommended taking homeopathic sepia, 3 tablets of 200C, 3 times per day for a week, and then once a day for the remainder of her pregnancy. She also took nat mur tissue salts once a week. She was to take 1 dose of sepia hourly during labor (which for her was 1 dose! ) as well. This mama birthed her placenta easily in under 15 minutes!!!

Good luck making your decision!

[clothmumma]

I will be going and seeing the homeopath during this pregnancy. Thank you for that info.

10% is worth it for me