Possibe retained piece of membranes ~ EEK! Need quick info! UPDATE #7

[dianna11]

(crossposted to Birth Professionals, I need info QUICK!!)

Upon inspection of the placenta and membranes, my midwife thought there may be a tiny piece of the membranes that hadn't come out yet, but wasn't sure.

My bleeding started to ease up about 3 days PP, but it has now (day 5 postpartum) gotten heavier and my uterus is still the same size as it was 2 days ago. Thee midwives just left from the home visit and are looking into getting me to an ultrasound this afternoon to check things out, and I'm a little worried.

I have been off my feet completely for all 5 days, just up to use the bathroom and take baths, my DS is breastfed and nurses constantly. I'm even drinking RRLT for good measure. The placenta came out on it's own, no pulling on the cord.

What do they do if they find something?

[New_Natural_Mom]

I was told if they find something a doctor will just go in vaginally and remove it.

[onlyboys]

It may come out on its own, or you may need a D & C. You need to watch for excessive bleeding that would indicate a problem. For me, the retained part came out after about 2 weeks, completely on its own.

[dianna11]

D&C :

How will that effect breastfeeding?

The bleeding does seem much heavier, it was almost clear n day 3, and now we're back to dark red kind of mucous blood (ew, sorry)

[mytwogirls]

Hi mama...please go get the D & C should you need one. I had retained placenta with both pregnancies (they had to manually extract the placenta) and after the second delivery and fourth D & C I was diagnosed with placenta accreta and had to have a vaginal hysterectomy. My point is...do not take this lightly. I went to my OB when I had the bleeding and through a transvaginal ultrasound they found the teeny, tiny piece of placenta and was able to remove it after baby number one. It was after my second baby the entire placenta from that delivery just did not want to come out, thus resulting in the hysterectomy when my daughter was four months old (and we were trying for baby number 3!) A D & C will NOT affect you breast feeding. Tell your doc before the procedure you are breast feeding and they will give you the correct drugs to put you to sleep so it will not affect you or your baby. I never had to pump or dump, I was able to feed my baby right away. I hope everything turns out ok with you! Good luck mama. If you have any more questions, PM because I have become an "expert" on retained placenta because of all that I have been through.

[mytwogirls]

Oh one more thing...I also quit bleeding and still had retained products of conception inside. I don't mean to scare you, not my intention, I just want you be aware you still can have retained products, even though everything seems fine.

[dianna11]

I just had the ultrasound and from what I understand there isn't any placenta in there (which we were rather sure about to begin with), there may be small pieces of membranes floating about, but it appears that there are blood clots still floating about in my uterus that don't seem to want to come out right yet.

My mw set up an appointment with a doctor for me to see first thing tomorrow morning, and she was mentioning that they will likely get me to take something (Misoprostol? sp?) that will get me to contract and pass the clots, and it is unlikely that we are looking at a D&C.

So... this drug... any ideas what that is or any info?

[Lynnette]

Probably methergine. I had the same thing happen and the methergine caused some powerful contractions and it all came out. Had some retained membranes another time and just waited it out and it passed just fine. Had more pain than you are experiencing with that one. Bleeding comes and goes and I would not expect it to be done on day 3, so that is less concerning to me to have it increase.

[dianna11]

Originally Posted by Lynnette

Probably methergine. I had the same thing happen and the methergine caused some powerful contractions and it all came out. Had some retained membranes another time and just waited it out and it passed just fine. Had more pain than you are experiencing with that one. Bleeding comes and goes and I would not expect it to be done on day 3, so that is less concerning to me to have it increase.

I'm pretty sure it was miso...something (I thought about miso soup). I think they are concerned because the bleeding is increasing and my uterus isn't shrinking , of course finding the "fruit sized blood clots" in the ultrasound today.

[onlyboys]

Yeah, it's misoprostol. Otherwise known as cytotec. I do think though that this would be one of the uses I am comfy with cytotec being used for. Essentially, it makes your uterus contract and softens your cervix (again!) so that the retained membranes can come out. Yes, they are concerned because the bleeding is not stopping and is collecting in your uterus. The miso will probably work, though, and might help you avoid a D & C.

According to Hales, misoprostol is an L3 meaning that it is "moderately safe." I wouldn't worry too much about BFing and taking miso.

I know this must be scary for you. Watch yourself closely for fever, intense pain and excessive bleeding.