[Mataji]

Hi everyone, I'm very thankful for any advice and info from you experienced ladies. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><br><br>
I'm happily pregnant again, and hope to have a natural homebirth. My first baby was born at home in the water. We could not afford a midwife or prenatal care, but a friend who had homebirthed 7 children helped for free. My placenta did not come out after 3 hours of taking angelica, squating, breastfeeding, and walking, so I went to the hospital. Before the doctor pulled it out while I painfully pushed, I emptied my bladder for what seemed like the neverending pee (over 1 min). The whole placenta was out 4 hours after the birth, and no further complication occurred.<br><br>
I am not completely sure what caused this. I am very ashamed to admit that I had an abortion that required a d&c over 10 years ago, when I was 17, because I was going to keep the baby, but gave into extreme parent pressure to abort in the 3rd month. One year later I had another abortion very early. I have been so ashamed of this that I lied to myself for years pretending it never happened, and even told the doctor that I had never had any surgeries. My dh is helping me release these repressed emotions, and I am always praying for forgiveness for my sinful past.<br><br>
Do you think this caused the placenta to be retained...is this placenta accreta? Or was it the full bladder? Would you recommend getting an ultra sound? Are there any nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic remedies that can prevent retained placenta? Should I have a midwife with me this time?<br><br>
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[mysticmomma]

First of all, <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">. Be gentle with yourself. You are living a different life now, and the universe will forgive you once you have forgiven yourself. No matter how the loss occurred, it is still a loss. Allow yourself to grieve that baby. Shame doesn't do anyone any good. Let it go, and it will let you go. I will share a story at the bottom if you care to read.<br><br>
This doesnt' sound like placenta accretta. Normally those are very medically oriented requiring surgery and blood transfusions. It honestly sounds to me like a placenta that wasn't ready to come out. Especially since there were no further complications for you. A full bladder does indeed interfere with the delivery of your placenta. It can get stuck and hide behind the bladder. If the mother is fine, the placenta should be given as much time as it needs to come, just like baby. If your intuition says "INTERVENE!" then obviously do so. I'm not sure why you transferred. Pressure/nerves of your attendants or your own inner voice. Also, pieces of placenta left behind are more dangerous than the whole placenta waiting to shear itself off of the uterus. Uterine massage (yes, it hurts), I have heard is also very good for getting the placenta going. Watch for signs that your placenta has separated- the easiest is to watch the umbilical cord for lengthening and a little gush of blood indicating that it has separated and dropped into the lower area of the uterus. Then a few pushes and it should be gone.<br><br>
Abnormal development of the placenta in subsequent pregnancies is a risk of first trimester abortions, so perhaps your intuition is on to something. I think recurrence is pretty darn rare though. I'm not sure I'd be worried in later pregnancies, especially since you didn't seem to have any REAL issues. Here are a few stats.<br><br>
Increase during subsequent pregnancies. Acta/Obstetrics and Gynecology Scandinavia 1979; 58:485-90<br><br>
A condition producing extremely severe, life-threatening bleeding in future pregnancies. 600% increased risk following an abortion. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1981; 141:769-72<br><br>
My letting go story:<br><br>
My first miscarriage was devastating. I was certain it was because of an abortion I had had in the past. I found out just 2 weeks before my wedding, and the saddness didn't seem to end. 6 months later, I was STILL lactating. I mean, leaking out the ying yang at a crying baby in the grocery store lactating, not a little expressable colostrum. My husband and I took a trip to the beach. We got engaged here. I took the ultrasound picture of our baby, a baby blanket and a "certificate of life" I had made up, and burned them on the beach after talking to my baby. The very next day, I had no milk. Nothing. No pain with drying up. Just gone.

 

[Jane]

If the placenta was able to separate, with a little encouragement, it is unlikely to have been related to your abortion. If a placenta is abnormally adhered to a scarred area, usually another d&c is done after an exploration of the uterus. There are lots of women with a history of d&c, for abortion, excess bleeding after miscarriage, retained placental fragments, etc, so there's lots of evidence that it seldom causes a problem.<br><br>
Sometimes it helps to let yourself explore the other life you might have had, if you hadn't made the choice to end your pregnancies.

 

[CMcC]

I agree with the other ladies, don't think one caused the other.<br><br>
If you are interested, here is a Christian group that helps women and men heal after abortion. <a href="http://www.saveone.org/postabortion.htm" target="_blank">http://www.saveone.org/postabortion.htm</a>

 

[Mataji]

Thank you for your responses. I feel much better about this next birth, knowing it's not accreta or any serious problem. I wonder if it would have come out on it's own if I had waited longer, as I hadn't had any contractions.<br><br>
Thanks so much for the post-abortion support. It was slightly afraid of being condemed, so thanks for your understanding. I had locked it all up inside with denial until my first was born. Once I realized how amazing birth and children are, and the greatness of motherhood, as well as studying what is right before God, I finally told my husband who has been helping me release.<br><br>
Thanks for that website, I am so thankful for how much Christians reach out to help. God is so inspiring!<br><br>
Wishing many blessings for all of you and thanks again!