[Hesperia]

This is what it might look like!
http://picasaweb.google.com/crunchym...oss21708251PM#

The photos are a little confusing since they aren't titled, but the first 7 photos are 2 cups, and the following (when you see 3 chucks) is 4 cups.

Hope someone finds this helpful if they aren't up to testing it themselves.

 

[redeyedvireo]

That's awesome!
Also, I lost almost no blood when my son was born, but based on those pictures, I'm pretty sure I've lost two cups of blood in an hour during my monthly cycle at least twice in my life. Scary.

 

[mama in the forest]

The thing about blood loss though, is that it is just as important to gauge how you are feeling. Depending on each woman's unique physical circumstances, she may be able to handle more (or less) blood loss.

I have lost a great deal more blood than this with each birth, but I do fine with it.

 

[Hesperia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama in the forest The thing about blood loss though, is that it is just as important to gauge how you are feeling. Depending on each woman's unique physical circumstances, she may be able to handle more (or less) blood loss. I have lost a great deal more blood than this with each birth, but I do fine with it.

Thank you for that.

 

[shellnurse]

That is fantastic!!! Thanks so much!

 

[AugustLia23]

This is one thing that I find so hard to gauge, especially in waterbirths.

 

[Hesperia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AugustLia23 This is one thing that I find so hard to gauge, especially in waterbirths.

Exactly, I still think it is hard to gauge even with a visual (or when someone you love is emotionally involved). My DH and I have looked at those images and talked about 'what it might look like', but to be more focused on what I look like. Like Mama in the forest said, she really brought that to light for us. Thank you.

So, in the case of a water birth, you'll know ahead of time to me more focused inward or on how the birthing mother is feeling. I think when you know that it is harder to gauge you'll be on your toes more about how well you are....ykwim? I'd also suggest doing the same blood loss test with 2 and 4 cups of red fluid in your birthing pool, in different lights (ie daylight, artificial light and leave it up 'til is it dark and use a flashlight). Specially if this is something you are concerned about and feel unprepared.

 

[sarahwpen]

wow! I have never actually tested it before. I always judged by what i thought i felt like more than anything. But that really looks small to me! seeing 2 cups like that makes me think i have probably lost a lot more than that with 2 of my births. even the pics with 4 cups looks about like what i probably lost just immediately after the birth, and then the 2 cups was probably what i lost each day after for the next 2 days. No wonder i have been anemic ever since my first kid!

 

[fresh_veggie]

Interesting. Looks like my period since I got my paragard, lol.

 

[fyrebloom]

I'm getting an error message.

I know I lost a TON of blood with my son... thank you pitocin, cord traction and manual extraction

:. I lost hardly any with my twin c-section. I barely needed pads after! I loose a ton during my periods too so I think I'm able to handle quite alot of loss.

ETA: OK it's working now. What a visual! Is that fun with food coloring? I probably lost well more then 4 cups with DS and less then a cup or two with my twins. It was like a tidal wave of blood with DS, many many chuks pads and it was like a pool of blood. Pitocin is evil evil stuff.

 

[brendaziz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fyrebloom I'm getting an error message. I know I lost a TON of blood with my son... thank you pitocin, cord traction and manual extraction :. I lost hardly any with my twin c-section. I barely needed pads after! I loose a ton during my periods too so I think I'm able to handle quite alot of loss. ETA: OK it's working now. What a visual! Is that fun with food coloring? I probably lost well more then 4 cups with DS and less then a cup or two with my twins. It was like a tidal wave of blood with DS, many many chuks pads and it was like a pool of blood. Pitocin is evil evil stuff.

Ugh- this is the one huge thing that bugs me about most birth interventions. Causing a problem and then fixing it is NOT a reason to toot your own horn! My best friend thinks that all doctors are Godsends and is sure she would've died from her blood loss had she had not the amazing docs to fix everything. I don't think the thought ever crossed her mind that they might've been the problem to begin with

I'm having a hospital birth this time around but really starting to dread hte idea.....

 

[mellowyellowmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendaziz Ugh- this is the one huge thing that bugs me about most birth interventions. Causing a problem and then fixing it is NOT a reason to toot your own horn! My best friend thinks that all doctors are Godsends and is sure she would've died from her blood loss had she had not the amazing docs to fix everything. I don't think the thought ever crossed her mind that they might've been the problem to begin with I'm having a hospital birth this time around but really starting to dread hte idea.....

I started bleeding out after my VBA2C...after being stiched and everything. It was b/c a piece of my placenta had broken off and was inside...can we say manual traction and not letting me birth my placenta when it was ready?! That wouldn't have happened at home...

 

[Talula Fairie]

Interesting about how the mother is feeling. When I had #2 the hospital was freaking out about my blood loss, gave me pit on full blast followed by what I think was cytotec suppositories. I didn't *feel* bad though. I probably looked pretty pale to them but I *am* pale already so...I denno.

 

[Hesperia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie Interesting about how the mother is feeling. When I had #2 the hospital was freaking out about my blood loss, gave me pit on full blast followed by what I think was cytotec suppositories. I didn't *feel* bad though. I probably looked pretty pale to them but I *am* pale already so...I denno.

Very interesting!

 

[notjustmamie]

Wow, that's a lot less than I was thinking! I know when I had DD the midwife estimated I lost about 300 ccs (about 1¼ cups), and it looked like about that much (the 3-cup photos) to me. Spacial estimation was never my strong suit.

 

[babykaoss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by notjustmamie Spacial estimation was never my strong suit.

Mine either. Thanks for this post, OP!

 

[EmmaWoodhouse]

Wow! Thinking back to my last UC, the four cup one was about right AFTER I soaked through a couple towels on the bed. I sure felt terrible after that and went into shock.
But seeing that, I also think that taking something to help restore the lost blood would be good for any birthing mom even if its just a cup of OJ.

 

[cfiddlinmama]

Another thing to remember when gauging blood loss is that there will be amniotic fluid mixed in right after the birth. It can make it look like quite a bit more blood than there is. One thing I've seen midwives do is shortly after the baby is out (followed by the gush of amniotic fluid and some blood) to put a clean chux under the mom. That way you can get a more accurate idea of how much blood loss there is.

Those pictures are great, just wanted to throw that out there! HTH.

 

[Hesperia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfiddlinmama Another thing to remember when gauging blood loss is that there will be amniotic fluid mixed in right after the birth. It can make it look like quite a bit more blood than there is. One thing I've seen midwives do is shortly after the baby is out (followed by the gush of amniotic fluid and some blood) to put a clean chux under the mom. That way you can get a more accurate idea of how much blood loss there is. Those pictures are great, just wanted to throw that out there! HTH.

Thank you for that!
I love how much wisdom is brought to this forum by all of you!

 

[dantesmama]

Interesting, thanks! I definitely lost more than 2 cups of blood after my UC, although it was hard to gauge because my water broke in the exact same spot where I gave birth. I started to feel very lightheaded and needed to lie down. I'm naturally a heavy bleeder and that's probably my biggest fear about UCing.