Questions regarding retained placenta and subsequent births

[BekZ]

Hello,

My last birth resulted in a retained placenta and a full d and c procedure post birth.

Is my next birth considered high risk? What is the likelyhood of this happening again?

Is there anything that can be done to prevent it? Becasue DD came so quickly the midwife forgot to get the injection to help release the placenta. Maybe this is why it happened.

Also the midwife said that the cord was extremely short, so much so that when cut it retreated back inside me, is this related to the retained placenta?

I am considering my options with birthing my next baby and a midwife led centre is high on the list but if I have a retained placenta again I am afraid that too much could go wrong.

[Trillian]

I had one with my 3rd birth, but I had a syncto induction and I think that the retained placenta had something to do with that. You are classed as slightly higher risk of having another one once you've had one, but it really isn't a big thing to worry about - much ado about nothing if you ask me. I doubt that you not having the injection after the birth was the cause of it happening - sometimes it does just happen - but I wouldn't bet on it as a sureity kwim? I was told 1 in 25 births will result in a retained placenta, but I'm not sure of the accuracy of those stats. If you put baby to the breast immediately after the birth without any contact to the baby from anyone else, you can lower the incidence of it happening because you get your body's natural pictocinon's happening once baby is at the breast and this helps with the release of the placenta, as does leaving the cord to pulsate and having a physiological third stage (where there is no injection given), which was my intention for Alister's birth only the cord was around his neck and needed to be cut to get him out. I didn't have a retained placenta at all though.

[mbear]

I had a retained placenta with DD#1. It was an awful labour and i was petrified of going thru it again with pregnancy #2 ( i was later told, docs even discussed a hysterectomy for me when in theatre......)...anyway none of my last two pregnancies were considered high risk and the third stage of labour was quick and successful.
YOu should discuss your fears and concerns with docs, midwives etc once you become pregnant. I know the fear of having another retained placenta was plastered all over my hospital notes - the medical staff were certainly aware of my history when i was in labour with DD#2.........

[~Raven~]

I had a quick and uncomplicated labour with my second and had a retained placenta and PPH.
It could be related to the cord in your case but in mine the cord was very long (around the neck 4 times plus a knot in it with plenty left over).
I did request a natural third stage but due to the bleeding was given the injection to help remove the placenta and stop it but it didn't so I needed a manual removal too.

The next birth was similar in that it was quick and uncomplicated and we discussed beforehand with the OB as part of my birth place and agreed to have the injection. The placenta came away almost immediately.

I am classed as a higher risk due to the retained placenta and therefore wasn't able to have my third or this bub in the birth centre. Bit of a shame really, especially when my OB told me he attends there all the time for MROP's They just won't book you in if there has been a complication before but they can deal with them if they have to

[BekZ]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Even though I am not pregnant yet I will be discussing this with my doctor

[muminoz]

I had an easy pregnancy with an induced labour for my 1st. Unfortunately I retained my placenta even after having 2 injections and subsequently haemorrhaged. My placenta was manually removed in the labour suite and although I had been given IV antibiotics, I still got a nasty infection.
4 years later, here I am pregnant again. I have thought about the possibility of retaining again but I haven't let it overshadow everything else. Afterall, if it happens there's very little I can do about it. I've just let the midwives know that's it's happened previously. Don't let yourself get hung up on it. There are some things in life we have no control over.
Good luck!

[me83]

BekZ - are you able to discuss going through the midwife program for checkups but giving birth in the normal hospital or is that not an option? That is what happened to me because I was really overdue. Due to complications that occured during labour I would want to be at the main hospital for the next labour in case I need intervention, but still want to go through the midwife program and not see a doctor if there is nothing wrong. I was told that I am able to do this. I hope it works out for you.