Labour fears....?

Question

I had a PPH after the birth of my daughter 16 years ago and have just found out that I am 7 weeks pregnant - after the birth things went really bad and I had to get 8 units of blood, 2 of plasma and 2 of platelets - I took a reaction to the platelets and ended up swelling to about 3 times my normal size and i also was comatosed in the theatre for a short while and i wasnt allowed to hold my baby for 2 days (which upset me more than being unwell) - i had a 50/50 chance of not coming out of it at all - and all this because the midwife flatly refused to write risk of PPH on my file - my mother, grandmother and sister all PPH'd with all their children - my mother works in gynae and the doctors who tended me from there have all said that i have a greater than 80% chance of it happening again (with my family history) if i go thru "normal" labour - i personally couldnt go through labour like that again and would insist on a section - can i make the doctors give me a section??

PPH stands for post-partum haemorrhage

Can I just add that the medical community does use the abbreviation PPH........

Answer 1

Firstly I think its absolutely fine to use abbreaviations in your questions, if people do not know what they mean maybe they should not be attempting to answer the question.
The question about can you make the Doctors give you a C. Section is easy to answer. All operations other than some plastics (some are debatable) are performed on clinical need and not because someone wants to have one. In some hospitals where women request a C. Section for no clinical need they are offered one but are expected to pay as they cost more than a normal delivery. You cannot make a Doctor perform an operation he or she does not want to do. However your clinical need is such that a C. Section is fairly strongly indicated and a seciond opinion in the unlikely event you were refused should be sought. As you say the Doctors who tended you have told you that you have a > 80% chance of this happening so Im sure one of those would be happy to see you. They are all obviously experienced if they are still working in the hospital where you had your daughter 16 years ago. Don't forget that a C. Section carries its own risks and that can include a PPH.

Answer 2

my wife had a pph with her last pregnancy and this time round she is getting a section, we are due a baby boy in 3wks, I would say stick to your guns and insist on a c-section just be persistant and explain why you wish to have one. If your really concerned and anxious talk to your gp and midwife and see if they contact the hospital on your behalf about you having a c-section. good luck

Answer 3

I really dont see why not, what you went through last time was horrible and no one should go through that. I would talk to the GP and midwife ASAP about what happened the last time you had a baby. There are good grounds to stand on for having a c-section. Good luck and I really hope you dont have to go through all that again. Also good luck with the pregnancy and baby. Congrats.

Answer 4

I also had a PPH with my first, I think they will offer you a drip during labour to make sure it doesn't happen again.
If you really want a c-section though they will give you one if you persist enough.

Answer 5

What is PPH? Why do people insist on using initials not used by the medical community. You did not have an allergic reaction to the platelets. It was to the media they were in or factors in the plasma in which they rested.

Answer 6

Sounds as though you have a very good case for an elective c-section, if you get a sympathetic consultant I am sure they will either allay your fears or simply agree with you that a section is best.
Good Luck!

Answer 7

yes i think you can