Passing clots during childbirth?

emmy_24 · 01-21-2010, 09:51 PM

At one of my births the Dr. did a vag exam and when she removed her fngers a blood clot (approx the size of a quarter) came with it. There was other blood as well. client was at 4cm. This along with a few other issues led to c-sec being called. All involved are happy with the c-sec, so there are no issues there. I was just curious about the clot as the Dr. seemed concerened and metioned placental abruption. Just something I have never seen before and isn't google-ing up. Anyone seen clots during labour before and what do they mean?

doulafava · 01-21-2010, 10:01 PM

The placenta can abrupt and not bleed frankly - like the blood might be trapped behind the placenta or baby and so has time to clot before coming out. I guess that would be the concern. Seems like they usually tolerate an awful lot of bleeding in the hospital though. I would be curious what the other issues were, because that seems pretty conservative, even for a section happy hospital. There can absolutely be devastating occult abruptions that don't bleed out and just bleed and clot behind the placenta. If there were some issues with the heart rate that is probably what they were thinking. They should have been able to tell after the section if this was the case.

emmy_24 · 01-21-2010, 10:08 PM

The other isues were non-reassuring hearttones (early decels, not a lot of activity in baby) and failure to progress (7hrs at 3-4cm) plus she was a vbac. I think the blood/clot was the final straw.

doulafava · 01-21-2010, 10:30 PM

Maybe they thought she was rupturing.

justyours · 01-22-2010, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doulafava

The placenta can abrupt and not bleed frankly - like the blood might be trapped behind the placenta or baby and so has time to clot before coming out. I guess that would be the concern.

This is the case with my abruption. We found mine by ultrasound at 29 1/2 weeks. I had minuscule bleeding. Seriously, it was like a pin prick on my toilet paper. Yet the clot that formed behind my placenta is bigger than my hand. So, I go twice a week, for one NST and one ultrasound with the perinatologist to monitor my placenta.

I would assume that the fhd's, in addition to the clots most likely alarmed the doctor that there could be a placental issue. With mom being a VBAC it does not surprise me that the doc would be hyper vigilant.

hippiemommy · 01-22-2010, 01:49 PM

Yeah, I had what the OB thought was a partial abruption with my second pregnancy. A number of clots came out when they broke my water. She suggested that we just keep monitoring the baby and make sure that we both looked good. I went on to have a vaginal birth

EveryonesYvonne · 01-22-2010, 02:02 PM

I was just reading a story in Spiritual Midwifery about blood clots. Turned out to be from the placenta that had partially covered the cervix, and therefore was coming undone as she dilated. I recall it ended in cesarean.