uterus infections

[jaspasmum]

hi everyone
i was just wondering if anyone else has had a uterus infection after giving birth. i had my son 5 weeks ago and was told after the delivery that i had ragged membranes. noone seemedtoo worried about it at the hospital so i didnt give it another thought. 2 weeks later i got severe tummy pains and my bleeding started to increase, the doctor gave me a 7 day course of antibiotics and sent me on my way. once i finished them i still felt off but put that down to looking after a newborn. well 2 1/2wks later i felt very sick and was spiking a temp of 38.9 degrees. i went to the hospitaland was told i still had retained products; along with tat i had also developed mastitis. i have just came out of the hospital (being in there for 5 days) and was not told until the 4th day that had i not come in any sooner i would have ended up in intensive care or worse yet not even made it at all. the infection had reached my blood which was close to developing septacemia. not only that, my breastmilk was riddled with it too.im better now but am just wondering whether anyone else has had 'ragged membranes' and what was done with them. were u offered a currette? eveyone i talk to can not understand why i wasnt given one in the 1st place, then none of this would have happened.
also has anyone had mastitis?
thanks eveyone

[veronica]

Hi Jasparsmum - I hope you are both well now? I haven't had either (thank goodness) but I knew someone who pushed for 4 hours then had to have a ceasarean. Initial breastfeeding made a mess of her nipples but she persevered through that and even mastitis to still be breastfeeding now. She also got an infection - I'm not sure what it was caused by exactly by I think she said they did not remove everything (during the ceasarian). Then she also ended up with PND. She was very unhappy with her care for a long time after and I can't help but wonder if it all must have contributed to the PND.

I can't believe they did not pick yours up sooner :(

It's a lot to go through especaially on top of looking after a new baby which is a wonderful but very time consuming stressful event! I hope all is well now, and if your need someone to talk to please feel free to message me or keep using the forum. I think it can really help to talk and also to try and get out and about a bit - might make you feel better. :)

[Astonsmum]

Hi!

I also had an infected uterus after giving birth and also developed mastitis. Niether of which were very pleasant, although mine was picked up within a week or so. I had to have my placenta manually removed after the birth (it was stubborn!) and this is what caused the infected utereus as it is hard to be sure everything has been removed. I also had a curette after the placenta was removed but still got an infection. I also had to have a scan 10 days after the birth to ensaure everything had been removed. All was cleared up after a course of antibiotics though. My mastitis was the result of not being able to breast feed at all so it had no where else to go! They say " dont touch them or stimulate them in anyway" but when you have a newborn who does not understand the concept it was hard. Everything for me cleared up rather quickly though.

I really dont understand why you werent offered a curette either. I hope everything has cleared up for you now though!

[Kassiasmum]

Hi jaspasmum,
I had a uterus infection as well. Mine was not picked up until I went to my GP for my 6 week check up. I had been back to the hospital at 6wks (before i went to my gp) because I had not stopped bleeding from the day i gave birth, they kindly informed me that you can get your periods 6 wks after birth, they did not seem to listen to me that I had not stopped bleeding, I was also passing clots. My GP sent me for a private scan and then rang the hospital to ensure taht they would see me and that she believed I had a retained placenta, I went back to the hospital only to be told again that you can get your periods. It was 7 weeks since I had had my baby, they would not even look at the scan that I had done, was told to book in for one at the hospital the following week and then come back when that was done. I decided to see a private obs who sent me for yet another scan, I had this done that day, was in hospital 2 days later having a curette? then ened up having to stay overnight due to a massive blood loss. Once it was all over, I recovered quite quickly. I was soooo angry at the hospital for what they had put me through, they should have picked this up and done the D&C when I first went in there. Hopefully you are feeling better know.

Tracey

[Lucybelle]

I went back to the doc 2 wks after Mitchell was born as the bleeding still had not stopped. He gave me antibiotics and told me there is almost always "retained products" after the baby is born. My placenta came away naturally, and was in one piece.
I requested not to be given the injection to "help" the placenta deliver because a) my body can deliver a baby fine the placenta shouldn't be a problem and b) I didn't want to force it out before my body was ready to do it in its own way, maybe causing problems with infection.
This seems to be far too common, as a couple of friends copped an infection too.

[OopsieDaisy]

I had it after both of my girls. And my last was after a c-section!! I didn't find out till maybe 6 weeks later, running a blasting fever, tummy pains and really really ill. A chunk of placenta the size of my palm came out in the shower! I had a curette and antibiotics.. so strange they left you hey! Can be very dangerous indeed!
Glad you are well now tho!

[Shan]

Hi I totally understand what you went through! I had a little girl 6 months ago, and spend 4 days in hospital after her birth! When we brought her home all was well! It wasnt untill Mia was 2 weeks old i started to get massive pains in my Abdo! I had no idea what was happening as i had been great since the birth! My husband rushed me to hospital and they soon said that i had a major infection! My temp was also 39 and they had no idea why i was in so much pain! I was on 2 dose's of antibotic's and also panadine forte! I kept telling them that i needed a ultrasound, and being in a public hospital there were'nt up for that... :mad:
So after 5 days in hospital i was released with 'retained products' and then bleed for 5 months after! My doctor sent me for a D&C but they said it was only min amounts and that it wasnt needed! I was so upset to think that it was there fault that this had happened and they did'nt want to help me! Thank god that Mia is a angel cause being a 1st time mum, bleeding for 5 months is a nightmare!! Good luck! :)

[cwsmum]

WOW!! Those are some scary stories :eek:
When I had my son I was also told that i had ragged membranes, but no-one told me what could happen, or how serious the complications could be.
Thankfully I did not have any of the problems other ladies have mentioned.
We are now planning baby #2, hopefully I don't have any problems this time either, but at least now I know a little more about what can happen and can make sure I get treatment early enough.

[Madeleinesmum]

I had uterine infections after my emerg c section with Maddy nearly 5 months ago now. 27 hours labour and she was in distress. I went into labour anaemic and with the infection already present. I was on antibiotics during labour. The hospital staff thought that was sufficient. It wasnt until day 4 of my stay in hospital (I was private) that my OB looked concerned and ordered full blood tests. I was found to be extremely anaemic and full of infection with high temps and fever. I was placed on an IV for the next four days. I was given two blood transfusions and the next morning I hemmoraged the same amount that was transfused!!! Big large clots like the size of bread plates the nurse said! By this time I was starting to get scared. My veins were collapsing all over the place and I ended up with a nurse by my side 24 hours. Eventually they inserted a canula thing and gave me more blood transfusions along with IV antibiotics. Iended having to stay for 10 days. I was also given injections of Oxytocin (drug that induces labour) to help my uterus contract to stop the heav bleeding. But my blood was clotting to much so I also had to have Clexane injections to help this. Man I was so glad to get out of the hospital.......

Im still bleeding now. My periods have returned. They last on average for two weeks with large clots. My periods used to last max 3 days. Im most probably going back to the hospital for a D&C and iron injections. I still run slight fevers as well. Why does it take such dramatic events to happen ????

But - all in all. It was all worth it to have a healthy baby. And she is the best. Has slept all night every night since we got her home. She sleeps from 9.00 to around 6.30am and wakes up just talking and gooing. She is always so happy and I have no problems with her at all..... so it was all definately worth it!!!!

[TARNIA]

Hello Everyone
Well I Have Read All Your Experiences On Uterus Infection My Son Is 41weeks Old I Have Been Having Excessive Bleeding With Blood Clots And They Scared Me. Anyway Went To The Doctor Had Blood Tests Now They Are Telling Me I Have An Infection In My Body And My Doctor Tells Me It Is In My Uterus So How Come After So Long They Have Found My Problem After 10 Months Of Giving Birth To My Son. It Just Does Not Comprehend With All Your Stories. I Would Love To Hear From People With Same Problem

[TARNIA]

can somebody help me my baby has bad breath. not all the time only occaionally. my mother thinks it might be my son is lackin g in something. hope somebody can help would love to hear

[hpercival]

hiya i know how you feel. when my daughter was born 4 days later i was hot and cold i felt so ill i thought i was gonna die and i was passing huge blood clots. when i got back to hospital the doctor looked at my notes and said that i had ragged membranes when she was born. the thing is i remember the midwife examining me straight away when she was born and she said to the student midwife "if i hadnt pulled this out now this lady could of been seriously ill" and she had pulled something out. the thing is she never checked to see if there was any more she just left it at that and as a result i ended up back in hospital with a uterine infection.

[tamiekahyland]

hi i have jsut had my second c section (6 months ago) have been told straight from the start that i had membranes left there have been on three courses of antiboitics that has not helped at alll... my symptoms include bleeding for 3weeks nad 1 week off also so much pain un able to hvae sex at all and have pain above the incesion quiet servre... i have had a ob look at this problem which he said was an infection in my uterus wall and gave me the antibiotic and because they have made no dif that there is nothing he can do for me and that the only thing to fix it would be to have another baby ... as i think that this is not the case there has to be some thing they can do i have sort my own gp who is ordering a scan and am going to get a second opion i recommened second opions to any one ....