Uterine Atony?

I don't know if this question belongs on the first year board or not...

But I have read that women with twins and triplets often have a harder time getting their uterus to contract and reduce in size after delivery, due to over-distention (uterine atony). I have read that this is the number one cause of bleeding after delivery in a woman with multiples. Has anyone had an issue with this? And if so, how did you resolve it?

Thanks,
Molly
33 weeks 2 days

 

I had a c-section with the twins, and I think I remember them giving me Pitocin to get my uterus to contract more after delivery.

 

i was on a IV with oxytocin (i think) for quite a while after the girls were born - at least 24 hours. the nurses would check on me quite a bit & massage my tummy (not very pleasant) to help my uterus get back to shape. there were a couple of times that they seemed concerned at how slowly things were going, but in the end i didn't have any serious complications.

 

It was no different for me than with my singletons. Yay for breastfeeding!! It really helps with this.

 

My uterus contracted quite well after my c-section. I did notice that my first few periods postpartum were quite heavy and I attribute that to the uterus being just a little bit larger and having a larger area to cover with the lining. Now at 11 months PP my periods are totally normal and I have no effects from having had a twin pregnancy (other than the extra skin!).

 

Heres my story......

I delivered/Induced at 38 weeks Vag. After delivery I hemoraged. They could not get my Uterus to contract down and could not stop the bleeding. It was VERY scarey and painful. My doctor said it was Uterus Atony, which apparently is common in multiple births ( would have been nice to know beforehand). Anyways, after several hours, 4 different pain meds, and a catheter later, it supposedly was under control. They kept the babies over night for me and the next morning I was still soaking through pads. After passing out in the bathroom they decided to do blood work, blood levels were 4 ( normal is 12-16). They gave me a blood transfusion that night. THREE days later, still in the hospital they decided to do an ultrasound.....hmmmmm? I was unable to urinate on my own,my stomach looked as if I was still 7 months prego. After the ultrasound they found a peice of the placenta was left. So off to a D& C it was and another blood transfusion, since my uterus was filled with blood. Five days later and after a nightmare of recovery I was released. My doctor said it was mixture of things that led to this.

Hope this doesnt scare you, but no one ever talked to me about uterine atony after multiples. Im not sure if it was just the placenta being left or combo of both? Who knows?? Im not sure what the percentage is of those who this happens too, my Doc said I had some really bad luck!! I was on Methregen for a week or so after to help continue contracting my uterus. I also breastfed through this, Im not sure if it helped or not.

Good luck to ya!! Knowing what I know now I would have insisted they do an ultrasound MUCH sooner!!

 

Thank you for your responses! It helps to at least be prepared, having heard some of your stories will help me be on the lookout - especially if I need an U/S to look for leftover placental parts! Thanks for sharing.