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You can take some herbs or eat a bit of the placenta.

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First, I'd breastfeed the baby. That's the best way to get the uterus to contract and stop the bleeding. That's all I needed to do with my girls.

Second, if that didn't work, I'd take some goldenseal- I bought that particular herb for my girls' respiratory infections because it also causes uterine contractions and can be helpful after birth, if needed.

Third, I'd eat a little piece of the placenta if I really felt weak.

Fourth, I'd call 911 and go to the hospital if nothing else was working. That may even come before eating the placenta if I'm losing blood fast and don't have time to do things for myself.

Ruth

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I bled less after my UC than after my other births.

Ruth

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I plan to build up my iron levels before birth, in order to prevent any possible anemia issues beforehand. If I knew I were prone to post-partum bleeding (which I am not) or felt I may be anemic near my edd, I might then consider having some herbs on hand for this specific use. I also plan to nurse right away, and massage my uterus, take the herbs, lie on my left side, and possibly eat a tiny bit of placenta, if I felt it was really necessary.

~Carrie

 

UC Board CL

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I did, and I handled it by resting, and calling a friend who is a very experienced and knowledgeable unassisted birther. We talked on the phone and decided that I was not spaced out enough to be bleeding out. I definitely bled way more than the official 2cups that so many books say is the limit. I also passed a soft ball sized blood clot later, that triggered contractions. Remember that when you are pregnant you do have about 1/3 more blood than you normally do, so at the time of birth you do have quite a bit you can loose without harming you.

My husband did keep an eye on me to make sure I was still lucid. We live a few blocks from a hospital that could have done a transfusion if we needed. We may have gotten in the car and headed toward a hospital if we'd been a couple of hours away, just in case, when we saw I was bleeding so much. We are both thankful it wasn't necessary. I also took some Pennyroyal, to help stop bleeding. Beforehand to prevent it I did take Alfalfa and iron supplements, as being anemic can cause excessive bleeding at birth.

Kiley

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All of the suggestions given are great-- making sure to nurse the baby as soon as she is interested will help your uterus to contract and slow any bleeding. A really important thing to remember is that fear will cause your adrenaline to flow, and adrenaline will up your heart-rate, which of course will make you bleed more-- so if you are feeling fearful, take slow, deep breaths, close your eyes while imagining a peaceful scene, think of how wonderful your baby is, what a wondrous thing you have just done. Anything you can do to lessen fear will help your bleeding to slow.

According to Susan Weed's "Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year" (a wonderful resource), some herbs that can help slow postpartum bleeding are (in order of strength from lowest to highest):

Motherwort tincture (I used this for afterpains as well)

Witch Hazel bark tincture (when hemorrhage occurs before the placenta births)

Lady's Mantle tincture

Blue Cohosh, Cotton root bark, OR Cannabis tincture, in conjunction with Witch Hazel bark OR Lady's Mantle tincture

Shepherd's Purse tincture (but only if there is excessive bleeding, as it can cause large, painful to pass clots)

Please consult her book (or another good herbal) before using herbs for serious conditions.

Beatrice-- mama to Max (6, CNM hospital birth), William (4, LM home waterbirth), Dora (2, family UC), and Wee One (in belly, arriving late-Winter, UC)

*Bee's Official Disclaimer: All of my answers express my own personal opinion, and as I am not a trained birth professional, but better, an experienced mother, none of it ought to be construed as medical advice.*

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