Signs and Symptoms
The most obvious sign of a retained placenta is your placenta not delivering within one hour after you give birth. In most cases, your doctor will notice if a piece of your placenta is missing. However, if this goes unnoticed, you may experience the following symptoms in the days and weeks after childbirth:
FeverFoul-smelling vaginal dischargeDelayed onset of lactationPersistent, heavy bleeding with blood clotsSevere pelvic pain
Effects on Production of Breast Milk
While you’re pregnant, the placenta produces the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones prevent your body from making breast milk before you have your baby. During childbirth, you deliver your baby; then, the placenta also leaves your body. Once the placenta is out of your body, the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop. The drop in estrogen and progesterone trigger a rise in prolactin, the hormone responsible for producing breast milk.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding with a retained placenta is difficult. Since you can’t make a healthy supply of breast milk while the placenta remains in your body, your baby will be frustrated and show signs of hunger even after you breastfeed her. And, the longer your milk production is delayed, the more dangerous it is for your child. Your baby may begin to lose too much weight, develop jaundice, and become dehydrated.
When to Get Help
If your breasts do not fill up with breast milk by the third or fourth day after your baby is born, notify your doctor immediately for a checkup. You should also bring your baby to see his doctor for an examination. Your baby’s health care provider will weigh your baby and talk to you about whether or not your baby is getting enough breast milk. While you’re trying to fix this issue, you may have to supplement your baby’s diet.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects that you have a retained placenta, she will probably perform a physical examination, check your blood for levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and do an ultrasound to look for pieces of the placenta left behind in your uterus.
Treatment
If, after your doctor examines you and reviews the results of your tests, she determines that you do have a retained placenta, it’s necessary to take action. Your doctor will perform a surgery called a dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove any bits of the placenta that are still inside your body. Once you’ve been treated and the remaining pieces of the retained placenta are removed, full milk production can begin, and you should see an increase in your breast milk supply.
