Placenta previa.

[lou121087]

Hello. So at my 20wk scan they discovered my placenta was fully covering my cervix. The sonographer told me that it's fine it'll just mean a c-section.... OK.... They booked me in for a scan at 34wks to see if it had moved and a consultation (which seems pointless now as I've been told it won't move). I had a bleed at 23wks and luckily it stopped as quick as it had started but ended up in hospital and they said it was due to my placenta and sent me home after 5hrs as I had no pain and baby was fine but I would more than likely end up there again with bleeding. I went to my midwife appointment at 24wks and she was shocked that no one had actually told me the complications of placenta previa and that I hadn't been put under a consultant earlier especially as I had a bleed. She booked me an appointment which I went to yesterday and I'm 26wks now, and I found it pointless, he basically drew a diagram of my womb and the placenta and told me again I'd need a c-section but he's hoping I'll go to 38-39wks and then have the c-cection. So I'm still non the wiser to how serious this all is. He said after 28wks my uterus will grow and that could cause bleeding. And from 28wks I'll be having appointments every 2 weeks to meet with an anaesthetist and I guess to see the consultant. When I've been reading up about placenta previa there seems to be quite a few complications that can happen that no one has told me about. Has anyone else had 100% placenta previa and been fine all the way through? My due date is in May but I'm trying not to worry about it and luckily I've been signed off work due to severe pelvic girdle pain and won't be going back until after my maternity ends. This pregnancy has been one stress after another but at least the baby is healthy.

[Amanda86]

Hey, I had complete placenta previa. I was already under consultant lead care due to it being an IVF pregnancy. I was only ever booked it to see the consultant once, at which point I think I was around 25/26 weeks pregnant. She was horrible; she refused to book my section in until I was 37 weeks, saying she’s seen placentas move before. Every sonographer told me absolutely no way it would move!

Shortly after the appointment with her I started to have bleeds, the first couple weren’t much. I was sent home after the first one after monitoring, admitted after the second one and monitored and sent home again. A few weeks later another bleed, this time more with clots (it is very scary but just call them ASAP whenever you bleed and go straight in). I was again admitted for a couple of days this time and sent home. While I was in hospital they were doing scans to check the location of placenta. When I was discharged that time they said one more bleed and you’ll be admitted, apparently it’s policy that after 3 bleeds you are admitted until the arrival of baby, I think basically the complications are the placenta haemorrhaging, but they’ll keep a very close eye on you by sounds of it so please try not to worry.

My 3rd bleed wasn’t long after but I was 37+1 on this day, went straight in and had an emergency section within hours of being admitted. I’d say prepare yourself for that. Although I knew I’d be admitted, I didn’t think they’d do the section so quickly and it was pretty overwhelming.

Hope this helps and offers you a little resssurande and best of luck with everything. If you’ve any questions feel free to ask 😊 xxx

[lou121087 in reply to Amanda86]

Thank you. It just feels like no one knows what there doing as when I went to my consultant appointment the first thing he asked was what I was here to see him for and it lasted about 15mins. I couldn't read any of his writing. He also mentioned about Preeclampsia but just said that'll happen if my blood pressure stays high and that was it. But hopefully everything goes a bit smoothly from now on as I'm not prepared for her to come too soon x

[Amanda86 in reply to lou121087]

All the best. It sounds like they’re going to be keeping a very close eye on things for you so that’s something. I’m sure all with be ok, just take it easy (as much as possible). That’s what the hospital kept telling me to do xxx

[Amanda86]

Sorry that should say after 3 substantial bleeds you’re admitted, the first bleed as it was so little they didn’t count xxx

[Hidden]

Hey Lou, my sister had placenta previa that was discovered after a big bleed at about 12 weeks (they thought she was miscarrying) Wanted to say that she went on to have a natural birth of her little girl so it is possible to go on to do that. But I hope whatever happens hope they keep monitoring you throughout. She also took progesterone suppositories after the diagnosis as that was supposed to help her somehow.. perhaps something to look into too? Good luck for everything! x

[lou121087 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. Im hoping it all goes OK from now on. And who knows at my 34wk scan there could be a miracle of it moving. But I still have so much to sort out so baby needs to help me out lol. X

[Tiffs]

I got told I had this also at 20w and had a follow up scan at 32w with plan of booking in a c section. Luckily it had moved though and I went on to have a natural birth.