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Pregnancy

Placenta covering OS

28 replies

tinierclanger · 15/02/2013 14:29

At my 20 week scan sonographer told me my placenta was low down over cervix, and booked me for rescan at 34 weeks. She did say it might move and I didn't google or anything at the time because there didn't seem to be any point worrying!

Had an ante natal apt today and the MW tells me that as the placenta is actually covering the OS it's not that likely to move. That's ok and I can cope with mentally preparing for C-section, and I know to look out for bleeding.

But now I have googled and it seems lots of people are advised to avoid sex! Nobody's mentioned this to me- should I carry on as if I didn't know? Is that relevant later rather than now, or is there no real reason for it?

Any advice/comments welcome!

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tinierclanger · 15/02/2013 14:47

I should have put the bit about sex in the title - might have got more traffic. :)

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kitkatsz23 · 15/02/2013 15:11

At my 20 weeks scan my sonographer told me that my placenta is totally covering the cervix and it is very unlikely that it will move. She advised me not to travel, be close to a hospital in case I start bleeding, don't do any heavy house cleaning like hoovering, no gym and no Sex. So we hired a cleaning lady :) and living with no Sex :( I would advise you not to have sex just to be on the safe side and avoid any bleeding. (Some people bleed some people don't bleed at all) I'm 29+5 today and no bleeds so far. I am taking it very easy and my only exercise is my commute to work which is 1 1/2 each way every day. I had a private scan at 26 weeks and it hasn't moved a mm. I'm booked in for my next NHS scan at 32 weeks. Don't google, I did it and I got absolutely terrified. There are some great old threads here about this condition which I read all and got a lot of information which helped a lot. This is my first DC.

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tinierclanger · 15/02/2013 16:20

Thanks - it's strange that I haven't been given any of that advice! I'll check out the old threads. Hope all goes well for you!

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JellyCurls · 15/02/2013 16:28

I had a low placenta at 20wk scan that covered cervix in my last pregnancy. Was told to watch for bleeding but nothing else. By 32wk scan it had shifted to side enough that I managed a normal delivery. Will say I did have small bleeds throught the last few weeks. Hope it shifts for you x

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kitkatsz23 · 15/02/2013 16:50

I think it also depends on what kind of placenta do you have, anterior or posterior. Mine is posterior which is very unlikely to move. I had a very experienced sonographer who said: 'I cannot put it down into your notes at 20 weeks scan that you have placenta previa but in reality you have it'. For many women it moves after the 20 week scan as the uterus grows a lot between 20-32 weeks but most of them anterior placenta and marginal. This is why hospitals don't like to scare patients but I'm glad I've been advised. I am more careful now, I would be in the gym otherwise.

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tinierclanger · 15/02/2013 16:54

It is anterior. So maybe some chance of it pulling up?
I think I am going to ring midwives on mon for more of a chat as I really don't know whether I should be being more careful, having read old threads on here :(

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MorganLeFey · 15/02/2013 18:43

The Royal College of Obs&Gynaes have some helpful guidelines/patient information leaflets on this.

Aimed at patients: www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/low-lying-placenta-after-20-weeks-placenta-praevia
Clinical guideline: www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/placenta-praevia-and-placenta-praevia-accreta-diagnosis-and-manageme

I'm mildly stressing over mine shifting too! Not covering at 20/40 but still too close to the os so rescan booked for 36/40.

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MrsDonaldDraper · 15/02/2013 18:48

Tinier - I'm 27 weeks and also found out I have the same (but posterior) at my 20 week scan. Was told exactly the same as you, and was only told about sex after a small bleed. I read about travelling etc on here and asked the midwife, who said it was fine - just to tke my notes.

The only thing I was told was to void heavy lifting. Mine is totally covering so have a rescan at 34 weeks

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Artemis206 · 15/02/2013 18:53

I had the same when I was expecting DD, the placenta was totally covering the OS. By the time I had a scan at 36 weeks, it was completely clear and I went on to have a vaginal birth. I'd mentally prepared for a c-section too.

I was not advised to avoid sex, apparently the guidelines have changed and you only need to avoid sex if there is any bleeding.

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kitkatsz23 · 15/02/2013 19:13

Tinierclanger: I think it's a good idea to call the midwife and seek further advise. I think you have a good chance that it will move for you, fingers crossed! Let us know how it goes.
Morgan: Thanks for the links, I'll check them out. When is your next scan?

I've been told that it is better to avoid sex as orgasm contracts the uterus which could cause bleeding. BH could cause bleeding too in the third trimester and as the cervix starts to soften bleeds are more likely in the third trimester. But who knows of course, we are all different and there are so many different stories out there. Artemis's example gives me hope....

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badguider · 15/02/2013 19:17

stupid question, but can somebody tell me what the OS is?

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pipsqueaky · 15/02/2013 19:23

I had a low lying placenta when pg with ds. I had bleeds from 31 weeks and was either in hosp or on bed rest until ds was born at 37 weeks. I was told to expect a cs but my placenta had moved by 36 weeks (had so many scans). We were told no sex, not to travel far from the hospital and really to do as little as possible. Was alarming but all worked out fine and had a natural delivery.

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MrsDonaldDraper · 15/02/2013 19:45

Badger - it's the cervix

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SizzleSazz · 15/02/2013 19:55

My experience was similar to Pipsqueaky. However like you I wasn't really warned of bleeds/limiting activity etc.
After a scan at 29 weeks when i had some brown spotting, i was then warned to watch out for a bleed and go straight to hospital, but wasn't really stressed IYSWIM? However had a big bleed at 31 weeks and wasn't allowed anywhere further than home from the hospital and had to have someone with me at all times (they would have preferred me to stay in hospital on bed rest, but after 5 days with no bleeding they let me go home on the above basis). Had steroid injections then and weekly cross match of bloods and weekly scans.
2nd bleed was at 36 weeks and had CS (not really emergency just scheduled me in later that day). DD was fine, no need for breathing assistance (prob due to steroids)
I think the thing is that they don't want to alarm people as 85-90% move from the 20 week scan. So for the 10-15% they just wait until another 'event' happens or confirm a CS after a 34/36 week scan if it still hasn't moved and there haven't been any bleeds.
Hope it all goes well for you, and i would just avoid strenuous activity (inc hoovering Wink) for now. If you do get any bleeds/discharges though, do get them checked out.

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MissingDietCoke · 15/02/2013 21:03

I had the same situation, and at my 32 week rescan it hadn't moved and was totally prepared mentally for a c section. However, I had another scan this week at 36 weeks and lo and behold it has moved out of the way! Now struggling to get my head round the fact it's going to be a natural birth as I was told that there was very little chance of it moving. So I guess what I'm saying is anything can happen and try not to worry about what may or may not happen.

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SucksToBeMe · 15/02/2013 21:09

I have PP. I have quite a physical job so I'm glad I read this thread. I will slow down a bit.

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takeaway2 · 15/02/2013 21:20

I have placenta praevia stage 4, completely covering OS. Had contractions at week 30, rushed to hospital which was when it was discovered. My placenta was posterior which the dr said was good because it meant that at the csection he wouldn't be cutting through it.

Had steroids for the lungs and was signed off work.

We had a planned section at 39 weeks. Baby was 3.65 kg and did v well. I did follow with a vbac 3.5 years later.

I'd definitely rest, bring hospital notes with you everywhere, don't be too far from hospital and look out for bleeds.

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tinierclanger · 16/02/2013 17:23

Hi all
Thanks so much for posting. Will def ring on Monday for further advice. We were planning to maybe have a trip away with DS before the baby comes so it's that worrying me as much as the sex thing. I just want to make sensible choices. I'm guessing it sounds like they wait for a bleeding event before telling you to restrict activity.

Good luck to everyone else in the same position!

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MorganLeFey · 16/02/2013 17:34

kitkatsz23 - Next scan is at 36/40 as my placenta was not covering the os but the leading edge was too close for vaginal delivery to be advisable at 20 weeks. Currently 25/40 so a bit of a wait!

The odds for it statistically moving up are good - as people have said & the leaflets mention. But I'm feeling impatient/mildly concerned about ELCS as it's PFB & paranoid as I've seen too many 'major obstetric haemorrhages' - not that that's a vast number - but seeing any when you're pregnant yourself is probably too many..! Wink

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pining · 16/02/2013 21:20

I had low lying placenta, 3 big bleeds before 26 weeks and was admitted into hospital at 26 wks. Stayed there until 37 wks when baby was born by emergency cs. I was told that if you aren't within 10 minutes of a hospital, then you should be admitted if you are having bleeds. It was a very scary time, but i also met some women who had never bled even though they had complete placenta previa.

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UnnamedFemaleProtagonist · 16/02/2013 21:27

What does OS stand for then? Why can't you just say cervix?

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kitkatsz23 · 18/02/2013 10:07

Morgan: You have a great chance that the placenta will move as it is not totally covering and you are 25 weeks only. Fingers crossed! It's my first one too.

Tinier: Let us know what the MW tells you today. It's better not to 'wait' for the first bleed but to take it easy to avoid it/delay it.

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tinierclanger · 28/03/2013 15:56

Well, just to update, placenta is now well out of the way- hurrah!

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kitkatsz23 · 28/03/2013 17:33

tinier What a great news,thanks for the update - Grinnatural delivery!!
Well,mine hadn't moved so I am now booked in for a section in exactly 3 weeks time.I don't mind now as long as we will be healthy. No bleeds so far at least but still, terrified of the surgery...

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tinierclanger · 29/03/2013 09:38

Oh good luck kitkat, will be keeping my fingers crossed for safe deliveries all round!

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