Placenta previa - Do i really have to cancel my holiday?

[Essel]

Just got results of 20 week scan and placenta is covering cervix by 2.5 cm. obstetrician has recommended canceling holiday (7hr flights to Malaysia at 21 weeks) but we don't have to. No bleeds so far.

Im devastated. Am supposed to be meeting friends and family there. I really, really want to go. My insurance will probably refund me but doubt that extended family or friends will get a refund.

Im booked to see GP in a few days for routine appt. after 20 week scan so will ask again. Obstetrician didnt sound too worried but wasnt reassuring either.

Has anyone got any experience of PP? Am i nuts to consider going? Is it really risky this early?

I probably would. It's very unlikely anything will happen but obviously if you did start bleeding you would need urgent medical attention. I would be most concerned about the flight.

The risks are the same at any stage.

Yes, you really do. Sorry.

It was my understanding that PP was technically not diagnosed until 26 weeks (or so I was told when I attended with big bleed at 25+6 weeks )?

I bled several times and was in hospital from 26 weeks til DS2's delivery at 31 weeks.

I am not sure I'd risk being on the other side of the world tbh. Sorry.

It is possible that your placenta will be 'pulled up' as the top of the uterus grows as the pregnancy advances. Possible, but not guaranteed.

I had PP last year and was admitted at 36 weeks. Then had a big bleed at 39 weeks and so delivered by cs. I didn't have any bleeding up until that point but mine was just close to cervix not actually covering it.

The risk is that if you start to bleed you might no stop due to the amount of blood flowing through the placenta. The consequences could be catastrophic for you and baby.

It's crap but I'd cancel.

If you travel against medical advice your travel insurance might not cover you .....

There's no 'might' about it - you won't be covered.
Don't risk it.

I would be surprised if you could get a 'fit to fly ' note which you will also need to fly at that stage.

You definitely need to take the doctors advice, your travel insurance won't cover you if anything were to happen whilst away. Not worth the risk in my opinion. X

If you fly against medical advice you won't be insured. That's not just a risk for medical stuff. You could in theory be liable for the plane diverting if you have a big bleed.

I don't think the airline will ask for a fit to fly letter at 21 weeks so you should take this seriously.

I was given very specific advice with DC3 that I was not to fly. This was given at 20 weeks. I had previously had PP with DC2, and was not told this. That time I had flown as late as I could without a fit to fly.

I was eventually told that I could not be more than 20 minutes from the hospital, could not be without another adult in the house (that drive me insane).

You will not be covered by your insurance. If you haemorrhage on the flight, there is a very good chance that both you and your baby will not survive. Is this a risk you want to take?

If you have any other questions, I am happy to try to answer (grade 4 placenta praevia twice, one ELCS at 37.5 weeks after 3.5 week hospital stay, one EMCS at 36+1 after 6 admissions totalling 6 weeks the first admission at 24 weeks)

I was told from 11 weeks that I had placenta previa and that I couldn't fly even then, as there would be the danger of it rupturing. Not wanting to scare you, but I wouldn't risk it. They do often move, but not that quickly!

Pacific, I was told that although it can be diagnosed before 26 weeks, they don't consider it as an issue until then as there's a large chance it can move around (I think?!)

I was told I had a low placenta at my 20w scan (reaching but not covering cervix). They didn't tell me not to fly, so I went to America at 23/24 weeks and was fine. In fact, I even got a fit to fly letter from my GP (although I don't know if she actually read my notes). Your's sounds like it is a higher grade of PP though, so that would make me more cautious. I certainly wouldn't fly without a fit to fly note anyway.

Oh OP.

That's totally shit and I really don't want to scaremonger, but I know of someone who died and who's baby died also.

I know it's very, very rare but I just wouldn't take any chances.

Look after yourself. X

I agree with the advice not to fly against medical advice and the point about travel insurance, but marnie most airlines do not require a fit to fly letter before 28 weeks. I flew at 20, 23 and 27 weeks, checked the airlines' policy on each occasion and none required a letter before 28 weeks.

I understand the policy but in my experience the airlines can be funny, especially if you have a sizeable bump. My advice is that if you are showing it's best to have a for to fly to prevent problems at the airport. I have known someone to be refused because she looked more pregnant than she was and didn't have a fit to fly. These airlines don't want the risk if diverting a flight!

I know its horrible, but consider the risks. Right now my hubby and I are meant to be on holiday. We cancelled and ended up losing a huge chunk of money. But it's worth it to know I'm where I need to be to have weekly scans checking on my twins.

I was told at 20w scan I had low lying placenta and had a further scan at 31w which diagnosed placenta praevia. My consultant was v relaxed and I had no conditions other than a weekly checkup and told to dial 999 if any bleeding at all. I started bleeding 4 days later at a local cafe and the ambulance took me to hospital and had an emergency c section and lost 4 litres of blood (thank you timehop for reminding me!). He was 3yrs old yesterday :)

So no. I definitely wouldn't do a 7hr flight with this info. I wouldn't stay only 20mins from hospital and always accompanied though - sounds like overkill! But 7hrs without medical intervention would have been fatal for us both.

With DD1 I travelled back 1 day before 28 weeks which was the airline's cut off for requesting a fit to fly. I did know I had PP, but had not been told I couldn't fly, so I would have been covered by insurance (in fact the only advice I was given by the hospital was to call the labour suite if I got bleeding!). I had plenty of bump and was not asked for a fit to fly.

In fact with DD2, before being diagnosed with PP, I was flying home from holiday alone with DS and DD1 while DH stayed on for a stag party, our flights were changed and they wanted us to stay in Madrid overnight, DH explained I was pregnant and he didn't want me to be going to hotel, dealing with kids overnight etc. on my own and they changed both flights to the next day.

CaptainBarnacle I agree that the advice got more over the top as my pregnancy progressed! but I had a previous history of unstable PP and 6 admissions with DD2 and those were the conditions attached to my being allowed to go home rather than stay in hospital. I was also not allowed to push a shopping trolley or carry anything. The instruction not to be more than 20 minutes from the hospital came at 31 weeks after about 4 admissions.

At 24 weeks I was told to stop work. Under pressure, they rescinded this down to 2 weeks signed off at home, then back to work. I followed the instructions and after 2 hours back in my sedate office job I was driving home again to readmit myself.

After that stay, I was allowed to work from home, part time only, visiting the office a maximum of once a week to collect/deliver work, but on the condition I didn't carry anything.

As time went on and I gad more problems, I was given more restrictions, but it was still better than the 4 weeks I spent in hospital prior to the birth of DD1, where I was not allowed to set foot outside the maternity ward, even to go to the coffee bar on site with DH.

I'm not saying OP will have the issues that I had. There are 2 kinds of PP, stable and unstable, and four different grades (1-4), I am unlucky as I had unstable grade 4, and I had that twice.

Most people, including 3 people I know are stable, have no problems, complete their pregnancy with a scheduled CS.

I hated following the advice I was given. After DD2 was born, I was advised not to gave any further children. But the OP should know it doesn't always go smoothly.

Thanks everyone. I have very reluctantly begun the process of cancelling the holiday. I am incredibly disappointed but it has helped hearing the resounding 'no'.

To be honest I think I'm more disappointed about the holiday than worried about the condition, but i guess that will change if I experienced a bleed. I just feel so healthy, it's hard to get my head around the idea that my health is actually vulnerable.

I keep telling myself that its only a holiday and I can go back, and its only money, and I should be grateful for a healthy baby, which is much more important. But then I think about the horizon pool and villa chef and I crumple. I don't think the hormones are helping with the tears. It's also excruciating having to explain to everyone who asks about our trip.

I feel terrible that I've ruined everyone else's holiday as well and it's going to be very expensive for them to change their flights (they are going to come and stay with me at home instead as we don't live in the same continent). I don't think my family will be able to claim this on their insurance either. I'm going to see if I can save up and pay for another holiday for them in the future, but if I have to give up work early, this is also going to cause us some financial headaches.

I'm very sorry to hear about your difficult and dangerous experiences auditangel, captainbarnacle but so glad to hear it worked out well in the end. trooperslane - that gave me some much needed perspective.

Essel, I'm sure your family doesn't want you to risk your health or that of the baby. It is sad that you miss out on the holiday, but this is so much more important.

essel I do understand the disappointment, but I think you are doing the right thing. I'm sure your family will understand.

marnie I took a copy of my scan report (which states my due date) when I travelled with a visible bump so if anyone had challenged me, I could have proved I was under the airlines own limit for requiring a letter. But even travelling at 27+4, no one asked.