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Pregnancy

Has anyone had/got issues with the placenta? Doppler scans?

28 replies

BeautifulLiar · 03/01/2016 13:20

I'm being monitored very regularly as it was discovered at 28 weeks as my baby is smaller than average. My other three have been small too but my placenta has already started to mature and Doppler levels raise (there's resistance in the cord).

The highest PI reading I've had was 1.7. This is off the charts and has happened twice. My last scan on December 30th showed the amniotic fluid has gone right down too. I was given steroid shots just before Christmas.

I've got another scan tomorrow and Wednesday but just wondering if anyone else has been through this? What happened? How early did they deliver you? Gutted I won't be getting my home birth :(

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BeautifulLiar · 03/01/2016 13:21

Crikey sorry about all the typos!

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Tftpoo · 03/01/2016 14:50

Hi beautiful. I don't have quite the same issue as you but it looks like I also have a placenta complication which requires lots of monitoring. I have suspected placenta accreta (where the placenta is growing into a previous c-section scar) which puts me at risk of severe bleeding at birth, quite possibly requiring emergency hysterectomy. I'm waiting to hear the results of an MRI scan I had last week to see how bad it is.

I don't know much about your condition but thought I'd share this with you as I understand how gutting it is to have to adjust your expectations about birth - I too had planned a home birth (even after a section) and have accepted that that is no longer on the cards but what I am struggling to get my head round the idea that the condition is associated with high levels of maternal death - not something I really thought I needed to plan for when I found out I was pregnant. I started a thread about this the other day but got no replies, I guess because it is a rare complication.

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welshweasel · 03/01/2016 15:04

I'm 31 weeks and have similar issues. Baby not growing well and low fluid levels. Doppler looks ok at the moment, got another scan on Thursday but definitely looking at early delivery.

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BeautifulLiar · 03/01/2016 15:07

Thanks for replying, Tft.

I guess googling is the worst thing you can do but like you I've googled pretty much everything on this!

I hope your results go well. It's just not something you think about when you get pregnant. I've had two home births and never imagined not having another one.

When are you due?

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BeautifulLiar · 03/01/2016 15:10

Welsh hi, thanks for replying. I'm 31 weeks on Tuesday so we must be due around the same time? Not that we're going to make it that far!

Would you mind telling me what your PI readings were, if they're written in your notes/scan reports?

Finding it hard to see this as a serious issue as the baby moves so much but the consultant said if this was her baby she'd be worried...

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BeautifulLiar · 03/01/2016 15:13

Also what was the fluid like around the baby at your last scan? Mine was 7cm, but I think it can replenish can't it?

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welshweasel · 03/01/2016 17:58

My fluid was about 5cm today, it was 7 on the last scan. Can't remember the PI readings but they were normal. I've got a feeling that I'll be lucky to make 33 weeks.

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BeautifulLiar · 03/01/2016 18:21

Thanks for getting back to me. Oh bless you, that 2cm makes such a difference doesn't it? But 33 weeks is a good gestation - nephew was born at 33.5 weeks last March and he was/is fine (SIL had diabetes though and he was 6lb 6oz - bigger than my previous three at term!).

A couple of weeks ago the consultant said "I'll be very happy to get you to 32 weeks and over the moon to get to 34" but I don't know if she was just scare mongering or what?

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Tftpoo · 03/01/2016 20:54

I am due 19th March but am expecting c-section earlier now. I had a high risk multiple pregnancy last time with section at 36 weeks and was really hoping to avoid early delivery this time. I just don't seem able to do 'normal' when it comes to being pregnant.

I hope all goes well for you and you get as far as possible. Try not to let the consultant scare you too much - it's their job to set out all the risks but sometimes I think they can scare people with the way they present information.

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notfromstepford · 05/01/2016 15:04

Hi Beautiful
I had flow problems from 24 weeks on my last pregnancy.
Lots of clots, and the placenta was basically destroying itself.
At one point I was looking at delivery at 28 weeks they were so worried, but DS managed to hang on.
I went for weekly scans, AF levels were up and down the whole time - one week they'd be normal, next week they'd be really low and eventually they decided he would be better out than in and delivered him by ELCS.
The way he was born didn't matter to me, I just wanted him out safe and they told me he would be unlikely to survive a natural birth.
My DS was born at 35 weeks at 3lb 12oz. So I managed to last 11 weeks.
He will be 4yrs in a few weeks and is built like a little rugby player. He's caught up beautifully and is as strong as an ox and we've not had any problems at all.

Hope it all goes well for you and you get as far as you possibly can.

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BeautifulLiar · 05/01/2016 16:31

Thank you notfrom! Bless him. Sounds like he has no ill effects then!

I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow and really want to know how long they're going to keep me going like this without an idea of when baby will be here. It's absolutely driving me mad and ruining the pregnancy!

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notfromstepford · 06/01/2016 09:23

Hi Beautiful

Good luck with the consultant today. With mine it really was assess every week and I had no idea when they were going to say it's time.
I think that worked well because then DS had every opportunity to develop as long as he could in the environment he was supposed to be in.

I think you just have to accept that everything they are doing is for the well-being of the baby and you and you'll just have to go with the flow I'm afraid.

The most important thing is a positive final outcome where you and baby are well, how baby gets in to this world is pretty irrelevant at the end of the day.

Hope it all goes well.

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welshweasel · 06/01/2016 10:56

Good luck today beautiful, hope you get some sort of plan. I'm seeing the consultant again tomorrow and will be asking the same thing, I feel like I need them to say we will deliver if x y or z happens and otherwise will monitor every x days. I'm going crazy!

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BeautifulLiar · 06/01/2016 18:41

Thank you weasel and notfrom. Good luck tomorrow weasel. I'm a bit of a control freak so this is crazy for me.

Well today the baby threw a spanner in the works and all the Dopplers were normal!! The consultant was pretty shocked I think. She said I;ll be scanned in a week to see if they're raised again, but if they're not, she'll have to accept that this was a blip, and that my baby randomly struggled for three weeks, then got over it. I asked her how often that happens, and she said never!!??

If the Dopplers are normal next week, she's going to accept that the baby is ok, but as the placenta is still mature she will have me induced on my due date. If they'e raised again, I'll be induced around 37 weeks. If anything dire happens in the mean time, baby will be out sooner, but if its in the next month it'll be a c-section

Can't believe this baby!! It'll be a long week...

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welshweasel · 06/01/2016 19:30

Wow that's awesome news! Hoping I get some good news tomorrow too.

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BeautifulLiar · 06/01/2016 19:55

Thanks, welsh! Let me know how yours goes too :)

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notfromstepford · 07/01/2016 11:43

Great news beautiful Grin
Fingers crossed for another good scan next week

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BeautifulLiar · 07/01/2016 11:52

Thank you notfrom

Tbh I'm sort of hoping the Dopplers are raised again - then I get my baby three weeks early Smile if I'm having to be induced regardless I may as well get to meet her sooner!

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welshweasel · 07/01/2016 20:25

No good news for me...baby still not grown and placenta not looking great so I've had some steroids, more tomorrow and looking at delivery in the next week...eek!

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BeautifulLiar · 07/01/2016 20:44

Bloody hell welsh, how are you feeling? Poor you :( the steroids are painful aren't they?!

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welshweasel · 07/01/2016 20:57

Yes not looking forward to tomorrow's dose but I know it's really important. Feeling scared but I know it's for the best.

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BeautifulLiar · 07/01/2016 21:06

Fwiw my second dose was a lot better than the first. Try to wiggle your toes! Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl?

I really want Wednesday to hurry up so I can see if the Dopplers are raised again! It's horrible not knowing what's going on in your own body isn't it??

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welshweasel · 07/01/2016 21:13

They kept telling me to wiggle them but I'm not sure it helped! We are having a boy, how about you? I know what you mean, in a way I just want him out now as I've lost confidence that my body can keep him safe. If he comes on Sunday so be it.

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BeautifulLiar · 07/01/2016 21:22

That's how I felt; like my body was failing. But the baby had managed to stay along its growth line. Next growth scan is also on Wednesday and I do feel like I've grown this time so hopefully that means the baby has. We're having a girl, supposed to be due 8th March! Were you due around then?

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welshweasel · 07/01/2016 21:49

Yes my due date is the 2nd march. So wasn't really expecting a January baby!!

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