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Pregnancy

Low lying placenta - advice

27 replies

Enthusia · 04/06/2005 17:05

Have just got back from Spain and a lovely break. Had a scare on Thursday though as I started bleeding, it was old blood very brown, but I fell to pieces. Family were great and took me to a medical centre straight away, within an hour I was having an ultrasound. The scan showed that I have a low lying placenta, it is now completely across the cervix, but there is one 'flap' of it going down the mouth of the cervix. Baby was completely heathy and waving, bouncing away. I had my fingers crossed so tight whilst I was on the bed, the marks were still there hours after!

Have been told to take things very easy, the gyno I saw was really worried about me returning to work, esp teaching so I have contacted the midwife and taken time off (I hope no one has replied to my emails) until I know differently. I am not allowed to lift anything and def no SEX, and no pleasure for me whatsoever in this department as any spasms would cause more bleeding.

Gyno said that he thought the placenta may move upwards as I grow, but he was quite worried, has anyone else got any experince on this? I have searched Mumsnet and found a couple of pages but the advice ranges from, 'carry on as normal' to 'I was taken into hospital from 20 weeks until full term' really not sure where I stand!!!! Do you think I am right taking the time off work, or do you think I am being a bit over cautious? As I am feeling fine I feel abit guilty about work. Mind you when I started bleeding I just couldn't get a grip, don't want that happening again!

Any advice welcome!

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jellyhead · 04/06/2005 17:19

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Enthusia · 04/06/2005 17:26

Sorry - 17, but the gyno out there said my measurements are closer to just gone 18 weeks.

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jellyhead · 04/06/2005 17:38

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Enthusia · 04/06/2005 17:46

sorry didn't mean 'now completely across the cervix' meant NOT completely across ther cervix, oops.

Thanks for the advice!!!! I just want to do the best thing.

I have a scan at 22 weeks but am waiting for a midwife to contact me on Monday to see what GB docs think!!!!

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jellyhead · 04/06/2005 17:50

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Ellbell · 04/06/2005 22:14

Hi Enthusia
Sorry... I am one of the alarmist ones who was in hospital for a long time with this (27 weeks and had baby at 36). I hope I haven't worried you. However, I kept bleeding - and quite heavily at times - which is why they kept me in. If you've had just one bleed and you don't have any more the chances are you'll be OK. However, I don't think you're overreacting by taking time off work etc. At least wait till you've seen a consultant in GB and have been able to discuss the situation with him/her. The no sex thing is right, I'm afraid! It's still early in your pregnancy... Good luck with it all.

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Frizbe · 04/06/2005 22:35

I had this to start with, but mine moved up and out the way, so things were ok here, but I'll echo ellbell, and say stay off work, until the doc etc get you checked out here properly, both your health and your babies is worth its weight in gold! work can wait (or someone else can do it!) it'll still be there when your ready to go back In the meantime, chill out and have a nice bar of chocky.

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tiredemma · 06/06/2005 11:41

i had it, found it on my 20week scan, panicked me abit had another scan at 34 weeks and it had moved, apparently its quite common.

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expatinscotland · 06/06/2005 11:58

My sister had it. But her baby's placenta was still partially over the os at 35 weeks, so she had a scheduled C-section at 37 weeks+4 days.

She never had a single bleed. The placenta was completey over the os at her 20 week scan and further scans revealed it didn't move far up enough in her case.

Good luck!

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gossifer · 06/06/2005 13:54

i had a low placenta until a scan at 32 weeks & it moved, i carried on working, but worried constantly, so i understand how you feel, listen to what the docs tell you and follow their advice, good luck

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dawnie1 · 06/06/2005 14:21

I had a low lying placenta until and including my 32 week scan so they booked me in for a c-section. I had to go back for a 34 week scan by which time it had moved up and out of the way. I didn't have any bleeding throughout the pregnancy.

Follow the Drs advice and take it nice and easy for a little while and I'm sure you'll both be fine

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HumphreysCorner · 06/06/2005 15:00

Hi Enthusia

I had a low lying placenta with my first baby which was picked up at the 20 week scan and had moved completely by the 32 week scan. I panicked when I came home and read about it-read too much into it apparently because it is extremely common. My friend had the same thing but hers never moved so she had a C-Section instead but everything was fine so please do not worry.

Hugs
x

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ChaCha · 06/06/2005 18:07

Bumping for Enthusia..

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fruitful · 06/06/2005 18:14

I had this. If you look it up on the internet you will find lots of very scary stuff. But you will also find loads of people who've had it and been fine. Something like 1 in 5 placentas are "low-lying" at 20 weeks, and 90% of those move away.

There is also a difference between "low-lying" (quite close to the cervix) and completely covering it. If its not over the cervix at 18 weeks, but just very close, then I think you have a really good chance that it will move out of the way by the time you're due.

And if your doctor has told you to rest, make the most of it. Its never gonna happen again...

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MrsMiggins · 06/06/2005 19:29

I had low-lying placenta with DD.
Scan picked it up at 20 wks.
Had another scan at 32 wks. No change.
Had no bleeding so consultant booked me for scan at 36 wks.
Had moved a little but not enough.
Scan at 38 wks!
Moved again but not enough.
Scan booked for 39 weeks 2 days(!) and C-section the following day if hadnt moved enough.
Scan showed had moved so much that I was sent home & told that if hadnt had it by 42 wks would be induced (usual)

I had no bleeding throughout and thanks to consultant who was willing to leave C-section to last minute, it moved enough so I went on to have vaginal birth.

I cant comment on your situation as you have had bleeding but all I can say is that mine managed to move enough right up at the last minute.

Try not to worry too much & perhaps allow yourself to take things a little more carefully.
hope it works out for you

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Kidstrack2 · 06/06/2005 20:15

Echo what you were saying MrsMiggins as same happened with me it eventually moved at 37weeks and was allowed to labour but due to other complications I still had a c/s.

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NannyJo · 06/06/2005 20:19

i was told i had a low lying placenta at 19 weeks and to be scanned again at 32. i was told not to worry and 90% return to normal by then. it's easier said then done i know but all was fine with me and 90% is a high figure so please tyr not to think about what 'could' happen and concentrate on now which is that your baby is healthy and he/she needs you to be relaxed.

Good luck.

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penpal · 06/06/2005 22:38

With my DS1 I had bleeding (not a lot) at 29 weeks, they took me in over night and the night nurse really scared me! I was only 29 weeks and she told me "well that's it girl, you're here to the end". She told me all the things that could go wrong with this and placental abruption (one and the other seemed to connect to low lying placenta) that even though I live 2 miles from one of the best hospitals in England there would be no way I could go home. Anyway I did and even though I did have some bleeding after going home,I took it real easy and had a beautiful boy 6 days early............xx

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HannahMoomin · 07/06/2005 00:04

Hi, I had low lying placenta too - totally covering the cervix - and had fresh bleeding at about 16 weeks. I'm sending you cyber hugs ((())) You must have been so scared. I felt absolutely awful, however, by the time I had another scan at 32 weeks it had moved completely. Its incredibly common apparently. Early on in gestation, the placenta generally develops lower down, due to the tiny size of the uterus in the beginning. It gradually moves up as the uterus grows. I'm sure yours will too. In the mean time relax and look after yourself and your precious bump.
Hannah x

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Enthusia · 07/06/2005 07:22

Thank you for all your advice and kind words, makes you go all mushy to think so many people out there care enough to write!

I think I feel quite positive about it. The fact that it is low lying does not bother me as much as the bleeding, if it were not for the bleeding I don't think I would be as worried. Have not bled for 2 days now though. The Spanish Gyno thought it would move up, but he called it placenta previa becuase of the bleeding, but I didn't think it could be called this until the third trimester, maybe it is just the difference between countries.

I have a scan today at 2.20 to see what an English consultant thinks. Will post with results.

Thanks again.

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RedZuleika · 07/06/2005 09:23

From what I understand, it's not a case of the placenta moving - but the lower portion of the uterus expanding, so that the placenta appears to move up. This doesn't happen until quite late into the pregnancy though, so it's fairly meaningless for health professionals to talk about placenta praevia early on. Bleeding is always worrying though - although I have heard of women bleeding throughout their pregnancies and having a perfectly normal birth and healthy child (they themselves might have been a nervous wreck though...). Hope all goes well.

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MamanFlo · 07/06/2005 11:02

I had it, and at birth it had moved and was 3 cm away from the cervix, which is still considered preavia (degree 1). Never had any bleeding during pregnancy, except on the birth day but it was the cervix and not the placenta.

I had a vaginal birth : if I had any bleeding, I would have had an emergency c-section (that's why I chose epidural as a pain relief, so that aenesthetics would be all set up if I had to go into theater), but that didn't happen.

The MW told me that I should be careful for my next pregnancy, as it could happen again.

You should slow things down and keep an eye on it, but nothing more to worry about. I stopeed working 10 weeks before due date (what a bore !) and I guess that's one of the reason why I didn't have any bleeding.

Hope this helps !

Flo and Romane 6 weeks today !

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Enthusia · 07/06/2005 19:13

The scan went well. They said that baby is developing just as he/she should, right size etc, if a little big. They said the placenta was ok, one flap is a little low and they think that a contraction may have squeezed this causing bleeding, but we may never know. They have no doubts that it will have moved by full term though, so that is good. They said that I should stay off work this week and if I have no more bleeding or strange things happen then I will be back to normal next week, so that is good.

Thanks for all the advice!!!!!!

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Ellbell · 07/06/2005 19:56

Good news Enthusia. Hope none of my posts elsewhere worried you. Should have mentioned that my placenta was also low at 20 weeks with dd2, but had moved by the time I had a scan at 34 weeks and I had a vaginal delivery. I'm glad it's all looking good for you. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy.

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MrsMiggins · 07/06/2005 20:23

glad to hear things look good.
its surprising how many women have a low-lying at 20 weeks - most are ok by 34 wks
just take it easy and enjoy !!

as for feeling mushy that so many care enough to post - thats MN for you - makes you feel reassured

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