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Original poster

Placenta previa

30 replies

CSTH · 28/02/2019 16:58

Hiya, really new to this! Hopefully I’m posting in the right place? Was just wondering if anybody has experiences with placenta previa at 18 weeks? I’ve been bleeding on and off not for 4 days! Doctors don’t seem concerned with the amount of blood but the fact it’s causing problems so early! I’m really not sure what to expect as I’ve spoke to so many doctors/midwives who all have different opinions! One has said it might still move, another had said it won’t, another has said my main aim now is to get to 24 weeks! I’m just really curious to find out how this has gone for other people? Thank you

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CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 28/02/2019 17:34

I had complete placenta previa at my 20 week scan. Was admitted to hospital at one point for 24 hours after a bleed and booked in for some extra scans to check things. At 25 weeks it has moved to just 12mm clear of the cervix, last week at 28 they said it was completely clear. I’m surprised anyone told you yours wouldn’t move as they do move up in the majority of women! I’m having a last scan at 32 weeks just to confirm but they seemed pretty confident. So try not to worry, it’s more common than you’d think and at 18 weeks you’ve still got a few months for it to get out of the way!

MakeUpGirl · 28/02/2019 17:43

I had similar at 17 weeks with 2 quite large bleeds. Ended up being admitted on full bed rest for several weeks.
Had regular scans to check position and it had moved enough by 35 weeks that they were happy it wouldn’t cause any problems and I was discharged.
I ended up with a c section because of different complications but in the end the placenta was nothing to worry about

Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 17:45

Hi thanks for replying! They’ve basically told me because it’s completely covering my cervix there’s not much chance of it moving! That’s so reassuring though that yours moved! I’ve got my 20 week scan in a week so hopefully they’ll be some change then maybe? I think because I’m getting so many mixed reactions it’s making me so anxious!! Did they put you on bedrest or anything if you don’t mind me asking?

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Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 17:49

Oh wow! MakeUpGirl this is all so reassuring! I’ve literally been sat thinking the worst since I found out!! I’ve obviously been reading a lot online about it all and people who were admitted and put on bed rest said it was awful!? Was it bad??

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PotolBabu · 28/02/2019 17:53

I began bleeding at 19 weeks and stayed on bed rest till Indelivered at 26 weeks. Baby is a crazy toddler who has no long term effects of being premature.
However what I figured out was what caused the bleeds. Anything that would cause a harmless contraction in a normal pregnancy was causing me to bleed- so I scratched my dry nipples one day, bleed. Spicy food. A bleed. Any mild exertion. Bleed. Slightly dehydrated, bleed.

MakeUpGirl · 28/02/2019 18:01

Bed rest was very boring and felt like it would last forever but I just kept reminding myself that it was worth it for my baby.
I was lucky to have plenty of visitors - I work in the hospital so had friends and colleagues popping in with snacks and magazines etc
If you do get put on bed rest make sure you have your phone charger, I downloaded lots of books on my kindle too and spent a lot of time online shopping for DDs arrival
My biggest struggle was with the hospital food but mostly that was because I also had HG and just couldn’t eat a lot of things

Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 18:01

Oh really? What was it that caused you to deliver if you don’t mind me asking? Did you go into labour naturally or did they have to deliver? Also did you stop bleeding? Mines just ongoing like as soon as it settles it starts again! Glad your little one is alright!!

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Fluffyears · 28/02/2019 18:08

My friend had a placenta précis andbit completely covered her cervix. It moved up fine and she had a natural birth with no further complications. She was warned she may need a section if it didn’t move enough.

QuickRedFox · 28/02/2019 18:14

I had placenta previa totalis at 20 weeks that was marginalis by 28 weeks, but I still needed a planned section because of it.

Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 18:14

Ahh that’s good about visitors! Yeh I’ve got a list for my hospital bag which I’m gonna sort out very soon! Going to pack some puzzle books and make sure I’ve got a spare charger!! Just in case! Hopefully I’ll not need to be admitted and it’ll move and all will be fine I’m more confident now after posting on here!! It’s just very daunting isn’t it! That’s so good fluffyears! How far was she when it moved? Was her pregnancy bleed free? Or did she have the symptoms of it?

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VictoriaBun · 28/02/2019 18:16

I had this ( many years ago) it was graded. One being completely covered, 2 being mostly ( the grading I was given) I was given a bed in maternity ( told you it was years ago 😉 ) Stayed in hospital a good 6 weeks having regular scans. Once it had moved enough I was allowed out of hospital with strict instruction not to go too far from home / hospital. I ended up delivering without any problems.

babycatcher411 · 28/02/2019 18:16

I know it’s not really the answer you want to hear, but realistically, if it’s completely covering the cervix, it’s not going to move.
Placenta previa’s are graded based on how near/how much covers the opening, and this is what affects the likely outcome and care pathways.

Placentas don’t actually move as such, it’s just that as the uterus grows they are pulled upwards and away from the cervix with the growth of the uterus, however the cervix doesn’t grow/move with the uterus, so a placenta that is mostly or wholey covering the cervix is not likely to change from that position. IYGWIM.

I think the main issue people have with bedrest is finding things to keep you stimulated. Most of us are not used to doing nothing so it can feel very boring and frustrating. But it’s not for no benefit

PotolBabu · 28/02/2019 18:21

Why did I deliver early? Because the repeated bleeding caused my cervical membrane to get thin and my waters broke. We held on till he was fully steroid mature which made a HUGE difference to his respiratory status.

Alexis21 · 28/02/2019 18:23

I had this with my first pregnancy I was admitted to hospital and then put in a ward where women who had miscarried or were in the process of losing their baby were. I didn't miscarry and went on to have a daughter by c section. I was in hospital for 6 months on bed rest but don't think I would have been kept in hospital nowadays as my daughter is 30 so obviously this was a long time ago.

Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 18:30

Babycatcher that’s the typical sort of reply I’ve had from the doctors! They said there’s a very small chance of it moving but with it being where it is it’s not very likely! I’m trying my hardest not to worry but it’s so hard! My other half goes away a lot with work and I’ve got 2 active children! I’ve been so anxious already through this pregnancy now this is happening and I’m just thinking the worst! Then when I have doctors and midwives telling me I need to concentrate on getting to my next scan and taking it week by week or as the doctor said today get to 24 weeks!!

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Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 18:37

Oh potolbabu I didn’t even realise that could happen! I had steroids with both my others so do you think I could request them this time just to be on the safe side?

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babycatcher411 · 28/02/2019 18:38

It’s understandably worrying. And unfortunately, it doesn’t really matter what anyone says because no one can take that worry away from you.
It’s a case of taking one day at a time at this point, being in control of what you can be in control of, because sometimes you can’t, no matter what.

Have you got friends and family around who can help with the other children?

The difficulty with the explanations you will have been given is that the theory is exactly that, theory, what I have explained is the physiologically, the science, behind what’s going on, and the likely outcome, but sometimes we are wrong. Bodies are funny things and do surprise us. I never say never.

Nnnnnineteen · 28/02/2019 18:45

I had an undiagnosed previa. I was booked for a elcs for another issue and they only discovered the previa once dc was out!

HighwayCat · 28/02/2019 18:49

Have you had a caesarean before OP? If you have, make sure they’ve excluded placenta percreta - where the placenta is growing through the old scar - as 18 weeks is a little early to be bleeding due to placenta previa.

Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 18:50

I have a few friends but all have children, and husbands are away quite frequently which means my friends can’t always get here to help if I need! If my little boy wasn’t in school I’d go back home for the rest of my pregnancy just so I’d have my family around! I know there’s a chance it could move! It’s great hearing other people’s experiences though from like actual real people! Rather than the statistics being chucked me at!!

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Original poster

CSTH · 28/02/2019 18:51

Highwaycat no never, both natural deliveries!? I think this is where their concern is coming from the fact it’s completely covering and it’s already causing problems so early on!

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ValleyoftheHorses · 28/02/2019 18:57

My placenta praevia baby is now 6- an only child- not going through that again!
He was ivf- I bled on and off through first trimester. Second all ok. It was missed (by fetal medicine consultant who scanned me!) at my 20w scan so first I knew was big bleed at 23w. I bled again at 26, 30, 31, 34 and 35. Each time I spent a few nights admitted and I had the steroids. At 35 they kept me in and my CS was planned for 36+3. DS arrived at 6.15 that day, 3 hours before my planned section due to “the” bleed.
It’s a scary time. My advice- no work, no sex, no exercise. Bed to sofa to wander round the house (avoid dvt) to bed to sofa.
No housework, no lifting, don’t hoover, don’t push a supermarket trolley, don’t drive. I did this from 23w onwards and managed to hang on, but that could be luck. You don’t want to do something, bleed and then wish you hadn’t done it though so worth it to rest rest rest.
My placenta was posterior so wasn’t likely to move but anterior often do. Probably not enough for a vb- needs to be 3cm away- but enough for less bleeds.
Ask to be scanned for a vasa praevia- you need a colour doppler.
www.thisismy.co.uk/baby-vasa-praevia-pregnancy-scan/
Good luck
Happy to chat by pm xx

Fireinthegrate · 28/02/2019 19:04

I had this at 20 weeks. I had a few more scans then the one at 34 weeks thankfully showed it had moved. My baby was born normally at 39 weeks and not problems at all.
Hope all gos well for you.

DistantVworp · 28/02/2019 19:38

I had placenta previa (and accreta). Bed rest in hospital from 24 weeks after a massive bleed, then bleeding on and off until another huge bleed and crash section at 30+6. Bed rest was NOT fun - kindle was essential, plus a laptop loaded with box sets! DD is 6 now and totally fine, but wasn't the best part of my life!

tinytemper66 · 28/02/2019 23:48

I had PP from 27 weeks. Kept in hospital til 34 weeks where I had an emergency C section.
Good luck x

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