Placenta Praevia and the possibility of long hospital stay - advice needed!

[LL1991]

Hello,

Long post incoming.. but i'd really appreciate any advice to calm my nerves!

I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant with my first baby, 31 and having a terrible few months - my father who I adored passed away recently, I have a bad relationship with a narcissistic mother, my siblings are falling out due to money/the will, I'm attempting to help a barely adult, dyslexic sibling make a bid for the family business, write a business plan in an industry I have no idea about, etc.

To top it all off I have Placenta Praevia which is completely covering the OS (not sure if posterior or anterior) and have now been told I may need to spend a couple of weeks in the hospital prior to a c-section. I was so desperate for a natural birth, to give us both the best start but I've come to terms with the fact that this is now almost impossible. I'm so stressed about it that I just want it over - a time and a date and for him to be handed to me. I'm just feeling so low and have no one to turn to.

I have an academic background so have scared myself by reading research papers that all go into great detail about the complications of PP and possible mortality, subsequently I'm terrified of going into hospital an hour away from my home and being so out of reach of my husband. He is crazy busy running our business and I can't see him being there as much as I'd want him to be - I won't hold this against him, we have worked so hard to get this off the ground and both have a dream of retiring early, subsequently our business has been our baby and unfortunately due to the nature of the work it sort of stops if he's not there or supervising! I struggle with loneliness and know I'll be miserable sitting in a hospital room by myself for min 2 weeks.

The actual question: If you've had an extended stay in hospital - What advice do you have? Do they let you leave for short periods to go out with family members? What should I pack? How can I make this a positive experience? Should I consider going private if I can (I have BUPA through work but no idea where to begin)?

Please can someone help me see my way out of this hole of negativity I've got myself into. I've been trying so hard to hold it all together for everyone else given what's been going on outside of the pregnancy but now the time is drawing near it's becoming unavoidable and I realise I've been burying my head in other matters to avoid preparing for the birth and any complications. I'm losing sleep lying awake thinking about my mortality and imagining that in 8 or 9 weeks I'll be dead and leave my husband alone with a newborn! I was emailing my solicitor about Wills & LPAs at 5am this morning!

Thanks for reading and for any advice you can give a stressed, scared, first timer!
L x

I had my first big bleed at 28 weeks and was diagnosed with type 4 PP (completely covering the os). They made me stay in until I had a haemorrhage at 37 weeks. They told me that this was inevitable and that is why my bed was closest to delivery suite, as they literally had minutes to get baby out. Long story short, it was nowhere near as dramatic as it was made out! I started bleeding and doctor went off for a coffee before she did c/s! It was under general (this was planned) and although I had big blood loss everything went well.
After the bleed at 28 weeks I had to stay in hospital for 4 weeks, not even allowed to go to hospital shop. As things were stable, I was then allowed to go home for one night a week as I lived 5 minutes away, on the condition I put a venflon in my arm. Was so told no sex or lifting anything.
Most of the 'lifers' as we came to be called had pp, and there wasn't a single horror story. Most babies born between 36-38 weeks. Some trusts routinely do a c/s at 36 weeks but mine let you go to term.

Hey L

Firstly you have an awful lot going on & it will all fade when the baby arrives.

I had placenta praevia with my ds & mine was an extreme case I went into labour at 27wks and was in & out of hospital from that point on. Whilst we lived slightly closer to the hospital my DH didn’t take time off because we knew it was better after DS was born.

I spent many days & weeks in hospital and you do get company from other people as well as tv/radio books and obvs mobiles.

With placenta praevia I was absolutely in the right place however much I felt otherwise. Until 31 wk + 3 days I had several challenging potential labour points until the final & worst one my ds was born within 4 mins everything could have needed was right there (inc blood).

Its great to do stuff for other people but you need rest & to try not to worry hospitals & staff are fantastic, you will also make new friends if you do go in for extended stay

Try not to worry it’s a condition that can be managed

Having a natural birth (vaginal, no pain relief) isn’t the best start for both of you. CS has proved to be one of the safest delivery methods for the baby, just not the safest for the mother.

Also wanted to say I can relate to the anxiety and apprehension about not knowing what was happening. I had dd (2) at home and it was a horrendously difficult time as DH had just started a new job and couldn't take time off. The first two weeks I sat behind the curtains crying but then went out to dining room for meals and met with other women. We all became quite close and there was often a good atmosphere, we're still in contact 20 years later.

My experience was years ago - I was booked for a home birth, and then had the scan. GP/midwife team immediately started planning hospital birth, but I found another GP who was willing to be on hand for a home delivery if I agreed to have a scan in final weeks to re-assess. I didn't have any bleeding, and although the placenta was low, by the time everything had stretched, it didn't look so bad. Normal home delivery, so I would ask for a reassessment in a few weeks - obviously may not be possible to avoid long hospital stay and section, but worth a shot.

To avoid confusion, I meant I had a two year old at home when I went into hospital. I didn't give birth to her at home, in case you were wondering.

I had a grade 4 PP and ended up in hospital with a bleed at 31 weeks. Was told I was likely to have to stay until delivery. However all was stable after 5 days and I was let home on the strict understanding I didn't go any further from home (20 mins to hospital) and had someone with me at all times. I met another lady in hospital with exactly the same thing. I was given steroids for baby's lungs and went to hospital weekly for matching of bloods in case I needed a transfusion at any point.

My consultant said 'I'll give you 5 weeks' as I left. 5 weeks to the day and I had another bleed and back to hospital. They were going to do a c-section immediately but then it stabilised so I was put on the list for the next day and ended up going down for delivery about midday. The lady I'd met previously also ended up back in that day and had her baby - unreal! She had a straightforward CS too.

None of it was horribly panicked and DH was allowed in theatre with me. They said if they told him to leave he had to go immediately but all ok. She was actually a forceps CS as she was wedged very high given the blocking placenta!

Dd was born at 36 weeks exactly at 5lb 7 and didn't need any incubator support although she had a 'hot cot' for a few days. I had no transfusions and healed really well (same as subsequent 'normal' CS.

Sorry you are having such a hard time. I think you need to completely step away from all the family issues (probate, takeover of family business) and just concentrate on yourself and your baby. None of the rest of this matters in the big picture.

Take plenty of comfortable clothes for lounging around (PJs, dressing gown, slippers and maybe tracksuits) to the hospital. Also nice toiletries, shampoo, moisturiser etc so you can try to feel human. Plus kindle, iPad, headphones to keep yourself entertained. Also snacks, nice fruit cordials etc. Basically anything that will help you to feel relaxed and comfortable.

The hospital staff should be able to help reassure you. Maybe explain how anxious you feel and see if they can offer any support. I wondered if things like relaxing podcasts would help give you something to focus on.

It's really hard when you’re used to being in charge and managing your career etc, but this is a time in your life to just focus on your health and that of your baby, and cut off all other distractions and worries.

Take care.

Hi L, I had major placenta praaevia, I had my first bleed at 26 weeks, and my second at 28 weeks after which they kept me in permanently until birth. I was scheduled a c section for 37 weeks but I haemorrhaged at 34 weeks and had an emergency section instead. My DS was actually quite poorly at birth but that’s a different story as at 34 weeks they are usually ok. Both he and I are absolutely fine now.

I know it’s a worry, but please try not to stress. The best place to be during all of this is next to the delivery suite! During my 6+ weeks in hospital I:

• finished off some of my work I was hoping to do before mat leave, and handed over to colleagues etc
• read
• did puzzles and played games
• watched films
• slept
• supported my husband from afar as he tried to sort out everything for the baby

Because I only lived 15 mins from the hospital they did allow me to go home and pack a bag etc when it first transpired I’d have to stay in. And then my husband would bring clean clothes in for me every few days. The hospital I was in also had a cinema, so They allowed me off ward to go there, and they’d also allow me off ward to eat with my husband and to walk with him in the grounds so long as he was with me.

Im quite happy in my own company so I was ok, but worried about my baby and trying to keep him in as long as possible! The major downside is the lack of sleep because hospitals are so noisy and there was emergencies all the time happening day and night on the ward. So I snoozed a fair bit in the day as well.

I became known as a ‘lifer’ due to being a permanent fixture on the ward and even showed new people to the ward around!

I actually had to stay in another 7 weeks after birth when DS was born but during the last few weeks was able to go home to sleep so did catch up a little bit before he came home!

Good luck and try not to stress!

Thank you all so much for your replies, it's really reassuring to see that, although there have been bleeds, they were manageable and everyone safe and well. Thanks also for the guidance on what you were able to do, unfortunately as it's an hour to my home and half an hour to my nearest family member' home, from the hospital it seems unlikely I'll be let out.

I also forgot to mention he's also a big bug*er! In the 97th % for size and some of his 27+3 sizing scans showed measurements akin to what's expected of a a 30+2 baby! This has also made me anxious about bleeding. I'm 28+4 today and worry about bleeding all time but guess it's inevitable and do know hospital would be the best place for us if this is the case.

Hi, when was your last scan? If it was 20 weeks a lot of placentas move before 32 weeks (I’ve got PP so have read up a lot on it!).

Hey, I also had complete placenta previa with my DD this year. First bleed at 33+5, in and out of different hospitals for 2 weeks, then sent home for a week before my c section at 36 weeks. My consultant said it was safe for me to go home- I wasn't allowed to be alone, told to call an ambulance if anything happens. The hospital stay was dull and exhausting. I had a bag packed from about 30 weeks- iPad, kindle, chargers, dressing gown slippers etc. Also eye mask and ear plugs (wards are awful).
With respect to BUPA- I would call asap. I was told placenta previa is one of the only condition's they cover a private section for. I was told I needed the 32 week scan report and could go from there. Ask your consultant if they can recommend any private hospitals- you will need to be attached to an NHS hospital. If you can't go private you may be able to claim on your Bupa for an extended NHS stay. Definitely worth a chat. I couldn't go private in the end as I caught covid and then started having bleeds, at that point the Nhs was safer.
The waiting and stress is the worst bit- try to avoid Google!

Hello to anyone still watching/getting notifications.

I just wanted to update as I never really commented back on the thread but did read and appreciate all your comments at a time when I was at quite a low ebb and had no one physically around me who I felt understood.

In the end I had a very short antenatal stay, for 8 days before my planned C date as baby was lying transverse and they were worried about my waters breaking early. I powered through, did lots of work for the first 4 days and then got really into rewatching Lost and binged the whole first series. My MIL was brilliant and came to see me everyday, brought me nice coffees and took me for walks (I wasn't allowed off the ward alone!).
I also got diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 32 weeks (after this thread was born) so all the finger pricking and planning hospital meals kept me busy too!

Baby Alex was born as planned on the 7th of March at 9:59am, 7lbs 10oz of perfection and I can happily say it was all worth it in the end. Not sure if I'll go again though - we may be a one and done couple - but for now we feel complete :)

Thanks again ladies!!

Well done. Big smiles !

Congratulations! Thanks for coming back and updating us! Enjoy your baby!

Congratulations @LL1991, so glad it all worked out ok for you

I think whilst it is all raw then #2 is not really a consideration! However, just fyi we went for #2 12 months later and Dd2 was a perfectly normal pregnancy (I think they often are after PP). I elected for another CS but would have been supported equally for a VBAC

Enjoy your newborn snuggles!