If you had a c-section for a placenta praevia, how many weeks were you?

[Pollyanna]

I feel slightly concerned that dh and 3 of our children are going skiing when I will be 36/7 weeks!!

I am told that I am extremely likely now to need a caesarian as they say I have a grade 3 pp (no bleeding yet), but wondered at what stage these are usually carried out. I am hoping to wait until 38 weeks. I should say that I have never gone into labour early with any of my other 4, and 41 weeks seems to be my average.

i was booked in at 38 weeks but had an emergency at 37 weeks.

My friend had hers done 4 weeks early

oh dear, I have a scan at 36 weeks, and I was hoping that they would leave me until 38 weeks to do the section. I haven't got a grade iv pp so hope I won't have bleeding before then.

it is cutting it really fine.... a grade 3 previa might start bleeding if you start to dilate before your c.s, and you might have to go in for bedrest/ observation or for a c.s/

perhaps the trip could be postponed or done earlier. just in case. ??

I had bed rest from 32 weeks and had a section bang on 38 weeks. That was the latest they were willing to wait. But I did go from complete to partial in the last two weeks. would perhaps be a good idea to postpone if possible, or move closer as you wont want them to go for a while once youve given birth.

I had gd4 pp and was confined to hospital from 34 weeks onwards although had no bleeding at all until 36 weeks. CS scheduled for 38 weeks but ended up with crash-section at 37 weeks.

The consultant I saw last week (and who scanned me then too) on an unconnected matter told me that it was too soon to worry (while at the same time telling me it was grade 3). He seems very relaxed and told me not to even think about it until after 36 weeks. He also seemed unconcerned about bleeding.

But then I saw a mw yesterday who said that in her experience a grade 3 doesn't move at this stage and I should prepare for a c-section and carry my notes around at all times in case I have a bleeding episode and have to rush to hospital.

I am very unsure what to believe really. Looks like dh will have to try and move the holiday.

how many weeks are you?

i had totally unexpected bleeds from about 33 weeks. i was about 26 weeks until i spoke to consultant that actually laid the situation on the line.

I'm just over 30 weeks. The consultant hasn't told me anything about this - just not to worry about it as it is too early. It was the midwife that said it is very unlikely at this stage, with a grade3 pp, that it is going to move. She also said to be on the lookout for bleeding. no one else has told me I am at risk or bleeding/that I have to rest/that I might have to go into hospital early.

dh and I spoke last night - haven't cancelled the holiday yet, but we are starting to think about putting some arrangements in place in case I have to go to hospital.

Pollyanna, don't want to scare you but I had light bleeding from 24 weeks and a massive bleed and emergency CS at 32 weeks. Ds3 was fine. I think my case was a bit different though because I had previously had 2 CS's and the placenta was actually sitting on the scar so that may have made it less stable.

I had placenta praevia during my (twin) pregnancy which was picked up at my 20 week scan. At that stage it was partial (semi covering the cervix) although they said it would possibly move, although less likely with a twin pregnancy due to space limitations (both placentas were posterior, which is quite unusual).

I floated on normally until 23 weeks at which point the bleeding started. This triggered labour, which they blocked (thank God) but I had further bleeds and labour scares at 25 weeks, 28 weeks, and 30 weeks. After the 30 week bleed (massive) I was kept in hospital. I had more recurrant bleeds but nothing major until 35 weeks when they gave me an emergency section. Both babies were fine but I was slightly mad from the incarceration and anaemic from all the blood loss during the previous weeks.

My placenta did move upwards and away from the cervix (about 2cm away) but because of the bleeding and instability AND the twins I had to have a c-section. I was pencilled in for 36 weeks (due to the bleeding and risk of rupture) but obviously things happened before then.

If the cervix doesn't move then you will probably have to have a caesarean and I think they tend to do this at around 38 weeks to minimise the risk of your going into labour spontaneously.

Hope this helps.
kx

this is a timely thread! I have grade 4 anterior pp and will be rescanned next week (at 32 weeks), like you i have had no bleeding

I think that as long as you have no bleeding you are advised to continue as normal.

I had grade 4 placenta previa with ds1, had no bleeding but it was semi anterior. They wanted to do it at 38 weeks but Dh and I were pretty scared so after a melt down with the consultant they did it at 37 weeks.

Its difficult because they tell you 1: carry on as normal but take it easy 2: dial 999 if any bleeding if it will take you more than 5 minutes to get to hosp in car 3: don't panic

So how many weeks will you be on dh's return?

Mine is posterior I think which is slightly better. I'd be 37+3 I think on his return. I would hope that any planned c-section could wait until 38 weeks, but of course I can't predict if I have bleeding etc and need to be rushed into hospital.

i had grade 2 pp with ds1. booked in for section 39 weeks, but went into labour at 37 weeks spontaneously after a big bleed. had emergency section under GA. all turned out fine, but wouldn't want my dp to be away at 37 weeks if i was in same situation again.

34 weeks with ds1 and 33 weeks with ds2. With ds1 I had no bleeding until the one at 34 weeks. They were both grade IV, but research shows that there is no correlation between the grade and the likelihood of bleeding. You have just as much chance of a haemorrhage with a grade III as a IV. Or just as much chance of not bleeding at all, if you'd prefer!

If the placenta hasn't moved by your 36 week scan, they are likely to want you to stay in hospital until a cs at 38 weeks.

Personally I'd be cancelling the holiday. We had a holiday planned at 25 weeks and thought that was quite safe but I ended up in hospital before then! Sooo glad I didn't start bleeding while abroad.

Did they give any reason as to why you had it twice, fruitful? Or was it just bad luck?

"If the placenta hasn't moved by your 36 week scan, they are likely to want you to stay in hospital until a cs at 38 weeks."

They will only do this if you have bleeding or have any other complications. I was at home looking after 4 other kids until 37 weeks

had grade iv pp and cs at 36 weeks no bleeding but just started labour on the day of the cs.

you would be taking a risk being on your own that late. possibility is that it could all go fine but from 32 weeks you really need to have someone with you at all times.

you will need someone at home so you can put your feet up a bit and not be tempted to do anything to difficult or strenuous. you need to have someone who can get you to a hospital or phone for an ambulance within 20 minutes.

remember you could be fine but you must plan for worst case scenario with a grade iii or iv pp. don't take risks as its not worth it.

Agree with moo, although I had the 4 kids at home Dh was off work for the last half of my pregnancy and I stopped doing school runs ect... on my own from about 30 weeks just in case.

I think the hospitalisation must depend on doctor/area then. With ds1 they said they wanted me in at 36 weeks for a cs at 38 weeks, regardless of bleeding. Then I bled at 34 weeks and went into labour so that was that.

Chipmonkey - yep, just bad luck. Although the risk of previa increases with every cs that you have - risk after 2 cs is a whole 2.5%.

Don't underestimate the bleeding either.

The first 2 bleeds (34wks with ds1 and 23 weeks with ds2) were a couple of huge gushes of blood that slowed right down after 10 minutes or so. Scary and requiring ambulance but copable.

The third bleed (33 wks with ds2) was just torrential. It poured out of me, bounced off the floor and splashed up the wall. It was like someone had turned on a tap.

I really don't like to scare you, but please please be prepared!

I find it quite alarming that I haven't been told any of this by the consultant. I am still working (until 36 weeks), looking after the 4 children on my 2 days home, and have had no warning that i could have torrential bleeding at any time. Bloody consultant telling me that I don't need to think about it yet

I realise that everything could be ok, but it would be nice to be forewarned - well I am now I suppose.

dh has just read this thread and is in shock!

They didn't tell me anything the first time either. Fortunately the bleeding happened after the 32 week scan, which was when they told me about it all.

Here are the official information sheets on praevia - RCOG patient info and rcog doctor's info