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.

Some consultants are less worried than others but I think you should have been explained in full what could happen just to be aware.

When is your next appt?

I had the consultant every 4 weeks from 24w until 32w and then every 2 weeks until 36w then weekly.

I would not reccomend your dh being away that late in the pregnancy.

Pollyanna, I'm not sure if everyone with pp bleeds quite as copiously as fruitful ( and I!) did. My friend had light bleeding at 36 weeks, was kept in hospital for 2 weeks and then given a CS.
I had occasional spotting from 24 weeks. Then at 32 weeks I had a huge bleed while lying in bed. I thought my waters had broken and was shocked to see loads of bright red blood when I went to the bathroom. It had poured out like wine out of a bottle! This happened to me twice more in 24 hours and after the third time I had an emergency CS under GA.

I have an appointment in 2 weeks time when I will be nearly 33 weeks, so will chat to him then. he usually scans me too.

dh has read this thread now so we are considering what to do about the holiday - he will come with me to the consultant appointment and we will decide after that. I was going to use the opportunity of him (and children) going away to rest. My mum lives in the same town as me, so I won't be alone.

not everyone will bleed but the majority do. I once had an intersting paper on how many people bled with pp (more than half) and what grade it was when bleeding occured etc. i cannot find it at the moment but i was shocked when i found it as none of it had been explained to me until I was 30 weeks on the NHS. that was my last NHS visit as i cannot tolerate that level of negligence.

you could be fine but you must be prepared from at least 32 weeks onwards. carry a mobile (make sure its always charged!) at all times. have someone with you as much as possible and make sure you carry your notes or at least something that says you have pp and your hospital number. make sure you can get to a hospital asap if you need to.

geath from pp is very preventable. if you take precautions you should then be able to relax and enjoy the last stages of your pregnancy.

I just read on the rcog page that it is from 7-33% that don't bleed. It is quite scary that with those odds I have not been told to expect bleeding at some stage soon.

omg. they should have told you what to do when it happens and who to call.

I had my obstetricians mobile number and told to call at the slightest drop of blood or signs of labour.

yes moocow, the care/information I have received from my drs has been pretty rubbish so far!

mumofmonsters I meant to say that it sounds as though we are going through this at the same time - would be interested to know how you get on at your scan etc. I am still working (and commuting to London by train) and am paranoid about bleeding on the train/at work).

i received no info until after 30 weeks so i left the NHS and went private as i felt the risk was far to great going on their track record with me.

if you are commuting you need to be careful in crowds. you don't want a heavy bump or to be knocked over. hopefully people are giving up a seat for you, no so much to rest your feet but so that you are out of the way of the crowds. take it slowly when you get of the train no need to go with the mob.

my doctor gave me a sick note for the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy as i work in a very rowdy and lively educational establishment and the risk of a bump and major bleed was to great.

I had PP, and bled throughout my pregnancy. I was booked in for a CS at 38wks a couple of days before CS went in for a scan and was told it had moved, so I had a natural labour. Dont panic too much I continued working as a nanny to 2 very young children involving long tube journey's also continued on at home as norm. The bleeding bit is scary and I did have to have a couple of stays in to be monitored. But all was ok.

On the holiday front even if I didnt have PP I would feel uncomfortable with my DH doing away that close to the end.

I had PP Major (grade 4) and had a caesar at 36 weeks (with a general). DS also had IUGR and was 4lb 10 so that may make it a different situation. I spent the week before in hospital despite no bleeding. There seemed to be different levels of worry from different people, and my usual dr wasnt worried at all about bleeding until a junior dr at the scan told him I should be in hospital! I was asked to come back the same day.

Bleeding can be serious with PP, it can happen quickly so you should be cautious, and I would cancel the holiday mainly to reduce your stress! I was warned to avoid all excersise (now doing weight watchers lol).

My midwife totally paniced and my dr was very laid back. I tried to find a cautious healthy attitude between the two, and avoided all hoovering of course. I would feel awful after seeing the midwife and great after seeing the dr

I had PP in my 2nd pregnancy and had a section at 37 weeks but I did have a lot of bleeding and was in and out of hospital. Spent the last week of the pregnancy in hospital so I think they'd had enough of me at that point

I spoke to my midwife about this yesterday, as I was concerned about my consultant's attitude. basically she has told me to continue as I am! She has said that most people get some warning about bleeding (we glossed over the 5 minute bleeding to death scenario) and that I am fine to continue commuting, being on my own, looking after 4 children etc etc. i am fine to work until 36 weeks, and wait until that scan to decide when there will be a c-section.

dh won't get the money back for the holiday until I am told I have to have a c-section anyway, so he will wait until then.

She did agree that the consultant should have discussed a plan with me by now, but said that different trusts take different approaches to this. My trust seems remarkably laid back

Hopefully I will have more info after the next appointment. Thanks for all of your input.