Anyone else have a 'reaching placenta' or having a C-Section?

[Toni2011]

I'm 34 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I had a third scan today after my 20 week scan showed that I had a 'reaching placenta' (my placenta is blocking the exit). I have to go back in two weeks to check it again, and if it hasn't moved I will have to have a C-Section.

Basically I'm scared stiff of having to have the C-Section and am wondering if anyone else has any experience of this problem. The nurse says it can naturally fix itself - how likely is that?

Also, do I have to be conscious to have a C-Section? Any thoughts/experience on this?

Hello,

I've not heard the term 'reaching placenta' before but a placenta covering the exit is termed as full (grade 4) placenta praevia. As the 'exit' i.e. os/cervix is blocked by the placenta then there is no natural exit route for your baby. The only alternative with a blocked cervix is a caesarean delivery. As there is a risk of increased bleeding with placenta praevia during delivery this also makes a caesarean delivery the safer option.

Your placenta could move but given that it is is covering your cervix fully at 34 weeks then it is unlikely. The distance of the placenta from the cervix that is recommended for safe vaginal delivery is 2cm i.e. placenta 2cm or more from the cervix/os. Your uterus will grow upwards in the next six weeks and the placenta will be pulled upwards with that growth but whether it moves fully away from the cervix is difficult to predict. It seems unlikely though. If you imagine a soft dinner plate dropped over your cervix then that's effectively your placenta praevia - the likelihood of that degree of placenta being shifted a 'safe' distance away is unlikely. However, it's not impossible.

If you have a caesarean delivery for placenta praevia it will be elective/scheduled and carried out by a consultant (i.e. high level surgeon). It will also be carried out under epidural/spinal block (unless there are underlying medical issues that prevent this, which is unlikely) so you will be fully conscious for delivery. If you don't want to be conscious for delivery then you could discuss delivery under general anaesthetic but this isn't recommended unless medically necessary as it makes recovery harder and you miss the birth. You could talk to your consultant about these options as he or she will be able to allay any fears you might have about the operation itself. Finally, delivery might be slightly earlier - 38 or 39 weeks, which is still considered 'full term' - but that is down to your individual consultant and he or she can best advise you on this.

HOpe this helps..

yes - and mine moved in time which - if it's totally blocking is more unusual I think so prep yourself for a section.. BUT I had other complications and I ended up having emergency C Section right away. So good things about a C section without going into labour? NO LABOUR! No pain etc no issues with your lady bits afterwards - all's as it was pretty much before. And you know when you're having baby - i didnt as it was an emergency not planned.
Bad-ish things - C section still not pleasant. Had a spinal which i couldn't feel as you get a local 1st but yes you're awake. It's all so quick though. Sit up for spinal, then they lie you down, peg up a cover/your gown so you and partner cant see the bottom half, check you're properly numb from chest down with ice ( very thorough about this which was a relief) then you get a sensation like someone rummaging in a handbag. Next thing you know they're handing you a baby - you're numb from chest down but arms still work. V.good about getting skin to skin even tho you had surgery both right at birth and in recovery - as you're not mobile you have a midwife to look after you for as long as you need/want.In the the meantime there's a bit more rummaging as they sew you back up etc. Then Dp and baby go off to recovery room while they tidy you up, maybe change gown - none of which you can feel as you're numb which for me was the most disconcerting bit. Before you know it you're in recovery room with baby again. All in all mine was about 20mins from going to theatre to recovery. other nice thing is the midwife/doc who's been with you before surgery are the ones in with you. The next couple of days were tricky as movement is sore, but bearable cos of painkillers, and it takes a while longer to recover generally, ( about 4 weeks for me) but I guess women who have a lot of stitches or a difficult labour can also take a good while to heal. To hear my friends who went through labour tell it i got off easy... and 10 months later you can't even see my scar it's so fine and so low down...
So no it's not great but it's not really easy having a baby whatever way you look at it i think.

I think they say it is 'reaching' because it is not covering it entirely, just partially. I did see the words 'placenta previa' in my notes though (not that they explained this very well!). The nurse who did the scan today said that there is a chance that it will move, but she just seemed unconvinced so I'm not sure I believe her!

Thanks so much for your experiences, it does help to hear things went reasonably well for you. It's nice to hear that there is a positive side to this.

However, I seem to be near passing out whenever they so much as take blood from me at the moment (I'm convinced its all in my head, but can't seem to stop it happening), so the idea of an epidural or C-Section frightens the life out of me. I desperately want to be aware of what is happening during the birth, but I'm worried that I will panic and pass out or something.

Ultimately our safety is the most important thing to keep in mind - I know that, and I know that no childbirth is a piece of cake, and I'm really looking forward to meeting my baby boy, however he comes.

I'm just scared.

I also had this at a 32 week scan (which is the time by which the placenta normally moves). However just a week later, at 33 weeks, another scan showed it had moved and all was fine, so it can still happen and happen pretty quickly too!

I am choosing to have an elective c-section anyway this time because I had a very traumatic birth with DS1 which ended up in an EMCS anyway. I have to say that the EMCS part of DS1's birth story was the best part despite it being an emergency!

Moments described the process well, so I won't repeat it, but I am more nervous about the idea of going into natural labour early than the CS. The longer recovery period sucks, but it does mean that (hopefully) people will be more willing to help out....fingers crossed.

Hope you have a lovely birth either way.

OP, I had an elcs last week and I panicked in theatre.
I thought i was going to pass out when they put something through my
canula. Anaesthetist was lovely and offered to knock me out there and then - I said no, so he lay me on my side so I wouldn't faint and did the spinal while I was lying down. When it comes down to it they won't want you to be distressed, but I'm sure you'll be fine.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and helpful comments.

I have no idea what will happen until the next scan in a few days, so I will just have to wait and see. I am feeling a bit better about it all now though.

Good luck EenyMeenyMaya, and congratulations PaigeTurner.

I hope everyone had a lovely New Year.