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Original poster

Placenta covering OS - help!!!! I'm going on holiday in three weeks!

40 replies

Coppernoddle · 29/03/2011 20:47

I'm not sure whether I even want to post this thread or not in fear of the reality!
We booked a holiday of a life time before getting pregnant (which wasn't planned) to Disneyland Florida for my two girlies who just adore princesses!, it's cost us an arm and a leg as it was a one off! And it's my DD birthday out there and have the whole thing planned and booked!

I had my 20 week scan last week and have been panicking ever since! The fact that we found out we were having a boy was the best news I have ever had as my first two are girls and they'd love a brother!
But on my scan the sonographer said my placenta is covering my OS and is written on my notes! And I have a cyst on my ovary measuring 3.5cm. I also had a prolapse at the beginning of my pregnancy and am now scared to death of A) not being able to go on our holiday of a lifetime and B) what the rest of this pregnancy may hold for me!!

Am I being unrealistic thinking I still may go or worrying too much about nothing? I'll be 24 weeks when we fly!

Please help!!!!!!

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dycey · 29/03/2011 21:54

My gp just got me referred to see s doc at the hosp to discuss travel with placenta praevia. I am also rhesus negative so tiny bit more complicated. But not as serious as you? Why not get your gp to do the same? They can assess the risk for you or do am extra scan just before you go?

Lovebendicks · 29/03/2011 22:30

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Don't want to freak you out but I bled pretty much from 22 weeks & was in hospital for most of the rest of the pregnancy on complete bedrest. Wasn't even allowed to shower. I would check with your consultant rather than your GP as s/he will be more aware of your circumstances & any risks involved in travelling. Good luck.

MrsColumbo · 29/03/2011 22:52

You'd be best off checking with your GP. and finding out exactly what you can and can't do. After being diagnosed with placenta praevia at 7 months after a bleed I wasn't allowed to travel more than 15 mins away from the hospital. Sorry to rain on your Disney parade - I really hope this doesn't affect your holiday. Fingers crossed and hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well.

nicolamumof3 · 29/03/2011 23:20

Definitely get this checked as bleeding can be very serious with this. I also have the same placenta completely covering os detected at 20w scan. Was told no more, which i am going to take up with MW as wasn't made aware that i might bleed/implications etc. HAve scan at 34w that i hope will show has moved anyway.

Am now 24+3

Original poster
Coppernoddle · 30/03/2011 16:27

Well, spent my 30th birthday today in hospital with agonising pain in the pelvis area so they just told me to rest and watch out for any bleeding! She did say that I should be able to go on my holiday but obviously take it easy but still I have to wait to see the consultant! The second week were spending over on clearwater's white sand beaches where I can sit and do nothing! But she said that I would almost definitely have a c section which means I've had one of everything! A hospital natural birth, a home birth and now c section!! Thank goodness were not having any more!
Was placenta previa painful or just bleeding?
I now have to rest as much as possible but with a 4 and 5 year old it's proving to be difficult!! My girls bought me a new Hoover for my birthday too which has made me smile! A pink hetty!! Guess my hubby will be doing the hoovering from now on!!
I'm not looking forward to bouts of bleeding which seems to be very common with PP, but baby's having a good wiggle and very lovely heart beat!!
All the midwives said, it's always the boys!!!! Hehehe!!!

Thank you everyone for your replies, makes me realise I'm not on my own but is very scary! X x x

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Coppernoddle · 30/03/2011 16:30

Oh, and to top it off, on my birthday, 30th of all days, I'm now on a no sex no orgasm ban until babies born!!!!
How rubbish is that!!!! I'm sex mad when I'm pregnant and can't even celebrate my birthday with a bang!!!hehehe!!!

Poor hubby x x

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nicolamumof3 · 30/03/2011 16:55

Didn't they seem optimistic it might move as you have quite a way to go yet?

Original poster
Coppernoddle · 30/03/2011 17:34

No as it's covering totally and I have an ovarian cyst and had a prolapse at the beginning to I think there going to be careful now! There are too many risks for natural birth. I see the consultant next week.

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nicolamumof3 · 30/03/2011 17:58

sorry i forgot about the other issues. Such a shame on your birthday at all. They seem confident that mine will move when i saw MW today, tho mine is completely os as well Confused

Original poster
Coppernoddle · 30/03/2011 23:11

That's good news x you'll gave to keep me informed! There's hope for me yet! And hopefully the pain is just pelvis pain! Oh the joys!

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Coppernoddle · 31/03/2011 11:26

Lovebendics, that sounds horrific for you! Bet you were going out of your mind being bed ridden for that length of time! I'm a very active person, think you have to be with two young children so am finding it difficult to try to relax and do nothing!
Did anyone els have to go on a sex ban/orgasm ban? How the he'll did you cope with that and does sex return to normal after or do you get used to not having it?

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dycey · 31/03/2011 14:28

Well after asking for a referral to see a doctor I am told what I do not want to hear! Advised against travel at all. Told not to have sex. No-one would have told me any of this if I had not asked!

Was scanned at 20 weeks and my next appointment was 2 months later. With a holiday in between.

dycey · 31/03/2011 14:28

By the way my placenta is only partially covering.

girlfromdownsouth · 31/03/2011 15:09

Copper my placenta is completely covering my os which was picked up at the 20wk scan. They scanned again at 22wks and it hadn't moved BUT midwife said it is extremely common for placentas to do this and as the uterus grows it usually "pulls" the placenta up with it, so not to worry. They are going to scan me again at 32wks (I am 25wks now).

I've had no bleeding in 2nd trimester (4 episodes in first) and am feeling confident. I have to as I've got a 3rd home birth booked and can't contemplate a c/s right now!

Keep in contact with the midwives and take their advice. I'm sure you will be able to go on your holiday of a lifetime - and your two princesses will have the most special holiday ever, to be followed by the birth of their wonderful brother!! It's all good! Grin

dycey · 31/03/2011 15:33

I am going to get a private scan just before my holidays to see if I can go. If not am gutted.

nicolamumof3 · 31/03/2011 15:55

dycey seems advice varies so much. I wasn't even told about any bleeding at my scan and my mw seemed totally unconcerned when i saw her yesterday.

Original poster
Coppernoddle · 31/03/2011 18:09

When I saw the gyne yesterday she said I would have c section! Which I also felt gutted as had a home birth with dd 2 and really enjoyed it!
Phoned my travel insurance today and they said that technically don't need to know as it's a breech of human rights and I'm covered for 10 million!! I guess I need to just relax and see what happens! Thanks everyone x x

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Coppernoddle · 31/03/2011 18:13

Oh, my midwives were useless in warning me of things I not need to be doing! She's a farmers wife and is in cloud cookoo land!!! Thatnk goodness for consultants!!

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nicolamumof3 · 31/03/2011 18:29

I was surprised as thought that after the scan should have been told risks/complications etc by a doctor but was just told basically oh your placenta is low its covering your cervix' I then had to ask the sonographer what this meant..she said 'It will probably move but if not a c-section at 37 or 38 weeks, come back and we'll re-scan at 34w, nothing to worry about'.

Only on checking notes later i discovered that it is completely covering os. Im not sure if this makes a difference to partial covering in the likelihood of it moving or not? I appreciate you have further complications so its great you get to see consultant.

I am considering home birth as well. Not trying to stress to much what will be will be just a bit of a control freak and like to know!!

CatHerder · 31/03/2011 18:29

Please get more information before you get on a plane over the atlantic with this!

I've had placenta previa twice, and 3 bleeds during those pgs. One bleed stopped but the other two didn't (emergency cs and premature baby, both times).

When you see the consultant, please ask what the chances are of you having a major bleed. With pp you can bleed vast amounts very suddenly. It doesn't hurt but you lose a lot very quickly. With my last bleed I got up out of bed (was nighttime in hosp) and the blood poured out of me, bounced off the floor, and splashed up the cupboard a foot away from where I was standing. Mostly the bleeding stops but sometimes it doesn't and you only have 8 pints.

Please ask about the possiblity and consequences of haemorrhaging in an aeroplane that can't land quickly. Please ask about the chances of having your baby very prematurely in America and not being able to come home with your new baby for 3 or 4 months.

Sorry to completely scare you but it happens. The bleed that stopped was at 23 weeks and they were getting prepared for me to have the baby then.

CatHerder · 31/03/2011 18:41

Nicola, yes it is less likely to move if covering the os. It doesn't actually move, the bit of womb it is on grows and stretches, so the bit on your womb that your placenta is attached to will end up farther up.

(get a balloon, make a mark on it close to the neck, then blow the balloon up - the mark will now be farther up the side)

The problem is that the lower segment of the womb stretches the least. Overall the odds of a low placenta at 20 weeks not being low by 36 weeks is 80%. That's why some mws are so unfussed about it. But the fact that your placenta is covering the cervix now makes it less likely (can't remember the odds, sorry).

More info here - www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/low-lying-placenta-after-20-weeks-placenta-praevia

Original poster
Coppernoddle · 31/03/2011 18:42

Oh my goodness cathearder!! That's horrific!! I will definatly go into this with them and will try and get them to scan me before I go! I will be sensible, were absolutely over the moon were having a baby boy and don't want to jeopardise anything!! But at the same time, having to tell my little girls we can't go would be heart braking!! I followed the southsearocks thread of her waters breaking in America at 28 weeks, I know I'm a lot earlier than that but the medical staff in America were amazing so I have confidence in them there, but at the same time 3-4 months in America would be testing for anyone in that situation! Hubby has a very good job who would be very flexible with him, and I don't work but my kids wouldn't be in school! There's a lot to think about and my brain is on permanent overdrive! The fact the midwives aren't bothered makes me feel were fine, and the gyne said I should be fine but reading everyone's stories puts the bejeebies in me!! I'm scared of c section anyway so trying to get my head round that is stressing me out!
If only things were simple! Just when you think life's going well for the time being, wham! Something else hits you with a barge pole!! This pregnancy has basically gone from event to event!! It's really testing me! Hypremesis, prolapse dealing with addison's, and now all of this! I'm a walking mess!! The one thing I was really looking forward too was my holiday! :(

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Coppernoddle · 31/03/2011 18:47

Girlfromdownsouth there lovely words! Could quite honestly sit and cry to that I'm so het up!! Thankyou x x

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nicolamumof3 · 31/03/2011 18:59

ok re-read the scan notes im not sure whetther it means its covering now or not?

'placenta low, reaching the internal cervical os at this stage'

nicolamumof3 · 31/03/2011 19:00

don't think mine is as bad as i had thought what a relief.