Placenta Praevia Support

[blacktreaclecat]

Just been diagnosed with posterior pp after small bleeds at 24 and 26 weeks. The placenta reaches but doesn't completely cover os.
I have been advised to stop work, pelvic rest, no lifting, pushing supermarket trolley, exercise and to take life very easy.
I have put myself on modified bed rest- spend a lot of time in bed/ sofa but get up to potter about the house and for a short slow gentle walk daily to prevent dvt.
I am really struggling emotionally. This is an ivf baby after 3 years ttc and 2 losses. I am so so scared baby will come very early and be poorly. We were so happy and now it just seems a nightmare.
I'm 27+1 today. Baby seems fine at the moment and oblivious of all the worry it is causing.

Hello can I join? Had 20 week scan today, they 'went in' and confirmed major PP. Didn't give a massive amount of info so not sure about much other than its made my c section vs vbac decision easy in that there isn't one to make! Any info/ experience that people have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much ladies, I am overwhelmed by the messages of support, as I can imagine you probably already know having been there. Please can you post a link to your thread? I'd really love to read it to help pass the time.

My case was reviewed today and they're keeping me in (unsurprisingly!), but the consultants have promised to review it on a weekly basis as their big meeting. As I am sure you all know - worse case is I'm in until I deliver, best case is that they let me home as soon as I'm bleed free for a while and they're happy things are a bit stable.

Blackcat how are you doing? I feel like I've hijacked your thread a bit , but can imagine that the messages are helping you too. I hope things are going ok with you at home on bed rest.

I am trying to get into the right mental frame of mind to deal with this, and just taking each day as it comes, I think that's the best I can do.. :O

Hi Poppy
I called it placenta praevia support so we can all support each other. You can't hijack!
I'm so glad things are a little better you sound much more positive. Day at a time. As I said to you my friend had a month admitted with pp before she had her twins. Her tips were- nice food brought in by her H. She had a big bowl of fruit by her bed as hospital food isn't always the greatest. She had cereal (ward had fridge with milk) because they give you tea at 5pm so she was always starving before
bed. She had her laptop and a dongle which gives out mobile wifi so she could work. She did a hospital blog. Also her laptop played DVDs. Once or twice a week her H used to bring her M and S picnic food for tea. When she had visitors they went out for coffee to be hospital cafe.
All things to think about. I have obviously wondered whether I would end up admitted long term- it seems common with pp if you are a bleeder. So this is why I quizzed her. She also got a side room for free for the duration- worth an ask?
Ohdoone- a lot of pp found on 20 week scan move up by 32-34 weeks so don't panic yet. Not sure I think complete pp is less likely to move. I don't know what your Drs have told you- I would avoid sex also exercise including swimming, heavy lifting and try not to be on your feet too much. My first and worst bleed was at 23w after a full day at work followed by my Antenatal pilates class. Lots of rest has really helped in my case I think. Fingers crossed - my cs is booked 5 weeks today. So hope we get there.
Xxxx

Welcome ohdoone fingers crossed that yours moves, my placenta was completely covering at 20 weeks but has moved 10mm in 9weeks, it's just a pain that I am bleeding so much.

There are some ladies on this ward who have major pp without a lot of bleeding, so fingers crossed it all works out for you. :)

keep us updated & good luck xxx

Thank you so much coppernoodle the search on my phone isn't great!
I will read through your thread today :)

Guess what happened at 4am? Yup, another big bleed. Sigh :(

strapped to monitor again. Vital signs for both of us ok at the mo.

Fingers crossed again :o

Oh no Poppy I'm sorry. Are you still on Antenatal or have they moved you to delivery again? Glad the ctg is looking good. It is worth remembering that with pp it is your blood, not the baby's. Lots of baby stay in vibes
Hugs xxxx
34w today here which is the milestone I was hoping for when I was diagnosed after my second bleed at 26w. Fingers crossed for 36 now.

Oh I so remember those times. But so pleased ctg is ok. All my obs were always ok and baby was bouncing around in there. It's just really horrible being kept on the bed and them changing pads etc. keep focused on hearing that heart beat and they are monitoring you so closely they will act if they need to. Big hugs, thinking of you x

They moved me to solitary confinement (labour ward :o) this morning and I have been here ever since.

It's the nil by mouth I can't cope with, when I get hungry I just can't stop crying.

So, am in the same position as last weekend.

So so so so so PISSED OFF with this. not sure how much more I can cope with.

I am convinced these bleeds are connected to my extreme
Constipation. It took me 4 days to go this week, and I really tried not to strain too much yesterday. But I just knew this was going to happen today. Just knew it.

Arrrgggh! Sorry, rant over. 30 weeks tomorrow :)

Thanks for wishes ladies, didn't mean to just grumble.

You're not grumbling you are allowed to be every emotion under the sun and more. The nil by mouth is do hard too as you get so hungry don't you. It's so good you've got to 30 weeks now, can then give you things for constipation?? Know what you mean as when I had full bladder for scan that set a bleed off whilst I was in too!! Try to take every hour as it comes. Have you got visitors and friends. That helped me lots xx

This must be so hard. Are you nil by mouth in case they have to do EMCS?
Surely no food won't help the constipation.
Get your DH to bring milled flaxseed and dried prunes in. I have a portion of prunes every morning at breakfast and put a tablespoon of flax in my cereal. These plus daily OJ and twice daily lactulose help a lot. They may be able to give movicol which is a bit stronger than lactulose. Worth an ask
Keep talking to us, you aren't grumbling this is a very difficult time. On the plus side 30 weeks tomorrow? A great milestone for your little boy xxxx

30 weeks today :o

They kept me on labour ward last night, and sure enough woke up at 2am with another bleed. 120mls loss plus a soaked maternity pad (how glam! :))

nil by mouth again, do glad I snuck in that extra biscuit and cup of tea when the drs said I could eat again last night! Yes, treacle it's incase of an emergency c section :(

I have been given a hardcore dose of lactose and some senna to help. I have been eating loads of dried fruit etc... But it's like my bowels have gone on holiday

Thanks for all your messages. They really do help xxc

Morning Poppy sorry you had a bad night
When I was diagnosed my consultant said to me " we need to get you to 30 weeks". That was her milestone. I don't know if that helps but what she was saying was if baby came any time after 30 it would have a very very good chance.
Hoping for a better day for you and that they allow you to eat! People eat in early labour and go onto need EMCS all the time.
Xxxx

Thanks treacle, that's what they're keep saying to me, now that I have hit the 30 weeks mark, that's good. Now it's just a wait and see game... Think the aim has changed and is now to get me to 34 weeks.

And I have had breakfast :o whoooop!

Hopes you're keeping well xx

I've woken up with loads of brown discharge. Do you guys only go in for red? Whenever I have been in I have been discharged with brown and they always say they don't care unless it is red- brown is old blood. Think I did too much yesterday- going to lie down all day today

Sorry x posts- yay for breakfast! Hope you filled up :)

Morning ladies

I havent posted for ages as you were all going through hell and I was doing ok, but I have been lurking!

Just wanted to say hang in there, you are all so brave and strong and are obviously amazing mums already! I was scanned yesterday and placenta had moved 6 cm so I can have a natural birth. I did blub with relief and tmi but high fived OH with internal probe still in!

I wish you lots of luck ladies, and when you have your beautiful babies I hope you have a lovely glass of bubbles to celebrate.

Frog xx

treacle as far as my experience goes brown is good red is bad :o I think a day of rest will be good.

I've bled so much, they don't even wait for brown with me anymore, just have to wait for it to go down to 5mls of red and no clots and then they let me back to other ward :)

fried that's great news! Virtual high five from me too :o

Hello, fellow ppers!

I found out I had placenta praevia on june 15th last yr at a routine 31w scan. Not sure the grade, but t was totally covering. I was never told bed rest but then as solely in charge of a 4yr and 2yr old they probably thought not to bother. I was told to ring 999 if I bled.

Five days later I went v gentle swimming for first time in months and an hour later I bled (through jeans) and was taken by ambulance to hospital. Bleeding just was continuous and they did an emergency c section before tea. Only during the operation did I realise I was having a premature baby. He was a whopping 5lb 4!

He was in nnicu for 3 weeks and was exclusively breastfed for 6 months and still bf now :) I lost a lot of blood on operating table (almost 4litres) and was close to hysterectomy but they managed to stop bleeding eventually with a balloon inflated in vagina. Lovely. I was fully conscious throughout and tbh I still don't think I realise how serious it was. But I was home from hospital in 6days and ds3 is utterly gorgeous and happy and smiley and bright as anything.

I am sure it'll all be fine.

Thanks for your story captainbarnacle, it's really good to hear. :)

I have been let out of solitary confinement (labour ward room) and am back on the normal antenatal ward :o just waiting for a transfer to a bed in my usual bay.

blackcat how are you doing?

Ok, had a fair amount of brown but not enough to fill a pad or anything- more a panty liner worth tmi. Have spent the day lying down apart from an hour this afternoon sitting on a comfy chair, feet up in the sun. So not too bad, will try to keep resting and fingers crossed it will settle.
Glad you are back on the ward. Is your DH with you? I like it in hospital when he is with me as much as possible - makes it less scary and we are in this together somehow.
Hope you have a stress and bleed free night, you must be exhausted.
Xxxxxx

So glad you're back in the ward.
Hi captain barnacle! Remember you from our thread a year ago! So pleased you're all ok, like deo and coppernoddle said, can't believe a year on. My little boy is nearly one too, am also still bfing too!!boys and boobs hey!!
Hope all these stories help give you all some hope, it's so scary at the time but I'm sure you'll be ok. The staff are trained for pps and take it so seriously. You'll get there and like us, a year on, you'll be supporting other pp mums too!! Cx

Morning
At 3am woke with a red bleed. Ctg ok but some tightenings.
Just hanging around on labour ward until the ward round- expect to be admitted overnight. Feeling a bit anxious.
How are you Poppy?
Xxx

Oh blackcat! It's always the early hours isn't it? I think the bleedings can irtitate the uterus sometimes and cause the tightening. Were you admitted? How's things this morning.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts and hugs. Hope DH is with you.

cmm All these stories really do make me feel much :) x