Polyhydranmios - hospital admission at 36 weeks?!?

[sarsudea]

Hi everyone, my first mumsnet post because I'm feeling a bit desperate and just wondered if anybody else has had a similar experience. It's been so reassuring finding mumsnet so far!

I am 30+5 weeks, baby measuring 33, AFI 34. I also have complete placenta previa (sp?) I've stupidly read loads about both conditions so am well aware of the risks. I've had one appointment with an obstetrician and she says I'll need to be admitted to hospital from 36 weeks because of the risk of cord prolapse with the excess fluid. I'll then have a c-section at 39 weeks - or possibly 38.

Obviously I don't want to do anything to endanger my baby but in all my searching I am yet to find anybody who's been admitted pre labour because of this risk. There seems to be a big difference in how different consultants/hospitals/midwives approach this - from 'get into hospital quickly if your waters break' to specific advice about what to do if you suspect a prolapse.

The upshot is I would do ANYTHING to avoid this extra time in hospital. I was planning a home birth :( I have a 21 month old daughter who I look after full time and would be devastated to leave and my inner London hospital is not the nicest of places to be stuck for weeks on end.

Again, I'm not such a fool as to complain about a few grotty weeks if it ensures the safe arrival of my baby but I wonder if this particular consultant is being over cautious... (I live a mile from the hospital and am happy to put myself under house arrest!)

Any thoughts really gratefully received...

I was admitted with DD1 because of polyhydramnios (and she was unstable lie), at 34 weeks, she was born by EMCS at 38 weeks.

I wasn't even allowed to leave the hospital grounds due to the risk.

It is annoying, and I know it is horrible, difficult as you have a toddler, and would really like to be home, but the risks are very great. Your waters are more likely to go prematurely (due to the heaviness & volume), and the risk of cord prolapse is high and - more importantly - real. If the cord did come down, you'd have minutes to get the baby out, even an ambulance wouldn't get you safe in time.

Try to let go of your plans, I know it's not easy, and I was terrified when DD2 was also transverse lie, and they wanted to admit me at 37 weeks, for a caesarean. I didn't want to leave DD1 (who was 16 months at the time). DD2 died two days before the planned admission. The present is now far worse, than any inconveniece being in hospital would have caused. xx

BTW I don't think you're consultant is being overly cautious, it is standard at my hospital to admit women early, just in case xx

I'm not an obstetrician, so not sure of the exact anatomy, but if you've got complete placenta praevia, then presumably the placenta is completely covering the cervix? So, how would the cord even be able to get past the placenta if your waters broke?!

Sarsudea I was admitted at 37+5 and had an elcs at 38+3 for polyhydramnios. I requested an earlier section than 39 weeks as with DC1 the first indication that I had I was going into labour was when my waters went at midnight.

In the time that I was in hospital I had one ?leak of fluid and 5 hours of contractions and ended up being monitored to check baby's heart rate etc. If I'd been at home and either of those had happened then I'd have had to attend hospital so trying to sort out emergency care at 11pm at night for DC1 and then get to the hospital was just too much ( we have no family nearby who could take DC1 at short notice). DC1 really doesn't seem to have come to any harm and DH and DC1 could come to the hospital at any time for visits. I didn't have to stay on the ward and could potter about at will and catch up on sleep. In the event, the time went really quickly, operation was straight forward and I was home 2 days after c-section with a gorgeous healthy baby.

For me the risk of staying at home just wasn't worth it.

Tamisara I'm so sorry for the loss of your daughter. What is her name?

I had polyhydraminos but wasn't admitted early and in fact went term plus 3 and my waters went at home (huge amount on the hall floor in front of my teenage son and his mates ) I was induced as there were no contractions and actually ended up having my waters broken because apparently there was a second membrane which was still intact and it was only the outer waters that had gone.

Tamisara, I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I had polyhydramnios, unstable transverse lie and was having twins and was admitted at 34 weeks and delivered by ELCS at 36. I was in all over Cristnas and New Year and DC1 was 20 months so he was at home with daddy. It was miserable and I wasn't allowed more than a few minutes away from the ward, never mind outside. V v dull. It went v quickly though, and was just something I had to get on with.
Obviously you're not having twins but having the additional factor of complete placenta previa, it's reasonable that they're cautious. My friend had the same profile as you and was admitted at 34 weeks and just had to sit there till 39 weeks. Dull, but not unusual.

Thank you everybody, it really helps to hear that other people have been through similar things. Tamisara, thank you for helping me get the whole thing in perspective. I am so sorry to hear about your awful loss.