Placenta previa-hospitalised till delivery = fear+frustration

[jesswhite25]

Hi all, I'm new to this site but it's been recommended as a good support network so thought I'd give posting a whirl as feeling quite alone at the mo.

I'm 33 wks tomorrow. Was diagnosed with complete pp at 30 wks after 2 bleeds (one small, one medium). Spent a week in hospital after 2nd bleed but was finally allowed home! A week and half on, another medium bleed happened yesterday so back in hospital again and although the consultant hasnt confirmed it (she isn't on the ward till tomorrow, grrrr), her deputy consultant and the midwives have ssid they're 99% sure I'll be in here till cesarean at 38 weeks, if I make it that far. Also, they don't think the placenta will move now.

Have almost reconciled myself with this because I know its for the best to be here in case I have a big bleed and need emergency cesarean. Have a portable DVD player and books on the go etc but am still finding it hard to imagine being here for 5 weeks...

Am also incredibly frightened that at any moment I can bleed majorly and baby will have to come prematurely with emergency c section :-(

Has anyone out there been through this and successfully out of the other side? Any successful stories would really help at the moment. Or is anyone in the same boat?

Sorry for the essay but thanks in advance for any advice!

Make sure you pester them till you get one! Oh listening to that all night is hard :-( Even though it's not her fault it's not great for you!

All ok here thanks. One more day bleed free yesterday (am just living it day by day cos after 3 prev ones, I suspect it may happen again) so just hoping my 'friend' placenta behaves today.

Hope you get news on a room today, I'lll have everything crossed for you! Have you got earphones for during day and ear plugs for the night to try and block the noise out?? x

P.S ajandjjmum - thank you x

Hi, have been reading this thread with interest. Im 35 weeks and was diagnosed with low lying placenta at 20 week scan. Had scan at 34 weeks and placenta still covers os. Im going back at 36 weeks and have been told to prepare for steroids and being booked in for c section any time from 37 weeks. I've had the warnings, dial 999 and lie down if I bleed but reading this I'm really worried and wondering why I haven't been admitted. OP, sorry to hear your situation but as others have said, at least you are definitely in the best place. X

Wishing you a lovely strong and well-behaved placenta!

Any little jobs that DH can bring in from home? Maybe sorting photos into albums, filing etc?
Laptop so you can watch DVD?

Thanks Branchingout :-) Yes have lots of entertainment on the go.

Nervy - it might be because you've had no bleeding so far, in fact I'd imagine that's it.

I was told that even without bleeding they would have probably (that was the word, not definitely) admitted me for 2 weeks before the section so I would certainly ask someone, just to reassure yourself as to why they haven't mentioned it. Maybe it's just because you aren't so high risk due to no bleeding do far. Bear in mind they said 'probably' not 'definitely' to me so perhaps diff hospitals do things differently.

Or maybe when you go back to hospital next week for steroids they plan to tell you you'll be staying in till your cesarean.

Chase it up because otherwise you'll worry more! Let us know how you get on? x

The lack of bleeding may well explain it Nervy. I know that's why I wasn't admitted til 2 weeks before my section. Definitely worth checking though.

No luck on the private room but one Vicky has left and the other one should be off soon. They've promised me it's not normally like that and if it gets bad again I'll be moved. I'm giving it another night to see how I go.

Hmm, if they say that if it gets bad again you'll be moved, that surely means they do have a private room somewhere? How frustrating! Glad Vicky #1 has gone though. Hope you get some rest now hun x

Thanks jess and devil. I'll phone tomorrow, I hadn't considered that they might keep me in next week. Look forward to birth announcements soon. All the best :-)

Hi nervy
That was my case. As I didn't bleed they didn't keep me in. Or rather I didn't want to stay in and the consultant relented. I walked in at 39 weeks for my planned CS. It was fine. Baby was 8 pounds 1 and had v good apgar score. Everyone was v attentive and I was the first one to be done at that. Walked in at 7. Prepped for CS. Introduced to the whole crew of people attending (didn't make me panic. If anything I felt reassured that there were so many personnel!). Gave my cd to the theatre manager and he played the music as it went on! Spinal inserted etc. cut was made at 0917, DS out at 0925. I was sewn up and back on ward by 10!

Thank you so much takeaway. Good to hear a positive story. Op sorry for muscling in on your thread..how are you tonight?

I had a big bleed at 31 weeks and they threatened to keep me in for the duration. However, I managed to escape by promising I wouldn't go further from the hospital than our house and I would have someone with me at all times. I was in for 3 days with no further bleeding after the 1st one, so I think that helped

I was given steroids then and bloods were cross matched weekly and weekly scans in out patients.

At 36 weeks I had a second major bleed at home and went back in at 3am. CS was done at midday the next day so no big 'panic'. no talk at all about hysterectomy. DD1 was 5.7 1/2 and a bit scrawny but didn't need SCBU and breast fed from Day 1

I went on to have dd2 - no PP but I had a second CS as my first one was lovely

Oh and good luck . Time will fly by with MN

Don't be silly nervy, muscle away! That's the joy of these sites it seems. I'm new to this forum but have drawn lots of comfort in all the replies about my situation and other people's situations. Makes me feel less alone here in hospital for my lengthy stay! x

Devil - how did you get on last night? Hope it was more peaceful? x

Much more peaceful thank you! Had the ward to myself til 4am then got a new neighbour but she was very quiet so I got back to sleep. Just me and one other tonight but I have a funny feeling she's going to be a snorer in which case I will be having a meltdown as she's in til monday! How are you getting on?

Just wanted to wish all the ladies well that are in hospital.

I havn't experienced such long stays in hospital but i do remember how much i didn't want to be there!

I hope everything works out well that& your home asap with your lovely babys.

Take care.

Thanks Shelly :-) Devil, yeah another day bleed ree so guess that's good butemotionally hard day yesterday. Was fairly cheery yesterday morn as they came and gave me a cesarean date which perked me up as felt like it was something to aim towards. Then senior midwife came round in afternoon and told me not to get too excited by that cos the consultant doesn't think I'll get there and they are expecting a other bleed and emergency section at some point..,,I know that's why I'm here but the frankness left me bit deflated after the date news in the morn! Now, even more than before, I'm so anxious sitting here dreading the 'big bleed' ahhhhhh!! How are you doing today??

I can remember begging the consultant to induce me every day from about 35 weeks. He didn't!!! Sadly all those years ago there wasn't MN! IME some medical people give you the bleakest picture, so that there are no surprises - maybe the midwife just didn't want you dancing on the bed just yet! Hope you've got lots of visitors this weekend, to help pass the time.

Rumour has it that I snore, so I'm sure DH would sympathise with you Devil. Hope you have a better night than you are expecting!

I might be being really dim but why do they leave us waiting for a 'big bleed' or just to see what happens rather than doing an planned c section at 37 or even 36 weeks? I know ideally we wait til 40 but do the benefits out weigh the risks? Sorry if that isn't a popular view :-/

Hi Nervy. I'm not being left til the 'big one' but have a section booked at 37 weeks. The approach seems to vary from one consultant to the next. I haven't had any bleeding at all but am still in hospital as a precaution when I know some consultants would have been happy with me staying at home.

In other news I am in my own room! Unfortunately it's only until they need it back but it's made a huge difference after another awful night last night (didn't get to sleep til 6). However one of my delightful companions over the last few days has given me a cough and sore throat which is not helping matters. Ho hum, only 11 days to go! How's everyone else doing?

My friend had this and it was scary for her, but fine in the end. She had one major bleed early on and they were about to do the Section but managed to stop the bleed and she hung on in there until over 36 weeks IIRC.

Tbh while I know it is horrible and scary for you, it is much better that this has happened with your first. My friend had to leave her little boy at home which was a) really sad for her and b) logistically a nightmare.

Hey all, one week down, 4 to go (till section date anyway)! Jealous of your 11 days Devil! Yes aj I suspect you're right in that they are just trying to prepare me for all outcomes.

Had chat with consultant about all this this morn and reason
she wants to leave it as long as poss is for the baby's lungs apparently. She said 38 weeks is her ideal for section but it will all depend on bleed patterns and as have had 3 medium ones already, if have more similar sized ones she may schedule it a bit earlier. She said its a hard decision to weigh up doing it bit earlier to prevent a 'big one' but to try and leave it as late as poss so baby will be healthier. She's a formidable/slightly scary lady my consultant who's been doing this for 30 yrs so I'm happy to trust her on this, even if that approach differs compared to others. It does seem like it varies from consultant to consultantthough.

Devil I'm glad you got a room alone albeit till they need it back-did they say why they might need it back? Is it used as a spill over delivery room? A decent night's sleep does wonders doesn't it so hopefully it'll help your sore throat. Feel better soon :-)

Yeah mutley this would be x 100 worse if I had a child at home already, for me and for DH so it could be worse from that perspective xx

Nervy I think you will find that most people don't want to be admitted and fight to get home (I know I did), so I think they just figure there is no 'need' until a bleed happens (and it may not ever happen in many cases). However if you would like to be admitted, then def talk to them about it and they might say yes, or at least reassure you as to why they think in your case you are fine at home (not too far from the hospital I presume?)

From most people I know who have had PP a 'big bleed' whilst scary doesn't usually require an immediate section (I'm sure there are cases where it is necessary but my understanding is that this is not the norm)

Having had 2 'big bleeds' and a 36 weeker (only just scraped not having to go to NICU) I can see both sides. Luckily I had had steroids 5 weeks previously so the 36 weeks wasn't very premature

My 'emergency' CS was 10 hours after my second big bleed and I never refer to it as an emergency as it was as calm as a planned one, just brought forward a bit by the bleed.

All the best to all you ladies stuck in the very frustrating position.

Thank you sizzle sazz, im sure I wouldn't be over the moon to be admitted unnecessarily, I am only ten mins or so from the hospital. It is really reassuring to hear positive stories with all eventualities covered. All the best to everyone too.

I've not been through anything like this but just wanted to send positive vibes your way xx