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!

Nervy, I am c.15-20 mins from the hospital and it was on the outer limits of where he was happy to let me go home after the first bleed (I had to stay in 5 days with no further bleeds before he was happy to let me go home). I also had to have someone with me at all times - weird being 'babysat' for 5 weeks

10 mins sounds like they are happy as you can get in quickly if needs be. We phoned 999 twice (never have before!) and the paramedics were brilliant. They call ahead and warn the hospital you are coming. Even if you think you can drive in (eg: bleed stops) I wouldn't, I would phone 999 - in my case they were about to close the maternity unit as it was full, but being brought in under blue light meant they had to take me.

Oh, my other piece of advice is to keep your camera in your hospital bag - we have very few pics of DD1 as a newborn as mine was in my handbag which was forgotten in the rush!

Thanks notsonervous :-) And thanks sizzle for the input cos even though my situation differs to nervy's (having bled and being in hosp), I agree with her that it's very encouraging to hear everyone's pp success stories! When I have a 'bad hour' here in hosp, I scroll through everyone's stories on here and always feel better for it. Good old MN!

Jess - find out when the consultant thinks it might be. Mine predicted 5 weeks from the first and it was five weeks to the day

He just gave a wry smile when I pointed it out to him!

Sazzle - predict when what might be? The 'big one' or the cesarean itself? Sorry if asking a dumb question, baby brain over here..!

Sorry Jess, wasn't clear! It was when the next bleed would be - initially he said 'you are likely to be stuck in hospital until another bleed - I give you 5 weeks'. He did end up letting me go home, but it was 5 weeks to the day.

Are they letting you go out at all? Dh and I used to walk round the local streets and park and I remember watching the air ambulance arrive once. I also absconded to the local curry house with a friend one night.!She was petrified

Ah ok, thanks sizzle. No they haven't predicted when but I will ask now you've said that. Can't believe how spookily accurate yours was!

I'm finally allowed just outside hospital for fresh air and to go down to the main area in hospital. Am tending to go down for costa once a day with DH or friends and go outside to the gardens (they have some lovely landscaped ones) once a day as well. So although I'm not 'out'in town, I am getting some change of scenery from my room which is nice! Don't think they'll let me sneak out for a meal, they're SO cautious!

Nervy and Devil - how are you getting on? Nervy are you in this week for steroids and c section next week? Devil, isn't your section soon too??

Hi Jess, glad to hear you're getting some fresh air. I have growth scan and steroid injections later this week and then I guess they'll give me a date for c section. I feel really grotty today for some reason. Sicky and weak and grossly bloated and windy. Hoping it's something I've eaten and not some crazy indicator of early labour :-/

Best wishes to everyone.

Hope you're feeling better now? I'm guessing it was prob 3rd trimester icky-ness (sometimes feel a bit randomly grotty too) rather than early labour? I hope so anyway! Not that I hope you felt ill but you know what I mean!

Let us know how scan goes :-) x

Hi jess

Just to say hope all is going well. I was admitted for a week before csection as i had polyhydramnios and an unstable lie. Looking backthe time flew by. Fondest memory is of asking the midwives if it was okay to have a bath (bathroom often in use for pain relief for ladies being induced) and by the time i'd got my stuff together, the lovely midwife had not only run the bath but also set it all up with low level lighting and lovely bubble bath!

I found downloading games onto y phone really helped pass the time - pregnancy brain meant i just couldnt follow the plotline of any books.

Will be thinking of you, please do let us know ow it all goes

Hi,

I have never had placenta previa personally as this is my first pregnancy and I'm only 16 weeks so I haven't had the placenta position checked yet...however

My mum had placenta previa when she was having me. She was in hospital for over a month(!) and I had to be delivered by a planned c-section a month early. But im here telling you and I have had a lovely heathy life despite being premature, and my mum is nearing 50 and expecting her 7th grandchild when I give birth!

My aunt also had placenta previa with her first, they put her on bed rest at home rather than keep her in like my mum (my mum couldn't rest at home with 5 other kids!!). My cousin is a perfectly healthy and happy 10 year old and my aunt went on to have a normal healthy pregnancy with a son a few years later .

Not sure if that helps but it's some positive stories for both the mothers and the babies. I understand your worries though as having a family link to placenta previa it is something I worry about so so much, all I can say is that medicine has come a long way from 22 years ago when my mum had me, to 10 years ago when my aunt had her daughter and even to today.

And there is a lot that they can do for premature babies now, a close friend of mines sister just gave birth to a little girl at 30 weeks about 3 weeks ago. Both mother and baby are doing well now.

Good luck with everything, I know it's difficult but try not to worry, you are in the best place at the hospital and they will see to it that the 2 of you are okay xx

I had a very similar birth to diarylea. I was fine one minute and taken to hospital in an ambulance the next due to a huge bleed. I had my baby five weeks early and he had a few problems, so did I but we are both ok now.
Just in case I would prepare yourself for what might happen if anything were to happen now e.g. Help with babys lungs.

I don't mean to sound negative with what I have said I just mean prepare for the worst as it won't seem so scary should (if) baby comes early. Also I know it's easy to say but I agree with previous posters who say rest as much as you can.

If you think every hour you rest is an hour closer to meeting your baby in the safest way possible then hopefully it will make time seem quicker.

All the best of luck to you.

Craziness, went for scan this morning, fully expecting to be making plans for c section as just two weeks ago I was told that placenta completely covered os and it would be almost impossible for it to move out of the way enough to make a natural deluvery safe. Lo and behold, the sonographer made a mistake two weeks ago, my placenta is no where near the os. We asked for a second opinion as it just seemed so unlikely and someone had clearly made a mistake but how did we know which scan was right! Anyway, two doctors, two sonographers, all happy to discharge me back to mw care and a natural delivery. Felt very confused then over the moon and now possibly feeling scared. I know I am very lucky though, touch wood I will get a straight forward birth. Thank you for all of the support on here, I'll be watching out for happy birth stories :-)

Please update us when your baby is here. Best wishes x

God nervy what an emotional roller coaster but what good news! At least you got several other opinions so you know it to be the case, even though it's natural to be scared at a change of expectations.. So I guess sit and wait for natural labour to take its course hey - I'm very jealous! I have scan next wk (will be 35 wks) and would love to think I might have same outcome but based on my bleeds so far, I think I'm kidding myself lol!

Thanks all for the posts yesterday everyone. The successful outcomes (however difficult/traumatic the process was to get there) really helps keep me going being stuck in here at the mo. Week and a half down, 3.5 weeks to go x

Hi Jess white and devilforasideboard! I am 3 weeks behind you with complete pp. I am due to go into hospital soon. No bleeds yet but my placenta is complete covering so they are looking to admit me at 33 weeks. (3 weeks to go)

I was lucky that i was diagnosed at 20 weeks. I have had complete panics about it and am really freaked out about a long hospital stay. But you know what? apparently it is really quite common and my midwife said that she has never known anyone who has had worse case scenario. 33 weeks your baby will be absolutely fine. :) Friend has just gone home with a very health little boy at 34 weeks.

I have been eating shed loads to make mine as big as possible, just incase! (regretting it now as bum too big for all my clothes!

Very grateful for your comments about shared wards! I was going to request one but i'm thinking I might just stick with the single room if i can get one.....

Would you mind keeping this thread going. be great to know how people are getting on. Hang in there x

Hello ladies, I'm not sure how I have missed this thread for so long.

I had grade 4 PP with both DD1&2.

As mentioned earlier, it was really hard as i already had DS at home aged 2.5 when admitted with DD1, then with DD2 they were 6 and 3.5.

I was diagnosed PP with DD1 at 20 week scan and given no advice other than"if the baby gives you a big kick, you may get some bleeding, call the labour ward". We went to Spain and flew back at 28 weeks less one day!

All went swimmingly until 33.5 weeks. We were out for dinner and I just couldn't settle. Got home, was getting ready for bed and there was a huge " plop" into the toilet. I swanned into the maternity unit with my notes and a book, expecting to be checked out and sent home. I was shocked o be kept in. I knew 3 other people who had had PP and gone to 38 weeks, planned CS then home, I assumed I would be the same. I was sent home after 2 days as the bleeding had stopped. Within 24 hours I was in until the birth. The hospital suggested a CS at 38 weeks, that was my birthday, no way! Eventually negotiated to have DD1 at 37.5 weeks.

After the birth I asked if there was any reason for me o unfertilised PP again, I was advised I was at no greater risk than anyone else.

Roll on 3 years or so. Pregnant with DC3, at the 13 week scan I ask the sonographer if she can see the placenta, I am told no, meaning it is either at the top or the bottom,w immediately conclude we have another DD and another PP!

As it happened, at the 20 week scan I ave a low lying placenta. Immediate panic all around (but not from us.......) we have to see a doctor before leaving hospital, no flying (bang goes the hen weekend in Poland), all sorts of restrictions.

I was first admitted after bleeding at 24 weeks, again at 26 weeks, held out over the school holidays to 31 weeks, banned from travelling at 33 weeks to a wedding, admitted 3 times at 33 weeks and finally told I am in for the duration.

I suffer a big bleed at 36 weeks, and then they decide (well, to be fair they said I had to wait for the planned CS at 37 weeks, I asked if they were waiting or me to go into crisis when the team were tired or I had the weekend B team on) at which point, after being kept on monitors for 28 hours, they decided I would have an emergency CS. I was then begging my mum to get DH out of the shower and to get hospital before they decided they wouldn't wait for him to get there!

I had a huge placenta with DD2, it went from posterior, all the way up past my belly button!

They had about 15 people in the theatre for my section, the blood recycling machine all set up, but actually everything went really well. DD2 was born at 36+1, 10 minutes in a warmer then all ok.

I was told I was also suffering from an abruption.

I was told there are 2 kinds of pp, stable and unstable, I suffer from the unstable kind. I was only admitted as a result of bleeding. I am not more than about 20 minutes from the hospital. I was advised to call an ambulance to go in if i was bleeding, but never did.

The boredom really was the worst. I also found my kids really hard work, thank god for granny who moved in to help.

I was advised not to have any more children. The consultants words were "you have 3 beautiful children and you are alive to enjoy them" that did it for me.

If you think of any questions, please ask me.

Hi p, yes very happy to keep this thread going and support each other :-)

Sorry you're hoing to be in for the long trrm too! It is rubbish but I've decided I'm actually 'happier' being here rather than home in case of an emergency big bleed. We're only 5-10mins from hospital but even so, they said by time ambulance got to me and assessed, got back to hospital and assessed, then into theatre, that would be least 20-25 mins whereas I'd have been assessed and whisked round to theatre within 10 mins tops if I'm here. A lady down the corridor with a different type of high risk pregnancy buzzed the emergency button earlier this week....her twins were emerg c section delivered within 9 mins of her buzzing! Mum and babies are well and twins are spending a few weeks in special care till they put on weight (she was 33 wks) but medically they are fine. This put things into perspective for me!

At least you have some time to plan the stay regarding what to pack, entertainment, getting visitors lined up in advance. Do you have friends and family locally?

Yes I def think a single room is the way forward if they can do it. I still pop onto the ward and have a chat with some of the ladies if they're friendly but then like retreating back to my own space! Plus, this sounds sad but you'll feel more like you have your own little 'home' as you won't have to listen to the tv on headphones or be careful with what you say on the phone/to visitors etc. Following a suggestion on here, DH and I now even have Sat night 'date night' in my room when he brings in a takeaway and we watch a film together. Don't get me wrong, it's hard and I do get a bit teary every now and again but then I come in here and read everyone's success stories which remind me that it'll prob all be fine.

Mikki thanks for your two grade 4 pp success stories :-) Yes I wouldn't have fancied a c section on my bday! I bet all the stress seems like a distant memory now you have your children

x

Well, just took DD1 for her first opticians visit, now needs glasses. Nothing to do with PP, she was 37.5 weeks and weighed 8lb 11oz. Thank god she was a section!

Definitely get your own room if you can. It means you can spread out more and do your own thing. With DD1 I spent 10 days in a 4 bedded ward before I had a meltdown. With all the comings and goings, early labour groans etc, it isn't conducive to long term stays.

With DD2 I was in and out more in the early admissions, so it wasn't such a problem. When I was admitted for the long term they were really good about moving me as soon as a room was available.

I also found most of the MW wanted me to stay normal as much as possible I was in for mothers at with DD1, DH cooked me dinner (he's a chef) and we ate with a glass of wine (also had lots of staff checking up on me that night -I think they were following the lovely aromas!). They encouraged me to have a bit of wine as it would seem more like normal life.

With DD2, on a Sunny day (October) I was sent to read outside on a bench to enjoy the sun. One of the MW gave me her pass card so I could get back into the unit quickly if things went pear shaped. On a quiet day hen I was. Bit fed up, a MW took me to the coffee shop in the main building.

I was also allowed to work from the hospital fr a few hours each day because I was getting stressed I would be put on sick ay, so they let me do enough to keep me

I did feel DH didn't always make enough time to Dance attendance visit me, I think e was struggling with doing the normal childcare I cover, even with my mums help.

Focus on your goal, a healthy baby. The rest will pass.

Date night sounds like a really good idea!! Our hospital is 5 mins down the road too. I haven't lived here long but I know quite a few people; acquaintances, and have one or two friends locally so hopefully will get some visitors. Mum will also come up so I'm sure it'll be o.k.

I will find out in a couple of weeks what the plan is going to be. (Unless something happens before then)

Having read some posts from people with undiagnosed pp, i am really grateful to know. At least there is time to prepare in advance.

It is much better than being at home. I think if I was on bedrest at home I would find it hard not to get up and do things !

Glad you are doing o.k anyway. Have you got plenty to do?

Jess, you might well find there isn't a massive 'rush' to get you to theatre. My second bleed was 3am, blue lighted in, consultant came round at 8am and told me there was someone going down first and then likely to be me (barring other bigger emergency cases happening). DD1 was then delivered at 12.40!

Hi I have not been through this but at 27weeks I was admitted for total bedrest DD was very small for gestation and I was losing weight thanks to chronic sickness I spent the remainder of my pregnant lying in a hospital bed till induced at 34 weeks (concerns for mini me)! Although it was at the time horrific and I was going insane I now know this was the best place for me and DD and if it hasn't have been for those wonderful staff I dread to think the outcome. I was admitted a size 14 pre preg 12 and left an 8 smaller than I had been my whole adult life now I wouldn't reccomend it as a diet but their care compassion and patience meant that despite my weight loss I was nutritionally safe as was DD she was small and has unrelated health problems but they kept us not just alive but safe. Please please please follow their advice and take care of you xx

Hi guys, hope you had nice weekends.

Gosh anarchy that sounds horrible at the time but I'm
so glad all worked out in the end. Yes i'm doing as I'm told now, no arguing or protesting the hospital stay! The longer I'm in here (aka the more I see happening around me) the more I trust the care the midwives and consultants give the mothers and babies.

Yes Sazzle i guess you're right in that it might be more like your situation if a bigger one occurred. If I do have an earlier c sec, let's hope it's more like that rather than a rushed/traumatic one.

Pleidian yep I have plenty to do. Fortunately I am a big US tv box set watcher normally so I have loads of diff series on the go on my portable DVD player (CSI today!), am reading lots of John Grisham novels, surfing Mumsnet and internet shopping. Today I am also going up start researching our first holiday with the baby (if hopefully he/she arrives healthily in due course....always feel that I need to add a 'hopefully' just cos I'm 'high risk' and in case I jinx things by not acknowledging that. Probably silly I know). One of the midwives has brought me in some brochures for baby friendly holidays so I've got those to flick through, bless her.

Have a good week all and as always, thanks for all the support and reassurance :-) x

Hello, glad to hear you all sound so positive.

My best piece of advice: pack your bag early. With DD1 I was living under the false impression things would go to plan. My first admission I turned up with my notes and book. When DH packed my bag from a list, I had forgotten put knickers on the list so I didn't get any

I second Sizzle that not all emergency sections a such a rush. My bleed started at 4 am, they kept me nil by mouth and on bed rest until the evening, when thy said they didn't want a tired surgical team as they were expecting my section to be complex. The following morning at around 9am (by now approx 29 hours from start of bleed) they said the list was full for that day, the following 2 days were for emergencies only (???) so I would need to wait until Tuesday when I was already booked in. I then politely queried their judgement asked how bad the bleeding needed to be before I was deemed an emergency, having carefully framed my question such that it was clear I was not going to be fobbed off.

I was given an emergency consent form, scanned at the bedside by the consultant so he knew hat he was going to find and DH had arrived after my mum had prised him out of the shower and told him o get his backside in gear before DC3 was born without him! This took about 1.5 hours.

Yes pleiadian I'd agree what mikkii says - preparation and a packed case now is key!

My first bleed was at 31 weeks, ended up in triage at 10.30pm and was admitted to the ward at midnight. I had handbag and pregnancy notes only so poor old DH had to go home and get loads of stuff for me. And then make two more trips the next morning as I kept gradually thinking of more things I needed, poor man!

This time with the bleed (at 33wks) , I'd packed everything in suitcase ready to go so we calmly grabbed it on the way out of the house. DVDs had been purchased, books downloaded onto kindle, travel wash kit, hairdryer and spare make up and clothes had been sorted (rather than DH having to go through my everyday cosmetics and clothes at home and bring them in the next day, I bought seconds of my main items!)

Fingers crossed you won't need this but you never know. You've prob done all this already to be fair in which case sorry if it's a case of teaching granny to suck eggs!

x

Hi jess and everyone. How are you doing? We are all packed and ready to go. Wash kit, clothes, baby bag. Everything we need for our little man is good to go. His bedroom is finished too. The only thing we are waiting for is the buggy to be delivered. (which we won't need in hospital!) Definitely good advice!

I have 4 more weeks at work (which is on the same road as the hospital) and feel ready to go! Have had a sociable week trying to see people.

hospital - bring it on!! Have the scan next week and was actually wondering what i will feel like if they say the placenta has moved (which it won't because it is anterior and posterior) That would be a massive adjustment to make!

Hope you are doing o.k Jess. Box sets sound like a plan! We have just started watching the returned on catch up. Will do 'The Fall' in hospital.... Hope you are doing o.k. x