Placenta previa at 32 weeks. Any chance of a natural birth?

[comfyonesie2]

I had a low lying placenta at 20wk scan and had another scan this morning (32 weeks) which confirmed placenta previa. Consultant has said he thinks c-section is the most likely outcome but has agreed another scan at 36 weeks to confirm this. Gave me the talk about no sex, no lifting, any bleeding is an emergency etc. He also said i may need to be admitted to hospital at 36 weeks depending on where the placenta is then

I had a home birth planned and am absolutely gutted. i was maybe naive but just assumed the placenta would have moved between 20 week scan and now,as all the HCPs thought this was the most likely outcome.

Does anyone have any experience where the placenta has moved enough between 32 and 36 weeks for a natural delivery? Or any other experiences, even if you had a c-section. This is dc3, 2 normal deliveries previously.

Anyone got any experiences?

I had borderline pp (just touching the os) and had a cs. It was fine. The staff were really lovely, I found recovery very swift and I was up and about very quickly - bf was easy too. I found it more pleasant than my vb actually! I'd go with the cs personally. Pp can be a scary thing so I'd focus more on making the cs a really positive experience for you - mine certainly was.

I was told that 95% move between 20 weeks and 36. Mine didn't. I had a grade 4 so complete covering.

I had a bleed at 31 weeks and had steroids at that point and 5 days in hospital. I was allowed home if I had someone with me 24/7.

At 36 weeks I had a csection after another bleed - it wasn't 'emergency' as such as it was 9 hrs after admission so all very calm and a very happy event with the staff all calling out weight guesses and genuinely really happy. Dd1 needed no SCBU and we were released after 2 days.
I then had an elective with dd2 as the whole experience had been a good one before. 2nd CS really lovely too.

I have however read threads in here where the placenta has moved sufficiently for a natural birth, however I do think they would want you in hospital in case a transfusion were needed.

All the best for whatever happens and ultimately you will end up with a gorgeous squishy baby

Happy to answer any other q's too!

I have had grade 4 pp twice, DC 2&3.

With DC2 I was diagnosed at 20 weeks scan, had a further scan booked for 34 weeks, but was admitted at 33.5 weeks with bleeding. I had minor bleeding from then until a planned CS at 37.5 weeks.

With DC3 I asked at 13 weeks if they could see the placenta (although that is not looked for until 20 weeks), she said no, meaning either at the top or bottom, so we guessed another pp and another girl. Right on both counts.

I was admitted at 24 weeks with bleeding, 26 weeks when I was given steroids for the baby's lungs, three times at 31 weeks, then at 33 weeks I was admitted and had to stay in. I had a CS booked for 37 weeks, but had an emergency one at 36+1.

In this pregnancy I ad an enormous placenta, going from posterior, all the way to where over bump trousers go to.

Baby was small at 5lb 13 oz (her sister had been 8lb 11oz at 2.5 weeks before due date), but only needed 10 minutes in a warmer, no SCBU.

I am also happy to answer questions.

Thanks for your replies. I guess I was wondering whether there is any chance that it could 'move' between now (32weeks) and my next scan at 36 weeks? I checked my ultrasound notes and it said the placenta was touching the os at the moment.

Thank you for your positive stories of c sections. Having thought about it today, I feel I would much rather have an planned, calm c-section than try a vaginal delivery (assuming the placenta moved to at least 2 cm away from the os) and haemorrhage and end up with an EMCS anyway. Do any of you know whether I would have a choice to opt for an ELCS or does it depend entirely on the next scan? I know you don't have crystal balls, but what do you think the chances are of the placenta getting out of the way at this stage? From my reading on t'internet today, it seems unlikely. I feel I could prepare myself better if I knew 100% I would be having a section!

Mine didn't move between the 20-week scan and the 36-week scan. Had another one at 38 weeks just to make sure (so presumably the hospital must have thought there was a CHANCE it could move, even at that late stage), but nope. It was very borderline – I seem to remember it was 2mm away from where the consultant wanted it to be – but I was told CS without any choice, really. Didn't bother me at all as I just wanted my baby here safely, and the whole experience was brilliant. Calm, friendly, great aftercare and recovery. I delivered DS Tues lunchtime and was discharged Thurs AM, was walking round Tesco with him over my shoulder by Fri!

Good luck, whatever your outcome :)

I would be surprised if they let you choose. Either they will decide it has moved enough or not.

Mine never moved in either pregnancy, but I was also told the placenta doesn't occur in the same place twice!

It may move but most likely won't go all the way up at this stage. Don't plan on home birth with a low lying placenta as you may have complications and need intervention. I wouldn't risk it, since even if it moves it doesn't suddenly completely go up in 8 weeks. But it may move a bit to allow you have a natural birth in hospital. Good luck.

Thank you for all your comments. I need to step away from Dr Google NOW!

Plan for a section I think. I'm 32 weeks and last check was 28 weeks. I'm grade 3 with it just touching the OS.

I've been told by consultant that she doesn't think it'll move at all. I have c sec at 37w booked. Nobody has suggested to me that there is any chance/much of chance/ of movement to far enough away to try vag birth.

Mine moved between 32 to 37 weeks.
It was about 2cm away from from cervix I think and they wanted at least 4.5cm away. I think mine moved to 4.7cm and I got my natural / hypnobirthing birth at the midwife led centre.

I remember feeling lost between those weeks as I really wanted a natural birth and not a cs. You can only hope, the decision is out of your hands.

Mine is touching the os....I haven't given up hope altogether, but am preparing myself for a section. The consultant didn't seem to think it would move enough at this stage for a natural delivery No bleeding so far can only be a good sign though.

I had placenta previa with DS2 - it was spotted at 20 weeks was there at 32 and again at 36. Despite all the scare stories the pregnancy was fine and I had no bleeding, the only problem. I had was bad rib pain which was possibly caused by the placenta pushing the baby up. I had one night in hospital at 37 weeks for observation as I had been in a lot of pain but was let out next day. Had DS2 at 38 weeks by planned c-section and I have to say it was lovely - in some ways much more natural than the exhausting induced labour I had with DS1. I remember having DS2 with me in recovery skin to skin breast feeding - just us two and DH it was lovely. So despite the downsides of surgery I found it a very positive birth experience

I had pp, grade 3 major, bled massive amounts at 32, 34, 35 and 37 weeks when i had an emergency section. Mine didn't move at all from 20 weeks. was admitted from 34 weeks, went home twice but only for 1 night each time as first time i bled again and second time the dr changed their mind on how safe it was :/ My placenta finally gave out at 37 weeks when i was sick, i say gave out but it bled a lot and was decided it was too weak and me and baby had enough :) scary scary experience :(

I also have pp, was scanned at 32 then again at 36 and it had moved but was still borderline, they then rescanned me at 37 and they were not happy to let me proceed with a vaginal birth unless they could induce me and then make me deliver in theatre in case of bleeding. Kind of took the decision off me and like you have been gutted. Like you I have had no bleeding whatsoever so was hoping for the best. I was told by my consultant that they can move and you have better chance if it's anterior growing. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I am due to have my section on Xmas eve, and have gotten my head around it all now but totally understand where your mind set is. Hubby just said 'this is our last weekend on our own ever' FREAKED OUT AGAIN!!

Good luck with your section Bkk. Just think, very soon you'll be holding your baby! My placenta is anterior so I'm still holding out hope, but am trying to get my head round a c-section too.

I had pp and it moved between 33 and 36 weeks. I was all prepared for c section at the 36wk scan, just wanted to get the date sorted and was shocked that it had moved. I had wanted a natural birth initially but sorted everything in my heas for the section, if that makes sense. Good luck for whatever option you choose or need to go for. And enjoy the lovely lovely newborn cuddles!

Thank you all for your helpful replies. What will be will be I suppose, I'm just not very good with uncertainty! I've been washing baby clothes in case of a bleed and early delivery, and will get a bag packed over the next few days, so at least I feel I'm doing something proactive. I'm reassured by all your positive c sections stories too. Thank goodness we have access to scans nowadays and things like pp can be picked up.

Just wanted you to know that my section was cancelled today as consultant wanted to do a final scan before hand. She said in the last 2 weeks things can move dramatically (she had seen up to 5cm)! No bleeding is a good sign also. Mine had moved to 2.8cm.

Fingers crossed that all goes well but even if you end up being booked in, make sure you ask for another scan. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. Good luck!!

Bkk I can't believe your section was cancelled! After you had psyched yourself up for it and everything! Did the scan show the placenta had moved enough for a natural delivery then?

Yep natural up to a point. If no bleeding before baby appears I can proceed with vaginal birth. I can still have water birth but cannot deliver in the water although can still do most of the pushing in there. Consultant said that for first baby it's easier to not deliever in water anyway. They are going to give me drugs through a cannula to deliver the placenta fully. Her words were that I would probably loose the same amount of blood having a section as I would do delivering naturally because of where they need to cut. They've already cross referenced my bloods and will do again when I go in. This is just a back up and it's reassuring to know that things are in place. They also will not wait for the the standard 3cm dilation they will accept me when midwife agrees that I'm in established labour.

The fact that babies growth has not been compromised and so far no bleeding is all a good sign too.

Now just hoping for a little bit of an easier time of it! But it's reassured me that I'm sooooo ready to meet my baby! Xx

Well, that all sounds good! Hope your baby arrives safely soon xx

I had full pp at 32 weeks but it did shift by 36 weeks. Managed normal delivery. Good luck. X