Scared about low lying placenta - how likely is it it'll cause problems???

[LuckyAugust]

Hi all. Desperately hoping for some advice. I'm almost 23 weeks pregnant and found out a few weeks ago I have a low lying placenta, graded 3-4. I'm under the care of a consultant anyway and having a planned section so not concerned about that bit. I'm worried about bleeding, having to have a long hospital stay, possible special care for the baby, and having to have the baby early. I'm highly emotional anyway at the moment but this last few days I've been so upset over this and read a few stories of people bleeding from 30 weeks plus and needing to stay in hospital for weeks. The consultant has said theres a 25% chance it will move but can't seem to focus on that and just worried it all going to go horribly wrong for us. I know general advice tends to be to try and take it easy but its not really possible for me. I have 2 boys aged 16 months and 4 years so lugging around heavy pushchairs, still having to bend over several times a night to get my son to lie down in his cot and generally always rushing around. DH works long shifts so a lot of the time I do feel like a single parent. I work three days and have quite a long walk from my car to work and starting to notice the effect that has on me. I'm scared that doing all my general every day stuff is going to cause problems for me and I'm scared I'll start bleeding and need a hospital stay and have to leave my boys . I know I would just have to get on with it but sometimes don't feel like I get a lot of support or help from dh or family. I don't think any of them realises the real implications of this and they think I'm just after a bit of attention! So hoping to know if there is anyone out there who it didn't cause problems for or if anyone has any statistics for what proportion of ladies with a low lying placenta (that stays low lying) have trouble later on. Really hoping its the minority that have trouble and the majority just have a 'normal' pregnancy. Sorry if this sounds like a huge moan- its been a crap year for us and without going into too much detail again I know this baby will make everything better again. I'm just scared and so anxious. Thanks in advance xx

Hi lucky. I have pp too. I'm 34 weeks today. No bleeds whatsoever. Placenta has not moved at all and had scans at 26 and 32 weeks. Next one is 36 weeks.

Practically can you put the youngest in a cheapie light weigh push chair? I found that made a massive difference. Also trained my toddler. To climb upstairs and climb backwards downstairs acting as a buffer. Husband does bath time so I don't have to bend and pick up out of the bath. Snacks and lunch we do at a toddler table from ikea so no picking up involved...but of a struggle to maintain any order but cleanliness isn't the priority right now. I'm not hoovering or doing the washing. Husband not great at washing so we go to laundrette every other weekend and do a big wash together. He carries it.

We have an old fashioned cot for my toddler which is quite high up and doesn't have high sides. Probably wouldn't pass health and safety regs. Alternatively can you put your toddler to bed on a mattress on the floor? Again husband does bedtime so I don't to pick up.

I consciously take it easy and never hurry anywhere.

Is this normal? I don't know but we have made it work for us.

Thanks for replying and the suggestions- a very good idea about using a lightweight pushchair. Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well x

Lucky sorry you are in this situation. I didn't have placenta praevia but I was bleeding from 29 weeks and was facing a very long stay in hospital. In the end, DS arrived at 31+5. I realise no-one wants to be in that position, but in all honesty, you cope if you have to. DS was my first, though, so I didn't have the worries about other littlies at home.

My suggestion would be whether you can get any additional help for the rest of your pregnancy. My friend had terrible SPD and also pulled/tore a muscle in her abdomen/bump when pregnant with DC2, and was basically left unable to cope on a day-to-day basis, as she lives in a 4 storey house, and her DC1 was then 18 months (DH out at work 6 days a week until late most evenings). They did have a nanny, but unfortunately she had just gone on maternity leave. So they got in a mother's help to do all the physical tasks she was unable to do, and just give her a hand around the house generally.

Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes uneventfully

According to what to expect it is only a problem for one in every 200 that get oicked up at the 20 wk scan. Youll get more scans to check its progress. Ive had one at 32 wks and got one at 35 because it hasnt moved as much as heyd like.

I dont understand the grade thing though.

Thanks tea and thanks red- thats really reassuring statistics x