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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Have you had placenta praevia twice?

39 replies

thebooleanoperator · 25/04/2015 21:03

I had placenta praevia with my first pregnancy. Big bleeds, frequent stays in hospital, living in fear but made it to 37 and DS arrived safely by emergency caesarean.

Now I am 15 weeks pregnant and have been told that the chances of having it again are the same as anyone who has had 1 previous section which is roughly 5% but an terrified. At my 12 week scan the lady wouldn't tell me if it was high or low. She said she wouldn't be able to tell although I have read they can...
Am wondering if I could get a private scan to see where it is rather than wait another 5 weeks... I don't feel like I can enjoy being pregnant until I know! But then if it is low then I will just feel worse...

If you had It the first time did you get it again?

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 25/04/2015 21:09

I could've written your post! I'm 13 weeks and they wouldn't tell me the position either. She just said it doesn't matter at this stage, which I'm guessing means low, or perhaps I'm reading too much into it?

Summerdaydreams · 25/04/2015 21:12

I am 20weeks and had pp in my last pregnancy, like you I had heavy bleeds, numerous hospital stays, dd was born prem. I wanted to know the same at my 12 week scan but they couldn't say, I have my 20 week scan next week and I am praying, hoping, wishing they tell me it his high this time around like with my first DC. I have seen a consultant who told me that I am at no greater risk and that my chances of it happening are low.

A friend who had it first time around, didn't the second. I will let you know next week how it is for me. Wishing you a smooth pregnancy.

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 25/04/2015 21:34

Fingers crossed for all three of us! When they told me it was low lying at 20 weeks they also said that 90% of the time it moves out of the way.

Because it didn't I now deeply mistrust any stats! Even those that say we have a 95% chance of being ok!

Silly of me really...

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 25/04/2015 21:44

I'm exactly the same boolean even at my 33 week scan they kept insisting it would move out of the way. Massive bleed 2 weeks later and DS delivered prematurely. It moved somewhere alright...out the exit hole!

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 25/04/2015 21:56

Abbeyroad they kept telling me it would definitely move as well! I realise now how lucky I was to make it to 37 weeks and for DS not to be born prem.

Interestingly I read an article that said that 80% of pp cases are male babies!

Would love to know why this is!

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 25/04/2015 22:01

Me too! I didn't find out the sex and the midwife said "oh it's going to be a boy, you have praevia" strange it's mainly boys as surely it's chance where the egg implants itself? I'd love to know what the science is with that.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 26/04/2015 08:38

boolean do you think you might get a private scan? I'm thinking about it, but I don't want to know the sex so if they can't see the placenta it'll be a waste of time as that's all I want to see. I could just wait another month though...undecided

Hoping we all have very boring normal pregnancies

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 26/04/2015 14:32

Abbey I keep thinking about it but haven't got round to booking anything and the weeks are ticking by...keep wondering if ignorance is bliss...

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Summerdaydreams · 26/04/2015 19:35

I had a consultant appoint at 16 weeks and she said scanning at this stage would not be accurate, the earliest to wait would be 18 weeks but even that would be on the early side. So not sure if a private scan would tell you much.

At the minute I am in the ignorance is bliss camp, I don't know and am having no problems ( at this stage in my last pregnancy, I had already been admitted with heavy bleed), so I am taking that as positive. I don't know what I will do, if they tell me it is low again at this weeks 20 week scan.

Interesting about pp and the sex of baby, although I had a girl so don't follow the trend.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 26/04/2015 21:39

Thanks for that Summer it sounds like its worth waiting until 20 weeks then for accuracy. Hope it all goes well for you

Parkend · 26/04/2015 22:28

It is to not relevant where the placenta is at 12 weeks, it will often look low as proprtionally it will cover a larger section of the uterus.

By 19/20 weeks it is easier to assess. If it looks low then most hospitals will repeat at 34/36 weeks.

The placenta does not move as such but imagine drawing a line on a ballon and then blowing the ballon up, it will move. As the uterus expands the placenta will move.

That is why it is unlikely you will know if it will be low at term until nearer the time. A private scan at 12 weeks will not help.

Parkend · 26/04/2015 22:34

Oops, balloon.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 27/04/2015 12:54

I'll wait until the scan. I know they don't officially diagnose it until later, but it does matter earlier - I had bleeds at 11 weeks, 19 weeks and 35. So I never made it to the 36 week scan. And I was very lucky compared to many women as DS was premature but he's going to be ok.
No bleeds so far though so hoping that's a good sign at the moment - I'd already been in at this point last pregnancy

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 28/04/2015 16:16

Summer do let us know how your scan goes this week...

Abbey I think I am going to wait and see.

Just keep trying to remember that our chances of having it are the same as anyone who has had 1 csection...which is loads of people

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 28/04/2015 16:53

Yes do let us know Summer. I think this might become a previous praevia support thread!

Thanks for that boolean I too was told it's just luck where the egg implants. No bleeds so far so I'm hoping that's a good sign compared to last time. I think I can feel flutters as well, so hoping that means it's not at the front in the scar either.

Who knew growing an entire new organ could be so stressful!

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 28/04/2015 19:27

Abbey when is your due date?

I have some weddings and other events that are happening in the third trimester that I feel I just can't commit to until I know if I'm going to be on bedrest/bleed alert...

Also am operating a no sex policy until I know as well! You can't be too safe!

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 28/04/2015 21:12

I'm 29th October, but on the November antenatal thread as my dates got moved forward.
Same here, I've got a wedding in September. I was in hospital at 35 weeks last time and had DS at 36 so even though most people think they've got ages at that stage I'm not so sure. Even if I don't have praevia I think I'll be nervous from the point I had DS anyway.
I have told anyone (apart from DH and 2 prem mum friends) I'm pregnant yet either. I was hoping to be able to say all is fine so I don't worry our families too much. Don't know if it'll be obvious before 20 weeks though. I carried small last time but everything is stretched now!
When are you due?

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 29/04/2015 19:10

Am due 14th October. Another 4 weeks until I find out. You have done well keeping it from people! I have a noticeable bump already although some of it may be from all the food I ate to stop myself from feeling sick in the first trimester!

This lady at work keeps mentioning how I had a 'problem pregnancy! Last time and it's driving me mad as I am trying my best to not focus on it! But as my massive bleed at 32 weeks happened at work they all know!

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 29/04/2015 20:38

Oh gosh, poor you having that at work. I was at home in bed luckily for my big bleed - thought it was my waters until I saw it

I have a small age gap, so I think people assume it's baby weight. Which it is, but from a different baby!

Summerdaydreams · 29/04/2015 22:44

Had my 20 weeks scan and also an internal scan to accurately measure the placenta position.

They told me that the placenta structure is normal, posterior but low (minor) . It apparently measures 18mm from the internal OS, Anything under 20mm is considered low. So almost Okish.

I admit I had a little cry as I wanted them to say it was high. I am being rescanned at 36 weeks.
sonographer seemed to think it would move as my uterus grew. Told me they always move up and not down?? The positive is it isn't partially or completely covering the OS, so does this mean it isn't placenta previa??? And all should be ok??? Anyone?
Don't see consultant until 13th.

My previous experience was of major previa and I was already bleeding at this stage.

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 30/04/2015 08:18

Ah summer I would have cried as well you poor thing but it's only classed as low by 2mm which sounds really positive and much more likely to move out of the way. Do you think you could ask for another scan before 36 weeks to check the position sooner?

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Summerdaydreams · 30/04/2015 08:35

Due to my previous pregnancy the consultant already said I would have at least one, maybe two additional scans, so I won't have to wait until 36 weeks. Just feel a bit deflated by it all. As I really want to start enjoying it but now feel it is hanging over me again. I know I am in a far better position than last time around, so I probably need to focus on the 'glass half full' and not 'half empty approach. I really want to speak to the consultant but have to wait 2 weeks.

And now, I am anaylsing and over analysing everything said yesterday.

DH is so much more positive and reckons it will be fine.

Grrrrrr bloody placentas!!!!!

Original poster

thebooleanoperator · 30/04/2015 08:49

I also just thought that if you hadn't had an internal it might not even have been classed as low as its so borderline?

OP posts:

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 30/04/2015 09:48

Oh no Summer that's rubbish. I never know whether to say or not but mine moved the wrong way. But I did carry small so maybe I never stretched it enough.
I don't have my notes but I think I was touching OS at 20 weeks, just under 2cm at 32 weeks, (was back on for birth centre vaginal birth!) then out the exit hole at 35 and had to deliver DS. So I think mine moved about. I remember them saying it was 1 in 200 chance what happened to me though so very rare.
It sounds like you're in a better position than last time though, very unlikely to bleed with it a few cm away

RhiannonElward · 30/04/2015 09:50

I had a complete pp with my last pregnancy, but had no bleeds whatsoever and although I was hospitalised from 36 weeks, I made it to 39 and had a comfortable elcs and a perfectly healthy baby girl. I did lose a lot of blood in theatre, because the uterus doesn't contract very well that low down to stop the bleeding. I was alright though, if anaemic as hell.

I'm currently 16+3 with my 3rd baby and worried about the same thing happening again, mostly because I know how lucky I was not to bleed and secondly because after 2 sections I really want the chance for a natural birth as this will be our last little one. I also asked at my 12 week scan but they said nothing. I have my 20 week scan on the 26th May, which seems like forever even though the pregnancy itself is going quickly. I'm glad to have found this thread, it's good to know it's not just me not impressed by the stats, the stats were well in my favour before and my placenta didn't budge a millimetre.

It seems there are a lot of us due around the same time, my due date is the 12th October.

Summer while your placenta is considered low, that's so close that movement must be very likely, although having it hanging over you must be hard all the same. When is your next scan? Hopefully you'll have some good news then

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