Placenta Previa & bleeding - in need of support to stay positive

[Emtwizzle]

Hi all,

I am new to mumsnet! I am currently having a bit of a desperate time. I am currently 20 weeks pregnant with my first pregnancy conceived through IVF. All was going fairly well until I had a fairly big bleed a few days ago and I am now in the maternity ward at hospital still suffering with recurrent bleeds. I have just had a scan today and it shows a low lying placenta (major) with a significant clot, which they have said needs to be absorbed as it might cause my cervix to open as the body tries to push it out. I am so scared that this journey may be over for me, after trying for so long. And it is all down to my placenta being in the wrong place!
I would really appreciate any shared experiences with pp, ladies who have been through it and have managed to deliver their babies. I am finding it really, really tough trying to stay positive.

I'm at the same stage as you, and I have pp too. Just wanted to give you a hug! You're in the best place, being monitored and cared for.

So sorry to hear you're going through this and really hope you get some good news soon.

I had a major placenta praevia in my first pregnancy. I have to say I was lucky enough not to suffer any bleeds though. My main complaint was that the low placenta forced DS to lie very high and give my stomach a good pummelling. Had crippling heartburn for the whole of the last trimester. DS was delivered at term by CS, and is now a very lively three year old.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that this episode of bleeding is a one off and that the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful. You may want to stock up on gaviscon though!

Thanks Skiptonlass, I am being well cared for. Although being on a maternity ward is not always the most restful place!

I had placenta praevia with several bleeds starting at 17 weeks. I was in and out of the maternity ward - admitted 8 times in total - and given extra scans to check position. Doctors put me on total bed rest and gave me steroid injections at 24 weeks. I made it to 38 weeks and safely delivered my dd via c section. She's now a very feisty 1 year old. I know it's a tough time but the midwives will take good care of you ?? big hugs

I can't say anything useful, but I just wanted to add some support and say that I really hope everything goes well - fingers tightly crossed.

I had this with my 1st. I had bleeds at 11, 19 and 35 weeks when they had to deliver. The emcs was very quick but DS is here safe and well and all is good.
Just had a small bleed at 18 weeks with my second so waiting to see where that placenta is next week...

Thanks for the messages ladies. Good to hear a couple of stories with bleeding and a happier ending.
Electrolux- how long were you in hospital for if admitted at 20 weeks?
It isn't so bad I guess, although some variety in the daily menu would perk me up a little bit! I'll
Keep you posted on my progress. No bleeding as of yet, since quite a big one this morning. However I seem to only bleed at night and early morning - so the next few hours will tell. They have prescribed me tranexamic acid to help reduce the bleeding. Fingers crossed it helps. I feel quite despondent as the bleeding seems unprompted and completely out of control. Like a tap being turned on and then off.

Abbey road, hope your scan goes well. I have read that it's rare to have it twice. So fingers crossed for you too!

I hope it all goes well. I remember how unpredictable it all was with the bleeds stopping / starting too. They'll probably give you steroids injections for the baby's lungs once you're a little further along.
Maternity wards are not fun but after being there a little while I did get to know the food lady and she'd smuggle me extra yogurts!

The food ladies are tough! They won't even dole out extra cups of tea for DH without grumbling!!

It's not quite the same, but I had my first DC at 32 weeks and with my second was on bed rest from 26-27 weeks because of a potential premature delivery. I wasn't in hospital for all of it, but I know how grinding it is to lie on a ward day after day. The food really got me down too - I ended up getting my DH to bring me an evening meal in tupperware boxes, it really cheered me up. I found it helped to concentrate on milestones - so getting to 26 weeks, 28 weeks, 30 weeks etc. This was all before smart phones and wifi, so I couldn't even really do internet (gasp!) but I invested in some good DVD boxed sets that I could watch on my laptop and some friends downloaded radio podcasts for me onto CDs. Keep strong! My fingers are crossed that things go well for you and the time passes as quickly as it possibly can.

Haha that's true! They hate giving the men anything, I'd forgotten about that. They told DH to get his own so he went off in search but there wasn't anywhere he could get his own. But if I asked for another tea I'd sneak him that one.
Hopefully you won't be in too long if all goes well. It took me best part of a week to get the yogurts. I think I'd become institutionalised, I was a bit obsessed with them!

Willnotbetamed - I agree milestones are a good goal. If we can get to 24 weeks then I will start to feel a bit better. The first goal is reduced bleeding over the next 48 hours if possible. I will certainly start to feel better if I see less blood.
Luckily i have access to wifi and skygo, which means total TV access. However DH is using to watch the cricket mostly! Keeps him happy though. Don't know what I would do without him here. I send him home overnight though as he would probably be useless to me during the day otherwise. However I am then completely on my own when I usually bleed which is scary!

Hello OP I had low-lying placenta with DD (partial blockage). No bleeding throughout until 36+6 when I heamorrhaged overnight with suspected placental abruption. Long story short: they managed to stabilise me and there was talk of steroid injections but the next morning I had EMCS and after more complications involving DD being resuscitated twice and me losing stupid amounts of blood, we came through safely!

DD is now a super energetic 2 year old and I'm doing just fine.

Hope it all goes well for you

Thanks to everyone for your supportive messages. I have found them really helpful. Have had a better 24 hours with no major bleed, only spotting which is looking old....so starting to feel more positive. Think I may be in here for a couple more days before they think about discharge tho.
Xx

How are you doing OP?

Hi All,

Thought I would try reinvigorating my old thread!! Bit of an update, am now 25 weeks but am in hospital for the third time!! Two small bleeds have seen me re admitted for 24 hour obs. Here's hoping that this is a short stay as well. They may keep me in if I bleed again, so hoping I can last at least another 4 weeks bleed free after this.
Unfortunately am one finger typing due to sore hands because cannula in one and a swollen right hand due to first failed cannula attempt. But generally am doing ok. Things are very different once your baby is viable, although I am not totally interested in talking to the neonatologists that keep visiting me. I guess they need to keep you informed but I am trying to remain calm mindfully working my way through the weeks ( next stop 28 weeks!!) and learning details of how they intubate babies at this stage doesn't help!
So far no pain, bleeding has stopped (just spotting brown) and baby is growing well.
Any warm wishes will be gratefully received!!

I hope you continue to tick off the weeks OP. I'm not sure if you'd find this helpful but the survival rate of the baby increases really fast over the next few days and weeks, although obviously as many weeks you can tick off the better. I hope you are not too bored and tired - wards are not the most relaxing of places. All the best

Congratulations on making it this far OP! It sounds like a very challenging pregnancy, but hopefully you will make it to 28 weeks and well beyond. If you get to 30 weeks, then it should start to feel easier - I found that that was always a turning point, after that it started to feel less and less like a potentially serious medical situation and more and more like a baby born just a bit early. I've got my fingers crossed for you! And maybe my fingers are lucky at the moment - having had one premature baby and one pregnancy with seven weeks of bedrest leading to almost-term baby, I have got lucky third time - am now almost 36 weeks with DC3 and so far no sign of anything untoward happening. Hang on in there! You will get there in the end - for what it's worth, my DCs are 7 and 5 now and I very rarely think about my experience of pregnancy with either of them - it is long long forgotten.

Hi guys,

Thanks for the messages. Still in triage at the mo as no beds on the maternity ward, but at least I have a door instead of a curtain. Small luxuries!
I am interested to know what other ladies who had high risk pregnancies for their first baby did regarding antenatal classes. I had some booked for September but cancelled them after my first bleed. Not sure what to do as am living week by week currently. God knows I may be in hospital full time by September!!

Just had a little read and wanted to send a little hug, glad to hear your doing okay and little one is getting bigger. Will be following this thread and pray everything goes well for you

I'd had my son before completing the classes, I'd done the labour / birth one but not the breastfeeding and parenting ones.
To be honest the class I did do wasn't much use to me as with placenta praevia it'll be a section if it doesn't move itself, which mine didn't and they didn't cover c section for more than 15 minutes.
The midwives showed me what to do with nappies etc and one gave me a short talk of bathing etc before going home, so you won't miss anything by not going.
You could ask the hospital if you can go on any early course as they'll know youve been admitted?
If you mean private courses I didn't do them, but check with the course organiser as some might refund in the case of early birth but others might not

Best of luck to you! Keep counting down those weeks :)