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.

So happy to see your update, bet 25 weeks seemed a long way away when you were first in. fingers crossed baby can stay in for as long as poss and you're home soon.

Hi All,

Out of hospital today! Will keep you updated on my progress as we head towards 28 weeks. Thanks for all the messages of support.
Taking it easy, working from home (very lucky that I can do this). Fingers crossed I can make it a few more weeks without bleeds!!

Hi All,

Thought I would send a quick update on progress. Am now 33+6 weeks! Very happy that we've made it this far. Placenta is still low, have another scan on Monday to check how low (transvag). But think it's still probably covering the os. I am also now back in hospital as of Friday. I started spotting 2 weeks ago and wasn't too concerned, but it has progressively gotten heavier and started looking like there was fresher bleeding involved. The docs aren't taking any chances and I have been told I would be crazy to go home. Have a section booked for 38+4 weeks, which will be the 8th of October. Although it is pretty humdrum being stuck in hospital, I am taking the advice seriously and will act as advised. So it's more macaroni provencale (what the hell is that you say? I shall find out at 6pm tonight. Needless to say, I am excited.) and tomato omelettes for me! I have begun teaching myself to crochet and have a few good books to hand. Skygo is a godsend. Any other tips on how to pass the time would be appreciated!
Warm wishes

If you haven't already you could write down a diary type thing about your pregnancy, for your DD or DS to read when they're older.

I kept one throughout my pregnancy and its a nice thing to look back on, even though your 33 weeks, it could be your journery briefly so far and then the next five weeks :)

Glad you've made it this far, I had a different issue and had to have steroid injections at 24 weeks in case of prem labour, so understand some of the stress, but made it to 40+5 :)

That's a great idea Dixie. Not sure how exciting the next few weeks will be, hopefully not exciting at all!
I had steroids at 24 weeks, they sting like buggery. I don't think I'll get away without having another round, even if we get to 38 weeks they said we'll have another round pre section

Oh that sucks that you have to have another round of steroid injections!! Hope the next few weeks are largely uneventful for you :)

Hi All,

Just wanted to update interested parties on my progress. Mostly for completeness as it is hard to find info on the outcome of placenta previa, I guess because it is so unpredictable and therefore unique to each individual.
A couple of weeks ago I was admitted back to hospital with a significant, unprompted bleed. I was 35+2 at that stage. Bleeding stopped and I was admitted to the antenatal unit for the remainder of my pregnancy - possible 3 weeks till section, had more steroids. Four days later I had another bleed, late at night/early morning, was rushed to labour ward. Luckily no contractions and the bleeding stopped but lost about 350ml.
The team decided to whip the baby out later that day, so on the 19th of September we met out lovely baby girl Beatrice, who is 5 weeks prem. But luckily didn't need any support with breathing etc..
I lost about 2 litres of blood in theatre and they gave me some of my own back as well as 1-2 units of donated. Then I had another transfusion a couple of days later as blood count still very low.
We were discharged 5 days after delivery, baby doing well and she has regained her birth weight since. She was on the large side for prem at 6lb 8oz, so still diddy but not tiny pre diddy.
I feel very lucky that we made it to this stage. Feels strange that technically she would still be inside if we made it to section date, as that will still be later this week. But I think we made the right decision to deliver early as I was pretty concerned that the bleeding would just get worse and after experiencing a c section feel that it was a nicer experience for it to be elective, if earlier than expected.
Just wanted to say thanks so much to all the ladies who had posted previously sharing their experiences and collective wisdom! Particularly when I was at 20 weeks and we weren't sure what the outcome would be, they were dark times and your words provided me and my husband with hope.
xxxooo

What lovely news. Congratulations

Congrats! You'll be happy to know that a 35 weeken is not 5 weeks prem. full term is 37-42 weeks (not 40 weeks as commonly thought. 40 weeks is simply the halfway point of full term.).

So babies are considered full term at 37 weeks and you were 35+3 when she was born, which means she was 11 days prem :-)

Congrats that's lovely news, I hope you're all doing well. X

Congratulations !! And very glad she's a good weight and no breathing troubles :) getting to 35.3 was a real achievement.

Enjoy your lovely baby girl (and your home comforts!)

Congratulations! Awwww I bet she's perfect. Your story is so similar to my own even down to birth weight and gestation it's made me a bit emotional so glad you made it to 35 weeks.
With the prem thing, I got unexpectedly emotional on due date so perhaps prepare for that. Also health visitors etc should be correcting 5 weeks (some think 2, some think 0 because of a good birth weight) so expect first smiles etc calculated from due date, don't panic if these things take longer than for others, it's normal and they catch up. DS caught up on almost everything by the time he was 1.

Congratulations! Very happy to hear the lovely outcome for you all

My little girl was born early at 36 weeks and she was 6lbs 5oz. She is counted as 4 weeks premature medically and so everything is adjusted 4 weeks in terms of health checks and developmental milestones but in reality she seems somewhere in between her actual and adjusted age in terms of development. All good though and at 12 weeks she's now double her birth weight and smiling and babbling away.

So congrats again and well done!