Placenta previa/vasa previa/succenturiate lobe - support needed.

[thegoldenlemon]

Bit long but could really do with support from mn with this one. I'm 26 weeks and 2 days pregnant and a week ago was rushed to hospital with a huge bleed and spent five days there while it settled. They were prepping me for delivery on Friday as I had tightenings every three minutes but then it all calmed down.

This is a four year in the making ivf pregnancy so my nerves were already rather fraught. I found the bleed terrifying as I thought I'd lost the baby til he did a huge kick when the ambulance went over a bump. I knew my placenta was low lying but an internal scan revealed it has moved down, I have a smaller extra lobe now sat over the os attached by a thin band to the main placenta. Currently the band is not over the cervix. However, I'm back in next weds to check for vasa previa as ivf and extra lobes are risk factors and they want a close look. Looking up vasa previa (read googling it like an insane woman at midnight on a lonely ward) has terrified me. I'm now scared of more bleeds (which I've been told to expect, to have bag packed, phone charged, stay within major hospital reach etc) but mostly that I could lose this baby. If it is vasa previa they said I would probably be admitted and delivered at 34-35 weeks with a seven week stint on the ward. Another bleed and they'll also keep me in.

Any help or experience with any of these things and generally a hand hold til my scan next weds would be gratefully received.

Thanks for sharing your routine! Its really interesting to hear how you tackle the monotony of life on a ward - esp the bed to sofa combo - very clever, I wouldn't think of doing that. In fact, I don't think I would think of changing out of my pj's and gown!! You should be applauded for making the effort!

Do you mind telling me how they go about stopping your bleed when it starts? (I can't imagine its not pretty, so don't worry if you would rather not go into it) It must be hard to know that even rest doesn't stop it from bleeding and all it may take is for your boy to sneeze, a boy! BTW CONGRATULATIONS arrr how lovely for you - at least you can spend the days bonding with him and you truly are in the best possible place. I know people slate it but I think our NHS really is wonderful and i'm thankful they picked it up for you.

I had forgotten that I am on a research study and as a coincidence have an appointment booked in for a Ultrasound on 9th Nov at the placenta clinic here in Manchester.. relieved as I will be able to ask them to investigate my situation further and will let you know how i get on.. What date is your section taking place?

P.S Have you heard of skillshare.com ? I do lots of their crafty courses, many easy going projects and lots of interesting, 'take your mind of things' style of topics.. I am happy to give you my login details if you fancy having a go witout having to pay the subscription whilst your waiting to meet your little one.. def. worth checking out. xxx

P.S I had my phone on my stomach last night and baby was kicking away to Ludovico Einaudi's piano music from the Intouchables soundtrack.. (well worth watching the film if you haven't already)

It was the BEST FEELING EVER i'm going to have a play with different styles of music and see what baby likes best.. thinking perhaps some rock tonight :)

xx

Hi Pugh. What nice messages from you. That's good you have a scan on the 9th, hopefully they'll be able to look in detail and say what's what. Go armed with questions! I have had to push to have the vasa previa looked for (pretty sure same hosp though wasn't at placental clinic but fetal medicine, sneaking that in there tho to be honest my posts have been so self identifying a sneaky name change after the birth might be in order!)

There is no stopping the bleeds. They are as if you'd really cut yourself, not like a period. They come out rapidly and then I'm told to lie down while whatever has popped/moved etc clots. Then huge clots come out and then it's like a period, trailing off over 4-5 days. They've always slowed pretty quickly so I've not ended up in the delivery unit but have been poised on being wheeled over and was there when I had my original larger bleed. I hate them. They come out of nowhere and then it's all systems go waiting to see if it will slow that time. Shudder. They don't hurt at all until afterwards and then the area is very very tender like a bruise.

Thanks for skill share link! Right up my street. I'm currently super busy with projects I want to finish but I'll be returning to that (because there'll be loads of time with a tiny baby right?) for sure.

Do let me know how you get on and I hope you've had a lovely weekend. Feeling the baby find its preferred songs is a lovely thing isn't it. This one boogies along to moby and jazz