Long term hospital stay for placenta issues.

[thegoldenlemon]

I posted a couple of weeks ago after a big bleed landed me in hospital for five days. Further scans have shown full placenta previa and vasa previa. The latter can be very dangerous to the baby and it's important I don't go into labour. I live about 40 minutes from the hospital, this is my first baby after 5 years of trying and ivf. I'm 28 weeks and have been admitted as when all weighed up, if I had another big bleed or my waters went I could lose the baby before I got to hospital. Bloody terrifying and also hard to get my head around. I've been in for a week now in suspended fear, though I know they can act super fast. Potentially trying to get me to 37 weeks and nine more weeks here feels very long indeed. Anyone else admitted and killing time? Or done such a long stint? Or fancy just saying hello?!

[blueobsessive]

Hi Lemon. Well done for making it this far. Fingers crossed for the section. I'll be thinking of you.

[AmberLav]

Hi Lemon, I've been watching this thread, partly as I'm 2 days behind you with DC3, and I suppose partly as I can't imagine being hospital bound for such a long time. You are doing so well, and hope the next 3 weeks and 2 days don't pass too slowly... Thinking of you...

[Skiptonlass]

Good luck lemon ! Hope those last few weeks are quick and uneventful for you. :)

[thegoldenlemon]

Thanks Amber. I really am counting down the days now with the midwives, catering staff and generally the whole ward! It feels so very long to go still. I really miss home and being able to nest. I would have been finishing work on Friday, very surreal.

Skipton how are you? How's baby life?!

[thegoldenlemon]

Just reviving my thread once more to see if anyone is lurking, could really do with a cheer to the finishing line. I have now been in hospital for eight weeks and had 6 bleeds, the last one was last night. I'm a wrung out nervous wreck and feel displaced from the real world. 35 weeks today and section next week, have scan this morning though not sure I'll be able to have the internal one now to check the vasa previa vessels but we'll hopefully see how big he is. Any rallying messages much appreciated, this has been the toughest thing and I'm on my knees now.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

You are managing so well goldenlemon (((hugs)))

It is such a rollercoaster of fear and trepidation.

Two years ago I was in for most of my pregnancy following a massive bleed at 26 weeks. I have two other children, dd2 was 17 months when I was first admitted and dd1 4, it was terribly hard. I had placenta praevia and percreta (it grew into my bladder). My ds was born at 34+5, a whopping 6.5lbs and didn't require SCBU. He is a bouncy, tantrumming toddler now. I had an emergency hysterectomy at the birth, but recovered well and was back home 6 days later.

You can do this x

[Chrisinthemorning]

I had placenta praevia too,it's such a hard time. Hoping the scan today shows a good weight and then they may deliver. 35 weeks is pretty well cooked. DS was a 36 weeker by EMCS after a bleed but I only lived in hospital for a week. He was 6lb 15 no issues and we went home after 2 days. He was very sleepy and couldn't bf but he's now an enormous 3 year old so no worries.
Hope today goes well

[Skiptonlass]

You are doing just amazing! It's no wonder you're feeling on the ropes, it's such an odd mix of stressful and boring.

I've been checking back to this thread to see how you are - you are so nearly there, just hang on and soon it'll be a memory. I was so so stressed the last month or two, just waiting for catastrophe but as they say, 'this too shall pass.'

Cheering you on and virtually handholding from sunny Sweden - go lemon! You can do it!

[blueobsessive]

Good morning Lemon. How are you doing? Must be nearly the date? Hope all is well since last week

[mrsdiddlydoo]

Oh lemon you are so close to the finish line now and I'm so proud of you surviving your long hospital stay! Thank you for posting on my thread. How are you feeling approaching your section? Did you find out how big he is at your last scan?

I'm home, alone, dh has just gone to work and DS is with family for a few hours. I don't think I slept a wink over the weekend so plan to stay on the sofa and nap today. Trying to resist cleaning and housework... But its not too hard. X

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

Hi!!
I'm still following your journey! Hope everything is still going well for you & please do keep the updates coming x

[AmberLav]

Hope all is well Lemon, I missed last week's update, you did seem quite down so hope this week is better, and you are getting closer to the finish line... Still thinking off you...

[thegoldenlemon]

How lovely to come on and see messages, it's really cheered me up. Just a little update as I'm waiting for monitoring but will come and post more tomorrow. I had two more small bleeds since my last post, the last one sending me to delivery ward due to what looked like contractions but it settled and I'm hoping beyond hope to get to Thursday planned section day. It is thought that some of my mucus plug came away today which has stressed me out. Wibble. At scan last Wednesday he was 5lb9 and I've had my steroids so it's just waiting it out time. It's funny how the nearer you are, the slower the times goes.

[RoTo72]

Ds was only 5lb12oz. Had to have steroids for.a.week too. He absolutely thrived. Went down to 5lb8 when left hospital but put weight on at an amazing rate. He's 15 now, 5ft11 and has the beginnings of a beard!

[Babyh200]

Hello Lemon,
I hope you woke up this morning relieved that your almost there. When you have a health problem these last weeks and days drag so I can't even imagine how you feel after such a long time in hospital because at least at home you can occupy yourself.
I had a c-section at 36+2 with my now two year old and she weighed 6lb 15oz!! In contrast the lady in the next bed had her baby at full term and she weighed 5lb.
Not long now until you finally get to have cuddles with your darling boy :)

[SummerSazz]

Hi lemon, I was on your thread in the early days and am so pleased you have got so far along. The number of bleeds you've had sound dreadful and I remember the clots - one I had was spongy and te size of a large grapefruit!! However I do have to say I've never had any recurring nightmares and 9yrs on rarely think about any of it. When I look back it is in more of a WTF happened then - totally surreal!
Hope you have a calm few days before Thurs xx

[Wait4nothing]

Just read this whole thread (should be getting ready for work!) and wanted to wish you all the luck in the world thegoldenlemon! You've come so far since your first post - you should be really proud of yourself. I hope the days come round without further incident and you can get to that planned date! Sending hugs

[thegoldenlemon]

Morning everyone, the cheering on is helping! It's nice to see some familiar names too. I'm sleeping fairly poorly and wake at 5.30 every day which doesn't help with the dragging time!!

Two more sleeps. Summersazz I'm hoping it will just be left behind as a surreal time and that I can just forget about it. I do get an ouchy feeling that I lost the nice bits of mat leave/third trimester, especially as this will be my only pregnancy. But I quickly push those away as its getting him here safely that matters.

I am now feeling quite apprehensive about the surgery/recovery. I've had abdo surgery before so have a rough idea of the feelings. Sure this is all normal trepidation though. Fingers crossed I've had the dramas and it will go smoothly.

Skipton it's good to see you - are you feeling healed up ok?

I normally do extensive hospital ground wanderings but think will just be fairly static over the next two days to try and avoid any more bleeds as they're caused by such small things, last one was laughing hard. Oh to have 'normal' post partum bleeding! And a glass of wine!

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

Good morning Lemon,
Hope you & bump are still well. How's the boredom? Have you climbed any walls yet...?

[Whatabout]

With regard to surgery / recovery it will be fine. I had a section for previa 10 weeks ago today. I was 39 weeks so no issues with size of baby etc. Surgery was very calm and the baby was out very quickly, the time after was much longer but ok. The first week was sore. Take all the drugs even when you don't feel you need them and at frequent intervals. Move around, it sounds counter intuitive but it helps to walk to the kitchen and back every couple of hours. After the first two weeks I was pain free. I was driving at three weeks and by fuve weeks my husband was abroad and I was looking after a newborn and a two year old. I did get a wound infection, keep an eye on it and go for antibiotics as soon as you can.


My mum was in hospital for seven weeks before the birth of my youngest sister. I was 15 at the time. We do look back on it as a family as a true testing time. But it's in the past.

Not long to go now and a whirlwind will hit you and days and weeks will go faster than you knew possible. Nights can last forever though ;-)

[Roystonv]

Wishing you all the best for a safe delivery, have been following your thread and am so glad you are nearly at the finishing line. I spotted all through my first though only needed hospitalization once, not nice but I can't remember the fear now so I hope that once you are back home with a wriggling bundle it fades for you too,

[TellMeALittle]

Oh op, I've just read this thread and wanted to wish you lots of love.

I had a 3 week stay before dc3 was born and a further 2 week stay afterwards, as I had severe blood pressure problems.

That was over 5 years ago now, and it all seems a blur when I think back to it. I just consider it a blip in the grand scheme of things.

Once I was home it felt like an awakening and I appreciated all the home comforts. Although I felt scared for a while as it took my blood pressure a year to return to normal.

I'm wishing you all the luck in the world.

[CurlsLDN]

Hello lemon, I've just found this thread. I can't believe you've been in so long! That must have been incredibly hard, but you are now so near the finishing line. I can't wait to read your birth announcement!

What craft projects have you been doing?

[SummerSazz]

My surgery was fine - the worst of it was a sick feeling afterwards from the anaesthetic. Meds soon cleared that up!

My incision was pretty small, maybe as small premmie baby expected? and scar all very neat and no overhang etc. I agree with take all the meds they offer and don't wait till it hurts! I was back driving after 2 weeks and all good. Will your dh be allowed in theatre? I think some consultants will let them and others not for pp. Dh was allowed on the basis that if they said 'get out now' he had to scarper. Luckily that never happened.

On the upside of all this, you are unlikely to have much 'normal' post partum bleeding as they 'Clean you out', so to speak...... (sorry, tmi!)

[blueobsessive]

Dear Lemon. One more night to go until the big day! I hope you, and your OH, manage to get some kip tonight. It's been a tough long ride for you both. Well done for sticking it out for so long in hospital. I'll be thinking if you tomorrow and wishing you the very best of luck for your trip to theatre. Your baby is very fortunate to have such a strong mother. Bon courage. You are nearly there.