SPD, Placenta Praevia, and Vulval Varicosities. MISERABLE!

[MamaDuckling]

More a whinge and a moan than seeking advice, but I'll happily welcome any tips anyone has on how to manage these complications...

I'm 27 weeks with diagnosed Placenta Praevia (will know if its moved at 32 wk scan), SPD (first physio next week), and now excruciating varicose veins in my vula - delightful, eh??

My main grumble is that what helps one problem (keeping mobile for the SPD), makes the other worse (varicose veins swell almost instantly on standing up and it's excruciating). I've been fobbed off by my midwives for weeks that all my swelling below was just 'extra blood flow', but my GP actually examined me today and even he hadn't seen anything like it before. Sadly there's no treatment I'm told and it'll disappear after birth.

Does anyone have any experience of managing these two issues together?

Or advice on my thoughts below?

Should I finish work early to rest more? I work full time with a lengthy commute (and not always a seat).

Should I be pushing for a c-section? The idea of labouring naturally with either of these complications fills me with dread - I know that the placenta might decide this on its own, but does anyone have any thoughts/experience with this?

TIA for reading

Hiya op
Here to cheer you up - it all sounds totally grim poor you!

I've got/had some of your problems - but not the placenta previa - but my advice on that one is to put it out of your mind for now. If it hasnt moved and you have to have a c section then it will have been a waste of your time worrying about it.

I had had both spd and VV in both pregnancies to date and to a certain extent this time. The VV do go away quite soon after so be reassured by that ,- as did the spd.

I know you need to move around with spd but you also need to rest.

I've just given up work at 33 weeks with dc3 because my body is telling me to and it sounds to me like yours might be too. Physically it is hard work.

You could get signed off for a week or two and rest a lot and see if it helps. I was always surprised that spd would go away for a spell when you just think it is here to stay - so you might find that a couple of weeks sorts you out and then you can push on a bit longer.

At least at home you can lie down and move around as you need to. Work just adds another level of stress.

I hope that is some use..

Maybe gIve swimming a try? Mobilises you, supports your joints but also lifts the weight if the baby off your blood vessels a bit to ease the variscocities. Just go easy on breast stroke if you have pain in the front of your pelvis.

Thanks both, just feeling really grim but reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's suffering these together.

Good luck for the rest of your pg poocatcher, 33 weeks sounds a better time to finish... Going to look at my leave situation today!

I only have two of the three.. The only advice I can give is that :

There's absolutely nothing you can do about the placenta. It's out of your control, they are aware of it and if it's moved great but if not, you'll be in hood hands getting the right treatment.

Re: spd (oh the misery...) the only thing that's helped me is being off my feet. I got signed off at 30 weeks and honestly I don't know how I was coping before. Just being able to lie down/ take the weight off your pelvis is helpful, and I imagine would help a bit with the varicose veins too. I've only put about 7-8kg on but it feels like I'm carrying three times that.

It's miserable - look after yourself and rest all you can. Be really frank with your doc (I know I was minimising before, doing the I'm fine thing.)