Placental abruption at 18 weeks - help.

[usagal]

Hello everyone!
I have lurked around on mumsnet for ages but never posted before. However, now I think I need some help and advice so any at all would really really be appreciated. I am English but have been living in the States for 8 months and am 18 weeks pregnant with baby no.3. Other pregnancies were problem free. I started bleeding about a week ago and went for a scan and it was discovered I have a placental abruption (a fairly significant one). The dr said I have to have more or less total bed rest at home for a couple of weeks until the bleeding stops. (yeah right with two kids!) They were generally not particularly positive. They spoke lots about being admitted at 24 weeks when the baby is viable for hospital bedrest and steroids as the baby would likely to be pre-term if the abruption doesn't get better. (Can it get better or will it just not get any worse?). When I asked if it was better or worse in terms of baby prognosis that the abruption was discovered early I was told it made no difference and at least if it is born now I will have no choice what will happen to it. (ie it will not stand a chance). I just wondered if anyone has had any experience of this - with good or bad outcomes? I have no family out here and I am really really scared.

[Jenny2506]

@usagal - what was the outcome? Similar position here, though I am with twins at 22 weeks and had 1 abruption @ 18 weeks

[MamaidhMathMath]

If you search her username @usagal you'll see a later thread where her baby was born at 37 weeks and very healthy.

I hope that helps reassure you a bit, it must be very frightening.