Low lying placenta

[Charl79]

Hi this is my first time posting, and just looking for some reassurance. I'm 37 and pregnant with my first baby conceived via IVF due to fertility issues caused by grade 4 endometriosis. Pregnancy was great up until 16 weeks when I started having pink discharge when trying for BM. To add to the mix I am also o negative. A recent scan at 22 weeks has now confirmed I have a low lying placenta covering os and is likely to be the cause of the spotting. I have now been to hospital 3 times and twice within the last week. It does not seem to follow any pattern and happens mainly when having a BM although it has happened once on wiping after having a wee. All occasions have been on wiping only.
I and 22 weeks and 3 days today, I feel so anxious now every time I need to go to the toilet incase it will happen again.
Just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation as I feel so alone and only want the best for my baby, thanks for taking the time to read my post xx

Same here op. I'm 23+1 today following ICSI frozen embryo transfer. Two bleeds so far, one quite major and one small (just on wiping). Low lying placenta picked up at 20 week scan. Also O Neg. The hospital have advised that more bleeding is likely.

I feel for you. It's a constant worry and the traipsing back and forth for Anti d after every bleed is just added insult. All you can do is take one day at a time and hope for the best. If the bleeding is after a BM maybe try to up your intake of foods that will minimise straining. Constipation is common in pregnancy anyway so that won't help. I can recommend prunes and prune juice to keep things moving.

If it's any reassurance I also had bleeding in my first pregnancy and that turned out fine. It's more common than you think.

This happened to me, bleeding caused by a low lying placenta. One of the bleeds was big enough to require admission to hospital for observation.

It was an awful time and I was so incredibly anxious that it made it hard to enjoy being pregnant to be honest so I really sympathise OP.

For me the placenta did move up as the pregnancy progressed and the bleeding then settled. DS was born safe and well at 39+5 weeks. He's now 14 months and asleep upstairs.

Are you classed as high risk already and seeing the consultant? If so push for an appointment with them ASAP. My consultant was really good and I had lots of additional scans and appointments which helped me manage the anxiety a bit. I did start to calm down a bit as the pregnancy progressed and I knew the chances were that DS would likely be ok even if a bit early.

Now DS is here I can confirm that it was all worth it!

Thanks SliverLinings2014, can I ask did your placenta move in your first pregnancy in time for the birth? And how many bleeds did you have?

I feel that each day now I'm just waiting for the next one, scared to travel too far from home 😞

I've been told to take lactoluse and I've also increased my fibre intake and also my water to help move things along!

Thanks for replying, nice to think I'm not alone as all my family and friends seem to have had a stress free pregnancy x

Hi Sunshinegirl82, thanks for your reply.
How often did you bleed and when did the placenta move?

Sorry for so many questions!

Yes I am consultant led and have scans booked in every 4 weeks which I hope will
help ease my anxiety.

We have both waited so long for this pregnancy and really wanted to be in a position to enjoy this time. My heart is racing each time I need to go to the toilet.

It's great to hear all went well for you x

I'm 22 weeks on Tues and my placenta is completely covering the os. I'm A neg. Fortunately, I haven't had any bleeding yet (touch wood) but it does make me very nervous every time I go to the loo will I find something. My next scan is 32 weeks so hopefully it will have move by then by it seems an age to wait 12 weeks.

Before my 20w scan I was thinking about going for a private 4D scan anyway but now I have been thinking about this more as maybe I could get them to have a quick look at my cervix to see if the placenta is moving

I had this, placenta previa they called it. It didn't move and I bled regularly. I was told bed rest for the last 10 - 15 weeks and this did lessen the bleeds, maybe twice in that time. Then they decided to bring me in early for a section. It was all a worry but st the same time at least it was picked up on so I knew to rest up and not push it. Baby is 14 years old now and very healthy and happy😊

I had probably 6 or 7 small bleeds, I found they tended to come in little bursts then it would calm down for a bit.

My consultant signed me off work for 8 weeks and I rested which did seem to calm things down for me. For me the bleeds stopped at around 26/27 weeks and subsequent scan showed placenta had moved higher. I was cleared for a vaginal birth although ended up with a c-section for unrelated reasons!

Have you met with your consultant yet? Have they told you to take it easy and avoid heavy lifting/sex? I found taking things very gently did help me and I also felt like I was "doing" something which made me feel a bit more in control.

Try to take it day by day and just get through it. Every day that passes is another step towards the finish line. It did get easier for me once I got past 30 weeks as it felt like I was on the home straight a bit

Feel free to PM me if you need any further support. I remember the anxiety very well, it was a very difficult time for me and I really sympathise.

Thank you so much.

Had my 22 week scan with my consultant last week, yeah and she has told me no sex and rest. Not due to see her now til 28 weeks where she is checking where the umbilical cord is as she was slightly concerned as that was just above the OS.

I've had the last week off work, a pre booked holiday and due to go back to work tomorrow. I have a fairly demanding and pressurised job so will see how next week goes and hope for no more bleeding.

I have an antenatal appointment for this week with a different consultant so will go armed with more questions and to confirm who is actually my lead consultant.

I just feel that every minute of every day I am worried, I'm hoping work will help divert my mind a little (without the stress)

Thanks again

My placenta is completely covering my cervix too, I did think about having private scans also. However my next scan date is 12th October so think I'm going to be patient and stick with the monthly hospital scans as I would t want to get conflicting information which would then stress me out even more.

If you find work too difficult your GP can sign you off and will almost certainly do so if you request it. When I returned to work the consultant gave me a fit note that allowed me to work reduced hours (I did 10 till 4) which I found helped as I avoided rush hour etc. I also have quite a stressful professional job and time did pass more quickly when I was back! Can you work from home at all? I took a/l at 36 weeks then mat leave at 38 weeks.

I completely understand the constancy of the worry, it was all consuming. I would randomly burst into tears (and I am not a crier under normal circumstances) from the constant pressure of it.

I wish there was something more I could say to help but unfortunately I think you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until you get through it. It does eventually end and you're in the worst part at the moment. No-one tells you how blimmin long 40 weeks feels when you're pregnant, I didn't think it would ever end!!

I've promised my husband and family that if I do find work too stressful I will go to see my GP.

I can work from home on some aspects (I'm a Contact Centre Manager) and definitely think a reduced day may help. I do have a meeting with HR on Friday to discuss my maternity cover so will speak to them in more detail then.

I am trying so hard to stay positive and my husband is a great support, but as you say 40 weeks is such a very very long time and with just being just over 22 weeks now the time seems to be passing very very slowly! I am just grateful of each passing day with no 'incidents'

Hi Charl

Glad to see you are getting lots of support and great advice here.

My first pregnancy the placenta moved and I had a normal vaginal birth. I had two bleeds in total, but one of them lasted 6 weeks and I was signed off for the duration of that time.

This time around the bleeding has been much less, which i crazily find reassuring after last time. It's all about perspective I suppose and as last time was much worse and all turned out fine, I'm trying to have a best case scenario outlook. Think I'd go crazy otherwise! However the placenta is posterior and low this time which i think lessens the chance it'll move as it's the expanding uterus that lifts the placenta out of the way.

It sounds like you have a good care plan in place and you're doing the right thing resting as much as possible. In reality you probably would never have been able to enjoy your pregnancy with wild abandon, even without the bleeding. Having gone through Fertility treatment to get his far I know how precarious it all feels. All you can do is minimise the risk factors and take it one day at a time. for you x

Thanks again for your reply, it is reassuring that I'm not alone.

Glad you are having a better experience with this pregnancy.

I've worked from home today which has helped me feel a bit better.

Take care and thanks again xx

Hi all,

I'm nearly 28 weeks and have been spotting every day for the last couple of weeks (was admitted for 3 nights under obs).

The doctors have said more bleeding is likely (placenta is completely covered the os) and only to worry if it increases significantly or turns bright red.

Hi, I've now been spotting on and off all week also, had an antenatal appointment yesterday, when they examined me they could see a small active bleed so admitted me for observation. They said during examination they couldn't tell if bleed was coming from cervix or placenta but as the placenta is fully covering the os they didn't want to mess with it.
So far no further evidence of bleeding so will see what docs say today.
Now 23 + 2, they did say if it continued would start giving me steroids at 23 + 5, has anyone else had the steroids??
Thanks

Yes. I had repeated bleeds with Grade 4 PP and delivered at 26+5. And the baby is doing very very well after a two month spell in NICU. Absolutely thriving and exceeding all milestones now.

I've had the steroids Charl, 2 needles 24 hours apart.

They actually said to me research has shown that it would be beneficial for all pg women to have them but the NHS can't afford it.

It's just so terrifying seeing blood isn't it! Hope things settle down for you soon xx

That's good to hear!

I'm just thankful as each day passes.

My heart stops each time I go to the toilet in anticipation if there will be blood xx

I'm so sorry things continue to be difficult. I found that I was actually calmer in hospital as at least you are being monitored and not constantly worrying about whether you should/shouldn't be seeking advice.

Hang on in there, I assume you are now signed off work? If not I would see if they will sign you off for a decent stretch so that you can just put it out of your mind and rest.

I did lots of research on placenta based bleeds when I had mine and the outcomes are overwhelmingly positive.

Do you have an iPad/laptop with you? I recommend box sets as you can break the day down into 30 minute/hour blocks and it helps it pass more quickly. Time has never moved more slowly for me than the period before 24 weeks, it's awful.

I really hope this settle down for you soon, take care.

I agree I've felt less anxious here!

Just been discharged to go home, told me to rest and take it easy, and to expect more bleeds. If it's only pink and light not too worry, but if things change to contact them. This has also made me feel slightly better.

I asked her about work and she thought of me take it easy, work are fairly flexible so will ask to work 2 days from home next week and reduced hours for the other days and see how I go. However if I do have another bleed will get signed off by the GP x

I got told at my 20week scan that my placenta is low, I also have rheses negative blood aswell! Back for a scan at 32 weeks. I am quite worried. Just trying to be really careful. X

Glad you're heading home and bleeding has stopped. Fingers crossed for no more bleeds or at least a decent bleed free stretch for you. As I said my bleeds did stop so I'm really hopeful it's the same for you.

Good plan about work. I'm glad they are being flexible and understanding.

I asked my midwife if I could attend more frequently and she agreed (meant I could hear the heartbeat etc) which helped so that might be something to consider. I saw her once a fortnight.

Here's hoping for a super boring and uneventful next 16 weeks for you!

Good idea about the midwife, my next scheduled hospital appointment isn't until 11th October so will contact my midwife to get an appointment booked in for 2 weeks.

Fingers crossed x

Morning ladies,

How is everyone today?

Has anyone mentioned hospital admission or early CS to you? Ive been reading the NHS guidelines and admission at 34 weeks is mentioned and also CS between 36-38 weeks.... just trying to work out what I'd do with DC1 if this happened (DH works away).

Morning,

Ok day so far!

Think it all depends on how much you actually bleed to if or when they admit you fir complete bed rest, my consultant had said CS between 36-37 weeks if things don't change.

Has your bleeding now stopped?

Hope you all have a good weekend xx