28+3 placenta previa likely section at 37wks

[Rarfy]

Any tips for me please?

I'm 28+3 with placenta previa. Had a scan yesterday to check placenta yesterday - well and truely covering the cervix and in the sonographers words "there's no way that will move" although she did follow it up by saying watch now i have said that it will.

I am consultant led anyway so discussed briefly with them following the appointment. At the moment they are very much saying wait until scan at 36wks to be sure but i'm guessing the sonographer knows what she's talking about.

So, any tips for things i should be doing now? With the section in mind i have just under 9wks to go.

Also any advice / tips on a plannned section is welcome too.

I'm glad to hear ypu are doing ok although the pain sounds awful you poor thing. Yes there is something to be said about being in a safe place. I guess trust in the professionals and go with whatever they suggest.

Are you far from the hospital when at home? Do you work? I guess you will need to start maternity leave now?

I hope they can get your pain under control for you and dh gives you some reassurance.everything at home is good too stop you worrying too much.

I had my baby in August and had placenta previa (was completely covering from 20 weeks and didn’t move at all apparently - though only referred to as previa later on as usually a low placenta moves so consultant wasn’t concerned!) I had a small amount of spotting at 24 weeks and was admitted overnight then discharged, then all ok until 35+6 when had brown spotting so took myself to assessment unit where they debated whether to admit me, decided it would be a good idea to and spotting continued for 24 hours, they offered to discharge me, then changed their minds so I stayed and on the second night I woke up and went to the toilet, as I walked down the corridor I felt a gushing (thought I’d wet myself!) and when I got the the loo I realised it was blood and it was gushing out. Quite quickly I was panicking (didn’t think to pull alarm) and went to find a nurse, she ushered me back to bed and a whole team appeared and started examining me and started prepping me for caesarean as they wheeled me up to labour ward, my partner was called and they monitored baby closely whilst getting a team together for surgery, in the 25 mins or so this was happening bleeding slowed down and they relaxed but said section would happen that morning (it was 6am at this point) I then went to the toilet and felt another gush but it was just liquid - doctor insisted I’d wet myself but I didn’t think so. Monitoring continued and bleeding stopped, they decided it was safer to administer second steroid shot and wait. Then nothing - they decided as bleeding settled not to perform section so I returned to the ward. A few days later I had a scan to monitor growth (last baby had growth restriction) and growth had stopped and they was no fluid (shock - I knew I hadn’t wet myself!) so I was booked in for planned section next day (as it was too late to do that day as they need a bigger team for a previa case in case of excessive bleeding)

Caesarean all went and baby was totally fine born at 37+1
I will say that consultant repeatedly said before any bleeding they absolutely wouldn’t perform a section before 39 weeks unless emergency due to bleeding for previa and even when hospitalised they were still keen to get me past 38 weeks rather than 37 it was due to the growth issue and lack of fluid that the cesarean was bought forwards.

I had praevia with dc3 and placenta percreta due to previous csection scars. Aim was 37 weeks for delivery. Made it to 34 weeks after spending two months mostly in hospital after a big bleed at 26 weeks. Had steroids twice at 26 and 34 weeks. Ds didn't need scbu, fully breastfed. Home after 5 days due to my recovery.

I had a 17 month old and 4 year old at home. Such a roller coaster emotionally.

Wishing you all well. Hope your babies stay cooking as long as possible.

Hi @Gizmo- I saw a doc today who (after everything) still mentioned that the placenta might move and vaginal may stay on the cards.....but it looks like they're quite proud of their 'natural birth' rate here (there's a big poster on the wall)....but after everything I'm really sticking to the 'aim for 37 weeks c-section' plan- no chance I'm going to risk anything 'emergency' (have a feeling I'm going to be allowed home with a plan for monitoring this week if no more bleeding - but iron levels have dropped (I fainted this morning) so really just waiting to see what happens with scan -
What happened with you is what I'm really scared about as 14mnth Dd1's birth was so traumatic due to the 'waiting' game that seemed to happen all through my inducement - and people constantly changing they're minds- ending in an emergency switch to cardiac neo-natal unit in children's hospital- I knew there was something wrong with the way I was being induced, the reaction I had to propess, my cervix being pulled, being made to push against 3cm dilated- but went along with everything I was told.....can't happen again.
I do want to get home (Dd1 has a nasty cold- DH, although doing his best does need a hand right now) but still on morphine for pain, plus getting iron levels back up and feel generally wiped out- where to be for the best is wrecking my head x (sorry ranting- ward letting other ladies snoring partner stay and so loud- the ladies are lovely in here though so let it slide)

I had vasa praevia, which has similar management to complete placenta praevia (although the risk is to the baby not the mother). Admitted at 30 weeks (I had a small abruption, which turned out to be a lucky thing because that was how they found the vasa praevia).

I was sitting on antenatal ward until 36 weeks, then had a planned section. DS was also transverse lie, probably because there was no space for him in my pelvis. So absolutely zero chance of me delivering him vaginally.

It was fine. Bit of an anticlimax to be honest, after six weeks of anxiety and stress. I had an epidural, they popped DS out in about 20mins and we were wheeled back to labour ward so I could feed and cuddle him. I wasn’t exhausted or in any pain, like I would have been if I had had a normal labour. Up and about the next day, bit of shoulder soreness (air under diaphragm) but no pain from the wound or perineum.

DS did have slightly low blood sugars due to prematurity, so we were stuck in for 5 days, but he didn’t need to go to SCBU, just needed top up formula feeds on top of breastfeeding for the first two weeks. I ended up BFing until 18 months.

Try not to worry about it. Most people don’t wnd up with the whale-song-and-aromatherapy delivery of their dreams, and I’d far rather a straightforward planned section than a forceps delivery, third degree tear, crash section or any of the other complications people having vaginal deliveries often experience.

@sashkin I also have a transverse laying baby (is either due to placenta pravia or the 10cm fibroid above my pubic area) - Completely threw me that a doc even suggested the idea of 'natural birth'! Especially when I've already been pre warned and steroid injected that they may have to go sooner than 37!?

Lol yes are you at St Thomas’ by any chance? There was one consultant who used to tell everyone they “might be able to have a vaginal delivery” on the antenal ward round - we all learned to ignore him after a while.

I’m not sure if he thought he was giving us hope, but it actually just upset people by introducing doubt about the management plan when there was actually zero chance of it happening.

Not at St Thomas's but sounds like the consultant here is thinking (and saying!) exactly the same- and it really doesn't help!

I get that (before admission for bleeds, fibroid spot, transverse and pain) that there might have been a chance for placenta to move up, even my consultant said it would be a shame for baby no4 to have to be a c-section after 3 natural births, but at that time before all this we were discussing a c-section anyway because of the trauma of last time.
Anyway, hope this consultant was just being like the one you had! Having a position scan tmrw (today now!) and really hope they can put together a plan when they can see exact positions of everything and check baby's growth etc

Hope it goes well!

Good luck today @tadda.

I wonder if different Trusts do things differently. My consultant said 37wks section as the risk of placenta praevia bleeding increases a lot after that point plus i guess the baby is considered full term then.

Fwiw i work in a medical setting with midwives and told one about my placenta praevia last wk and she was pretty sure at this point it wouldn't move.

How are things @Tadda?

Hi @rarfy x Had a scan yest and placenta totally covering cervix, plus the bleeds, so it's a stay in hospital now until c-section, which their hoping to try and get me as close to 37 weeks as possible x

Oh dear @Tadda. That is a long time isnt it? How are you feeling?

A bit shit :(
My iron levels apparently now taking a battering plus really constipated from meds (not 'been' since bleed- even though taken loads of laxatives...)
Sorry having a proper moan today (feeling sorry for myself and not seen Dd1 since Sunday cos she's got a cold x)

I'm not surprised @Tadda you're doing really well though hang on in there. Bet you are missing dd like crazy hopefully she will be on the mend soon and can pop for a visit.

Have they put you on iron tablets? How many weeks are you now?

@Rarfy 33 weeks today - had anaesthetist meeting today who went over everything that's going to or might happen during csection- spinal block explanation, risks associated with section and placenta pravia - mainly bleeding associated but seems quite low risk (he gave me stats!) felt a bit 'argghh' after but at least have some time to process and ask any questions now if thet pop up x
On the plus side, having an enema (!) tomorrow morning so hopefully will feel bit better in the morning.
DH also just text because he's having trouble getting Dd1 asleep- I can't do anything! :(

Think of it as having less than a month to go! I do sympathise, I think 32-33 weeks was my absolute low point. The time goes quicker than you would think xx

Ty @Sashkin x your right is less than a month, plus all going well will all be home (just!) snuggled on sofa for Xmas day- watching cartoons :) that's a thought that's keeping me going right now too - I have so much respect for women who've had to go through this before- (I made the mistake of saying the magic 'last pregnancy, I just want to enjoy this one!' sentence - when we found out- i jinxed!)
So thankfull for late night MN - think I'll be on here quite a bit over next few! X

Oh hope dd got to sleep ok.

I always think with the anaeathetists when they explain stuff they have to give worst case scenarios so you are aware but in most cases things go smoothly so just hope for the best.

I was wondering this morning if you would be home for Christmas. That's one bonus i guess. Such a tough time but will all be worth it. Maybe if the bleeding stays at bay for a certain amount of time they might reevaluate the situation. You never know!

Hi @ rarfy x Yeah that's why they were umming and arring so much, no one really wanted to say ' your here for next 4 weeks' - but actually felt a bit better yesterday when obstetrician said 'listen, sending you home and you having another bleed is just too dangerous and we cant risk it' - thought fair enough, so could actually phone family and let everyone know and plan - waiting for a decision was a bit of nightmare just couldnt tell anyone what was happening x
Just DH having to do everything while I'm in here I'm feeling really guilty about, and really REALLY missing DD1 x
(I feel like I've hi-jacked your thread btw, I'm so sorry xx I Hope things go smoother with you re your placenta site x what's the plan for you? X

No it's great having someone to talk to about it @Tadda. Helps me to prepare really although i am really really hoping i don't end up in. I've not even researched it really just had the limited a4 nhs sheet as it's kind of one of those things that might never happen.

Dp looked it up at the wkend and found something saying if it has always been low lying there is less chance of any problems and mine has been so fingers crossed that info is accurate.

Yes it must be terribly difficult especially with dc at home. Do you have other family around to help? Like you say now you know for sure it helps a little bit and obviously you do not want baby to come too early but the months stay is worst case scenario really isnt it thats provided you ger to 37 wks.

@rarfy it's weird thinking I'm not now going to be leaving here until baby born- :( When you posted this thread I new I had low lying placenta but didnt really think anything would happen other than cSection if goes to placenta pravia - trying to stay a bit positive x

You are doing a great job @Tadda i really hope the next few weeks go as smoothly as possible for you.

Dd1 and DH just came into ward so was lovely to give her a proper cuddle! :) She was born here 14months ago too so saw a couple of the midwives that looked after her when she was born (she loves a bit of attention!) So that was nice x
Just on a 'watch and wait ' thing now really - if I have another big bleed chances are they'll just get me straight in for a section- other than that it's just obs, daily ctg's to check baby all ok, going to keep scaning us to see if everything ok (about once a week i think) so check growth, this red degeneration, site of fibroid or contraction.

Got a puzzle book and my kindle now- so thsts kind of me! Just need to learn to switch off my head a bit- been a really busy time x

@Tadda in a way it may be nice to have some rest before this one arrives especially with dd being so young still. Its lovely they popped to see you and the midwives made a fuss.

I guess you cant complain at all the extra monitoring will make you and dp feel confident that everything is safe which is the main thing.

Ahh a kindle will hopefully keep you busy. My local hospital is flipping huge i could probs spend days getting lost in it. Has a costa m&s and nice restaurant too. Are you allowed a wander?