Talk to me about major placenta praevia

[MyBreadIsEggy]

Had my 12 week scan yesterday, and all was well, except for the fact that I currently have major placenta praevia - it’s lying completely over my cervix.
From what I understand, minor placenta praevia that only partially covers the cervix is likely to resolve itself by 20 weeks scan. Has anyone got any positive stories of a major placenta praevia moving? Or am I clutching at straws here?
This is my third baby. My first was born after a shit show of an induction which completely shattered my trust in hospitals. My second was born at home because of this.
The idea of having to have this baby not only in a hospital, but by csection in an operating theatre surrounded by loads of people I do not trust is absolutely terrifying. It’s so far away and not even 100% certain yet, but just thinking about it last night had me feeling very overwhelmed, sweating feeling sick and eventually having a good cry.
Please tell me it’s possible for the placenta to move, and go on to have a totally normal birth?!

I had complete placenta previa which my consultant was pretty certain wouldn't move at my 20 week scan. I needed another scan at 22 weeks for unrelated reasons and the placenta had moved completely out of the way! Try not to worry too much; 12 weeks is very early and it's still very likely to move, the statistic is 90% of cases do move.

Thankyou for that Kate.
I sound like a crazy person, but honestly I can’t describe how terrifying the thought of having another baby in a hospital is for me. So potentially having the choice of staying at home taken completely out of my hands has me completely flipping out
I’ll be crossing everything I’ve got in hope that it will move!!
I had a low-lying anterior placenta with DC2, but it wasn’t covering the cervix, and it moved right up out of the way.

Oh eggy that sounds really tough!!! I think either way you need to talk to your midwives to get their support- are you with a caseloading team? If so, one of them will probably be able to be with you even if you do end up with the c section (which thankfully sounds very unlikely!) which could make a big difference- someone you know and trust to advocate for you. Birth is such a lottery!!! I'm so sorry your first was so atrocious!!!
My area has a specialist team which takes on women with mental health issues- including past birth trauma- as it's really tough to have to put yourself in that position of reliving past trauma while having to trust your current care. It sounds like you have a trusted homebirth team from last time which is super brilliant!
Get moving, placenta!!!

Dusty I have no idea if my team are a case-load team or not!
I’ve been told that my hospital have a “birth reflections” service where I could make an appointment to go through all the notes from DC1’s birth to try and make some clearer sense of it, but I’m not sure if that will help or just make my fears a million times worse

I had grade 4 placenta praevia, that was picked up at 30 weeks. I was put on complete bed rest and hospitalised for 3 1/2 weeks whilst being monitored and scanned weekly. I can confirm that the placenta moved at 33/34 weeks and was allowed to go home. I went on to have a normal delivery at full term, baby was fine as was I.

I would try and relax and i'm sure that the placenta will move around as the pregnancy progresses, this is how it was explained to me at the time of it being picked up on a scan.

Good luck and again try and relax.

A caseloading team will be a group of 3 or so midwives who see you all the way through, before, during (possibly for a homebirth), and after. They are becoming more common.

I have this too; I'm at 21 weeks, though. It is still possible, although unlikely, for my placenta to move all the way up (in your case, at 12 weeks, it's very possible for sure - from what I understood, they don't even normally diagnose this until late second trimester / early third trimester).

However, if your placenta is still covering your cervix when you are getting closer to your due date, baby will have to come out somehow. If I were you, I wouldn't run away from that possibility and risk spending the rest of your pregnancy in a complete panic. I recommend seeking counselling / some sort of help for your trauma now.

Thank you all for your experiences of this.

It’s not even a csection that I’m overly worried about if it comes down to it - it’s the hospital itself I think.
If a surgeon could come and do a csection in my living room, I’d be totally up for that.

I had placenta previa and placenta accreta.

I changed hospitals at 7 months and the sonographer said it'd all resolved. Luckily DD was breach so I had a planned section. When the surgeons opened me up they were quite aghast that the ultra sound had been so inaccurate. They had to stop the surgery to call in a more experienced surgeon.

Which just sounds like a horror story... but in all honesty it was incredibly calm and professional. I felt like they had the situation completely under control. They kept me informed throughout. The anaesthetist was wonderful.

Such an awful experience does leave you in shock. A section will be a different team of people and different sequence of events. Everyone I know who had electives found the experience nice... which sound weird for surgery!

But hopefully, your placenta will move.

I am also in a similar position I had a scan at 15+4 for minor bleed/spotting and I also have the cervix covering my complete birth canal, they too advised me it may move and they will re assess at 20 weeks.

I'm also having DC3 but have a c section last time due to stopped growth and footling breech and really want a natural birth this time if I can just because I'll have 3 kids to watch!

I hope mine moves and yours too! Fingers crossed, they told me to avoid sex and heavy lifting xx

I meant placenta is covering my whole birth canal at moment *

I had placenta completely covering uterus. I found out at 14 weeks after my first bright red bleed. ( they think baby kicking placenta and blood coming straight out) I've now had four red bleeds in total.

At my 20 week scan the placenta has moved but still very close to entrance so I need another scan around 30 weeks I think.

I've been told it's very common that will move so try not to get too stressed about it at the moment. Apparently too half of uterus grows first then bottom half and placenta moves up with uterus as it expands but that's why it's not until around 20 weeks or after you see it's moved ( this is what I've been told by midwife)

Good luck xxxx

I was diagnosed with grade 4 major placenta praevia at 14 weeks after two bleeds and was signed off work for two weeks. I was told that there is a chance the placenta will move, especially as I am so early on so it’s reassuring to hear people say that theirs moved. Just trying to stay positive.

For me at first I was really worried and gutted that I might not be able to have the birth I’d hoped for but a few weeks later I’ve had chance to process everything and in a way it’s a blessing finding out early as it’s given me plenty of time to readjust my expectations and get used the idea that I might need a c section. I’m trying to keep in the mind frame that as long as me and the baby are healthy and baby arrives as safe as possible then everything is fine.