Placenta Previa, please ease my anxiety

[MamaBearThius]

Hi all
So, 20 week scan yesterday, baby perfect. Sonographer casually mentioned placenta is blocking the exit, covering the os. Had no idea what he was on about, just happy baby was okay. He said it can increase the risk of needing a section, I'm having a planned section anyhow so didn't think anything of it. Had a 2 minute after appointment with a midwife who said any bleeding I must immediately come into hospital, if it's heavy then 999 ambulance. I was a bit shocked to ask any questions and she hurried me out of the door saying I'd have a scan at 30 weeks and hopefully it's not previa anymore.
I promised myself I would not Google.
So obviously I googled last night and I am now a complete mess of anxiety. Convinced myself if I have sex or a long walk I'm going to bleed out and die on the spot leaving my beautiful 3 year old daughter and husband behind.
I've had a tough start to this pregnancy with HG and it had finally eased up and I was enjoying my life again. Now I'm terrified. I can't find out if I should rest/avoid sex etc NOW or if it hasn't changed by next scan.
Please can anyone share/comfort/virtual shake me?

I had a placenta previa nearly 20 yrs ago. All great till nearly 25 weeks. Got up 1 morning and lost about 2 litres blood. Phoned the hospital and told them. Went in, had blood transfusion and sent home after a'week. Happened again at 28 weeks and then at 31 weeks. After that they keep you in. C section at 35 weeks due to ongoing bleeding with 10 units blood tranfused on the table so took a while to get going with breast feeding as we were both in intensive care for a'couple of days. He's at Uni now and his brother goes up too in Sept. All a bit of a nightmare at the time but its'all part of life's rich tapestry I guess.
Good luck with it, better to know now I think - mine was undiagnosed until the bleed

I believe, and it was in my case, that once you're under a consultant in pregnancy, you are considered as "high risk". That would be for any condition under a consultant, not just previa. That was how it was for my pregnancy in this trust. It may work differently where you are.

I think it's really hard to say if it's high risk at 20 weeks as most resolve without symptoms. My sonographer was very blasé about it at the 20 week scan so I didn't give it a second thought until I actually bled.

I guess it's better to be prepared in case you do bleed but know that there's a good chance you won't. Hard with the anxiety I know

Another top tip is carry your notes wherever you go. My first bleed was in a completely different city (visiting family) and didn't have my notes with me.

As others have said almost all of them move out of the way - mine did. I wasn’t told not to have sex just to go to hospital if I had any bleeding, which iI didn’t. I too was really worried but really it was nothing.

Thanks lovelies. I think I'll hold off until the next scan (will see if I can have an earlier one) but definitely feeling calmer about the whole situation after reading all of your experiences. Thank you all for the support

Yeah I'm already under a consultant as my 3 year old was a 7 day labour followed by Semi emergency section followed by Sepsis (it was not a fun 2 weeks) so they didn't seem keen for a vbac anyway. I'm completely at peace with having another section, it's just this horrid bleeding and not knowing if it'll happen or not. I'm going to pack work up until next scan, and also put myself on bedrest for a time every day just until I know. Still go out to the shop or to see a friend but going to take it properly completely easy and hopefully that works in my favour.

Swingchandelier was yours Previa or low lying? Really really hope mine shifts

I had this last year my placenta was totally covering os as I hadn't bled before I wasn't told to stop anything but just to be careful and look out for bleeds. I didn't bleed and at the 32 week scan it had moved 2cm and I was fine to have a natural birth. As your uterus grows hopefully it should pull the placenta up with it I'm sure you will be fine especially if you haven't bled already x

I had the same news at 20 week scan ,with placenta covering os (they didn't say if completely or not). Had posterior placenta when the chances of it moving are less. I asked about restrictions and the consultant said carry on with life as normal, including short haul flights (I was worried about this), unless any bleeding when get to hospital. I had a repeat scan booked for 32 weeks which actually ended up happening early as my waters broke at 31+5. I had no bleeding at any point and to my surprise when they scanned, placenta had moved out of the way. I was able to go on and have the VBAC I wanted with no problems.

Thanks both, lovely lovely reassuring stories. I've been told today that I won't be having 28 scan for growth as they don't do it until 32 weeks but my midwife specifically said 28. Confusing and annoying as I'd like to know before going away (5th April) as I'll cancel holiday if it's still Previa. Waiting for a call back as I pleaded for them to do the 28 scan and the sister midwife is going to phone me

I had this, mine moved up by 36 weeks and had him naturally at 38 weeks but nothing to do with placenta.
I did have one bleed, they was talking about a section there and then as a precaution but they did a scan and it stopped after a few days.
I tormented myself on google reading stories about women having to stay in hospital! Google is not your friend with this!
I would say have a hospital bag packed for yourself, not a labour one but one with pjs, comfy spare outfit, charger, toiletries etc incase you do have a bleed. I kept one with my notes in the car which was handy when I had to go in.
On the plus you do get extra scans!

Im currently in the same boat as you, initially i was incredibly stressed and worried but 6 weeks later i have calmed down. I have put DP on a sex ban and we are hoping for good news at the 32 week scan (mainly for that reason as I'm happy to have a c section). I've cut down my exercise heavily too but still walk our dogs daily and chase our child around.

My biggest fear is being hospitalised so I decided I'd do nothing to provoke a bleed.

Filling me with hope

Sister midwife said no =(

Could you get a private scan? I know they're an extra expense but might be worth it to put your mind at rest

My mum had this 46 years ago and so I was born by C-section. Neither of us had any problems. Just wanted to add a positive story. Al the best to you and your lovely baby.

I imagine most people who have responded to this thread are the unlucky ones whose placenta didn't move or had bleeding. I wouldn't have known what placenta previa was after my 20 week scan. Even when my recent 28 week scan showed the major previa the sonographer seemed confident it would likely move by 32 weeks.

I hope things work out for you OP.

I believe it was covering or at least part covering. They termed it Previa. I posterior placenta too. Google some diagrams and it will show you how likely it is to move as your uterus grows

Thank you all. Spoke to my husband earlier and he said we will find the money for a private scan at 28 weeks to decide if we cancel the few nights away or not. The midwife downplayed it and said it's only Scarborough if worse comes to worse you'd be seen in their hospital. Well yes but I'd be 31 weeks and most likely be kept in to deliver (from stories I've read) 2/3 hours from home.
On a reassuring side I've been taken out for tea tonight (been a bit scared to go out) and on the way home I realised that our Fire station has recently merged with all the emergency services and there's loads of ambulances parked up there waiting for call outs. Literally 4 or 5 minutes from my house.

Those who were hospitalised did you have to keep a canular in the whole time? I hate them and can't sleep or get comfy with one in

I was hospitalised at 34+4 because I was considered high risk for a bleed but had never bled. It was previa with other complications.
I was only in for a week as I went into labour on the ward. Had an c-section that afternoon. It all happened fast but without any drama or bleeds/ hemorrhage. My little boy was only in neonatal unit over night and perfectly fine othewise. Yes I had the canula changed every 2/3 days. I found one nurse who brilliant at doing them so used to just wait for her shift.

My best friend had this with her first pregnancy. Hers was still previa at 30 weeks, so she was hospitalised at 32 weeks and had c-section at 37. However a colleague’s sorted itself out between 20 and 30 weeks. While it is a worry, do try not to let it stress you too much. Can you make an appointment with the community midwife at your doctor’s surgery to talk it through and get some reassurance?

I'm currently 34 1/2 weeks pregnant and was told at my 20 week scan that my placenta was partially covering the os. The midwife who scanned me wasn't overly concerned and I wasn't given any advice but after some horror googling I put a sex ban on as I was terrified of bleeding. Had my 32 week scan and lo and behold the placenta has moved but not enough. I saw the consultant and she was still hopeful that it could move further and will check again at the 36 week scan, so another week and a half to wait
I have resigned myself to having a c section (which would be done at 39 weeks) but it really is my worst nightmare.
I have been

*stupid phone!
I have been where you are just feeling super stressed about just bleeding out and not wanting to venture out 'just in case' but so far I've been very lucky and not experienced this (runs round and touches everything wood!).
The odds are in your favour for it to move, you will relax a bit eventually but I understand how it feels to be in that limbo!

Thanks for replies lovely ones. Yes it is just horrible limbo waiting! Hope yours moves Pirate