Calling Low-Lying Placenta mums who are bleeding!

[RachelLondonmum]

Hello, I'm currently in hospital because I've been bleeding for 3 days and apparently it is probably due to low lying placenta. It's my first baby (this is also my first time on mumsnet!) and I'm pretty scared and anxious that it's still bleeding red and that it might turn into something worse. Has anyone else been through this? Baby seems ok on scans. No cramps but my tummy does feel tight and a bit odd. Is that just what it feels like when you have bleeds from there? Anyone with similar experience, I'd be hugely grateful for a connection.
R x

With low lying placenta, bleeding happens. But as you pregnancy progresses placenta should go up. Please don't worry and trust the doctors. It's good that you are in hospital under continuous monitoring and baby is doing fine too.My best wishes are with you.

How many weeks pregnant you are?

@mams8989 thankyou for the reassurance! I'm 18 weeks pregnant, so quite early for this, from what I've heard. Hope it moves soon or this sure will be a long-term bleed!

I had exactly the same as you. 18 weeks blood bath! Went to A&E and baby still alive thank God. Then the heavy bleeding stopped after a week. However the bleeding came on and off for a couple months due to low lying placenta. I was admitted once or twice to maternal assessment unit for observations. I was scared to go to the loo cause I didn't want to see blood but eventually my placenta moved up at maybe 30/32 weeks? So no more bleeding. My son is a healthy 2 and a half year old now ;-) Most placenta previas go by the last couple months I believe. Good luck! x

@RachelLondonmum It's good that you still have halfway to go and placenta should go up by then.

Please take rest, don't bend much , don't lift anything heavy and avoid intercourse too. It's very important that you and baby should be fine at all all times.

I hope you go home soon and enjoy a healthy pregnancy ☺️.

@ChatWithMe

I had exactly the same as you. 18 weeks blood bath! Went to A&E and baby still alive thank God. Then the heavy bleeding stopped after a week. However the bleeding came on and off for a couple months due to low lying placenta. I was admitted once or twice to maternal assessment unit for observations. I was scared to go to the loo cause I didn't want to see blood but eventually my placenta moved up at maybe 30/32 weeks? So no more bleeding. My son is a healthy 2 and a half year old now ;-) Most placenta previas go by the last couple months I believe. Good luck! x

Did reply to this earlier but can't see it now...Thanks this is good to hear! (And that you and baby were well!) such a shock when it's just day after day of, like you said, light period style bleeding. Hope mine stops soon! Many thanks x

Hi
I had this. Didn't realise at the start. Had some spotting very early went to EPU as thought I was miscarrying ( have had 2 previous ones) but pregnancy progressed as normal. Then had a massive bleed at 19 weeks again thought I'd lost baby.... went in to hospital baby was fine.... Then at 20 week scan major placenta previa diagnosed. This was the beginning of a LONG journey in and out of hospital.... here is my log of my bleeding history... Please don't be scared. My case was pretty severe. I was scanned several times but each time the placenta stayed put. The final scan on the day I delivered showed that thr placenta had moved and was just touching the OS but ironically after that I bled the most and which triggered labour

Bleeding history.... each of these was in separate days/ episodes. Some were at home and some whilst admitted in hospital.
I had about 10 admissions and was kept in from 29 weeks until delivery....
I needed an IV line each time and in the end ran out of good veins so I had a PICC line inserted

19 weeks 250mls
23 weeks 100mls
25 weeks clot and small amount 10mls discharge
25 weeks 5 days small amount on wiping but fresh red
30 weeks 200mls monday
30 weeks 200mls steroids given
30 weeks 50mls
30 weeks red streak on wiping
31 weeks red streak on wiping
31 weeks 30-50 mls
31 weeks 40mls plus 40 mls plus 20mls
32 weeks 35 mls plus 10mls
32 weeks 10mls
33 weeks 40mls plus15mls plus 20mls
33 weeks approx 500mls started labouring! went in for c section.. lost 2.7litres of blood in delivery
Beautiful baby delivered at 33weeks and 4 days weighing 5 pounds. Needed SCBU for 12 days but never breastfed as couldn't latch! Tongue tie completely missed and was not spotted as services closed due to Covid...had to call a private midwife who diagnosed it at 10 weeks. Had it divided but was too late...so pumping for 6 months and now weaning on to solids and formula
He's thriving and meeting all his milestones.

It was an ordeal to say the least. Only God carried baby and I through until the end of thr pregnancy and until now!

My advice... prepare for the worst. Pack a bag early... if you have other children arrange emergency childcare!!! I always bled at 1am or 2 am when DS was in bed... Had to call for help from friends as DH had to drive me in to hospital

Be nice to the midwives as you may see them mote than once!!! I ended up living in hospital from 29 weeks for 4 weeks but also was in and out from 23 weeks...

Take iron supplements and have a diet rich in iron for all the bleeding.

Take a laptop and magazines in to hospital each time if you can

Avoid strenuous activity... but towards the 3rd trimester expect bleeding even if you are still as your cervix begins to efface/ dilate so bleeding can happen at any time!!!

Don't drive around on your own... always have your notes and a charged phone with you....

Pray xx

Hi @RachelLondonmum, I'm currently in hospital due to placenta praevia too.

My timeline:
19 wks - low lying placenta identified at private scan
22 wks - confirmed at anomaly scan
23 wks - first bleed, approx 150ml, stopped quickly
27+1 - second bleed, 475ml, took longer to stop, given magnesium sulphate drip and steroid injection
27+2 - second steroid injection
27+2-5 - small amounts of blood on wiping, put on iron tablets
27+5 - discharged home in afternoon
27+6 - third bleed, 80-150ml, stopped fairly quickly, admitted to ward
28 wks - blood on wiping
28+1 - brown blood first thing, nothing further
28+2 - today!
Baby has been completely fine throughout.

Like @NMCK9, I've got major placenta praevia (grade 4) not just a low lying placenta. They think it's unlikely mine will now move, and it's partially anterior - which will make the section a bit tricky - but they've got a plan to deal with it.

Just realised this is from a couple of weeks ago. I hope your bleeding stopped and you're home. I definitely agree with having a bag packed (your stuff, not for baby), notes ready and have a list of last minute things to gather in case of another significant bleed. It's worth doubling up on some things so they can stay packed!

x

Wow @Relfm your experience sounds so similar to mine. Mine was an anterior over the os and touching the posterior wall.
You sound so brave and positive. I wish you all the best! Well done getting this far:) i don't know you but I'm so proud of you. I don't mean that in a patronising way at all. I know how difficult it is to be in your position...i got strength from being told that by my friends and family who were huge support... remember counting the days and rejoicing with each passing day...week...I pray for you and baby. Babies are usually fine which is a consolation. I think the bleeding in pp is mummy blood still it's always a shock. Soon you'll have baby in your arms and it will be a memory...

Thanks @NMCK9, that's very sweet of you to say.

I'm just trying to make sure I understand what might happen, what their plan is for me, and try to take control of the few things I can. I'm not particularly looking forward to the long stay on the ward, but then the longer the stay the better the baby's chances - and no more fraught ambulance journeys!