Complete Placenta Previa lying very low

[CTMcG]

Hi all,

Posting here in hope that people can share their real life stories on their experiences with PP. At my 20 week scan (I was only 18+5 at last week at it), I found out I have complete placenta previa and although stats show 9 out of 10 times, it will correct itself, MW wasn’t convinced as its lying ‘very, very low’ and ‘completely covering’ my cervix.

Just want some real life stories as there is some scary info on Dr Google. This is my first pregnancy and so far I have had no bleeding at all but the fact that I could start having bleeding soon and be in hospital for most of the 2nd half of this pregnancy is terrifying.

I don’t feel prepared (baby is due 24th April so I was leaving everything until the New Year) and I am on a probationary period in my work until the start of March as I only started at the start of September and don’t know where that leaves me work wise if I was to be on bed rest before then.

I know that there are stories out there that even complete PP resolved itself and all was fine but I can’t stop worrying about it

My csection was scheduled for 38 weeks, I'm self employed so I finished up work at 32 weeks, baby was born at 34+2.

I was going to work till 38 weeks & my c-section was scheduled for 39 weeks but one of my scans showed my baby was small & they decided to bring it forward. So in the end I had 3 days' maternity leave which was not ideal but luckily I had neurotically bought everything I needed for the baby & just spent those three days eating chocolate & reading a good book, on the basis that I couldn't really do much else. (I do recommend getting anything ready that you need to eg setting up the cot early because that was the only thing that was a faff...my partner was building the cot the day before the caesarean, & faffing around trying to work out how to use the car seat. Again it's not the end of the world if you're not prepared but it would have been more relaxing to have had it all done.)

@hibernatingbear thats definitely good advice, I am going to start getting everything ready after Xmas so that if i do need to stay on bed rest or take it really easy the last few months then at least I know everything is ready! X

@Greenluce my bleeds were really heavy, soaking through multiple pads in mins and only lasted a few hours each time.

@CTMcG I intended to work till 38 weeks but was signed off on docs orders after my first bleed at 32 weeks.

@RenegadeMrs thanks! I guess its just a waiting game then! I will advise i want to go off at 38 weeks with 2 weeks a/l then maternity starting when I am 40 weeks (if the baby has not made an appearance before then) if i get to 32 weeks without bleeding but still have complete placenta previa i think i will go off earlier then to rest x

Thank you for getting back to @hibernatingbear @Garman @RenegadeMrs xx

I have started getting everything ready this week, just in case I have another bleeding and baby arrives earlier than expected.
It's very reassuring to hear that all went well for you despite the bleeds, after a miscarriage I go immediately into panic mode when I see blood.

I would advise reading up on SCBU/HDU/NICU expectations a bit based on birth at different gestations, especially in terms of skin to skin, feeding, etc. In hindsight that would've been very helpful for me, I thought I had done a good bit of research but babies born 32-35 weeks are actually more likely unpredictable than ones born at 30/31 weeks, which I didn't know.

Thank you for advice @Garman I will look into it!

I had placenta preveria (not complete) and was advised not to have sex/do strenuous exercise. I was also told that it was likely to move. Rescanned at 36 weeks - it hadn't moved at all. I was really lucky and had no bleeding at all. Had scared myself so much by googling and convinced myself that bleeding was inevitable.
I had a c section almost 3 weeks ago, all went well. As with PP I was told I had a higher risk of bleeding due to the location of placenta but surgeon said that when they're aware of the location it really takes most of that risk away.
All the best with the rest of your pregnancies. I remember feeling like a ticking timebomb when I found out but eventually I stopped googling it.

Hi @Jeds55 thank you for sharing your experience and congratulations!
It makes me feel so much better to hear positive stories.

Could I ask you how many weeks were you when you had your c-section? I am meeting the consultant next week to plan mine.

@Greenluce I was 39+3 when had my cesarean. I was told they do them from 39 weeks here in these situations (west sussex) - they schedule 2 per day here. I was stressed about it but honestly the whole experience was really calm (had induction first baby and that was so different.) If you have any questions re c section I'm happy to answer them. Best wishes

Everything was fine at my 20 wk scan and I was booked in for an elcs at 38+2 due to a back injury. Finished work at 36 weeks, all good. During the CS they found I had a pp, which freaked me out as I had not the faintest clue. All fine with baby!

@CTMcG how are you doing?

I have just wanted to let you know that I had my 32 week scan today and baby is absolutely fine! No issues at all with his measurements and growth, despite having had another bleeding.

I just hope that it doesn’t happen again and that I can make it to 37/38 weeks 🤞🏻

@Greenluce so glad to hear all is well :)

I am good too! Just back from a re scan (I am 21+3 today) as my 20w scan was done at 18+5 and baby was too small to check heart properly and to see kidneys but everything is good!

I asked her to check my placenta and she was like you don’t have total placenta previa, you are just under the 2.5cm threshold so placenta only has to move about 5mm by 32 weeks! Such a relief! The last sonographer told me it was totally covering! I doubt it has moved that much in 3 weeks but so relieved! I know I may still bleed and have to get an elective c section but definitely not as worried now! Xx

@CTMcG So glad to hear your scan went well and that your placenta moved, fantastic news 😊

@Greenluce im almost not believing it. It seems impossible to go from total placenta previa to partial within 3 weeks but maybe the gap between 18 and 21 weeks is quite the growth spurt?