Hi everyone,
I just wanted to share my complete placenta previa experience, as when I was diagnosed at 20 weeks I spent hours trying to find others who had complete and not low-lying and their outcomes. Mine was diagnosed as complete, smack-bang in the centre and I was given a printout, a quick explanation of the seriousness and told not to google (lol.)
I hadn't had any bleeding, my placenta was located anteriorly. I felt a heaviness beforehand in the area where it was, especially when I was squatting down or holding weight.
The doctors and midwives told me not to expect it to move, as not many complete ones do. I already wanted a C-section due to a chronic back injury, but the thought of excessive bleeding, increased risks of accreta and possibly having general anaesthetic didn't fill me with joy.
After researching over 9 weeks, I found lots of information for low-lying placentas moving out of the way and people going on to have 'normal' births (..at some point the 9/10 success rate started to feel like a personal attack haha) but very little on complete PP.
After much digging, and scaring the life out of myself, the results of studies I found suggest that more than OVER HALF of complete PP's found at 20 week scans resolve in time for birth. I'll link all sites at the bottom of this post, but just to give you an idea of the various results I found ( I am certain that there are more studies which echo the same, but it's hard to separate low lying and complete as most sites just coin it 'Placenta previa' and I'm unsure if this is only complete):
- Of the 366 cases, 84% of complete placenta previas and 98% of marginal placenta previous resolved at a mean gestational age of 28.6 ±5.3 weeks
- The resolution rate of CPP before delivery in our study was 74.3% with a mean GA of 31.2 ± 3.4 weeks at clearance.
- A total of 67 patients were enrolled in the study; 18 patients had a prior cesarean delivery. Resolution of placenta previa occurred in 11 of 18 patients (61%) with a prior cesarean delivery, whereas 44 of 49 patients (90%) without a prior cesarean delivery had resolution of placenta previa (P = .012, Fisher exact test). Placental location per se (anterior or posterior) was not associated with resolution of placenta previa (P = .22). Complete placenta previa persisted to delivery in 5 of 9 patients (56%) with a prior cesarean delivery and an anterior placental location.
Of course, I am not writing this to dismiss the seriousness of complete PP (and I'm sure Google and fear-mongering midwives have absolutely drilled that in for you) but rather to inform those who are panic-ridden and feeling lost in the information that although your chances of resolution aren't quite as high as those with low-lying, they are still really, really good.
I had completely resigned to the 'fact' that my placenta wasn't going to move, my baby would be preterm and I would be in hospital for four weeks given how little hope I had been offered by midwives, my doctor and the internet, but by some incredible stroke of luck ( or the high chances being in my favour) my placenta has moved right to the top of my uterus at 28 weeks.
I feel like complete placenta previa, exclusively, doesn't have much info out there and it tends to get lumped in with partial and low-lying. I hope these little glimmers of hope I found can comfort you. I also found an incredibly reassuring podcast, which I listened to several times, linked here:
"Placenta Previa: Don't Rely on Google!!" - with Dr. Simi Gupta - Healthful Woman Podcast
If you have the chance to have any growth scans or routine scans before 32 weeks, when they check your placenta position again, don't be afraid to ask about the position of your placenta. I had so much discomfort, sleepless nights and boredom being on partial bed rest, not being able to exercise, not being able to be intimate with my partner. My chronic back injury became incredibly painful due to lying and sitting for a large part of the day and if I would have asked about the placenta position when I had a growth scan etc, they might have been able to tell me sooner that it had moved.
Even if it doesn't resolve, you will be prioritised by the midwife team and you will be incredibly well looked after. You won't bleed to death in the night, you will wake up if you feel wetness, and usually, the first couple of bleeds are not huge. Your body is on alert and knows how to keep you safe. Ambulances will prioritize you and midwives and surgeons are incredible. The podcast I listened to about PP says that the resounding 'dangers of haemorrhage' message is mostly because women used to die before they were able to detect they had it. They would go into labour and attempt to push their baby out, not knowing the placenta was the first thing being pushed. This isn't the case anymore, you know you have placenta previa right now and it could persist. You are a medical priority. You will not be left to bleed to death. You will be monitored and given everything you and your baby need.
I just wanted to reassure you all that your chances of resolve are very good. I know how hard it is during this wait. Make sure you maintain a routine to your day and research positive complete PP outcomes- Make a promise to yourself not to stay up until midnight on your phone endlessly researching. Posts like mine on this site really helped to comfort me during this time, and that's why I'm sharing this.
One day, very soon, this will all just be a memory and you'll be looking at the baby in front of you, so encapsulated by the incredible little person that pesky placenta helped to create and you won't remember the raw and terrifying anxiety that it caused.
Sending massive love to you all, you are going to be okay <3
Resolution of Complete Placenta Previa - Lal - 2012 - Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine - Wiley Online Library
Placenta previa in the second trimester: sonographic and clinical factors associated with its resolution - PMC (nih.gov)
65259-192313-1-PB (1).pdf
"Placenta Previa: Don't Rely on Google!!" - with Dr. Simi Gupta - Healthful Woman Podcast