placenta previa grade IV... what to expect.. i can't stop crying!

[forevermore]

I had an NHS scan on friday at 20 eeks and was told i had a low lying placenta, wasn't happy with lack of detail so had a private one today and told, although some anterior, placenta is completely covering exit and therefore no chance of it moving so C-section is inevitable and bleeding or worse a real possibility.

Now I am scared. Will i go past 33 weeks, how wiwll i cope with aprem baby and a 3 year old, will i start bleeding on the street, can i go to work can i cope.

I am seeing consultant today because i had gestational diabetes in last pregnancy so being monitored, as if that wasn't enough.

any experiences please?

I sailed through my pregnancy with placenta previa as I didn't realise what it really meant. I had been told but just thought it would all sort itself out before the birth. Well I was wrong. I ended up in hospital for a c-section with a date set for 5 days later the next day it all happened and I was in the best place having an emergency c-section and all was fine. I think the thing is they know about it and so are monitoring your pregnancy. Don't worry. Hope it goes well today at the consultants and you have a c-section at the right time for you and your baby.

sorry to hear your news forevermore - a friend of mine has recently found the same and when we were looking for information we found a long thread on netmums about this. I'm sure someone with mor eexperience will post on this soon, but in the meantime it might be worth doing a search to find that thread. Think it was titled "major placenta previa". Good luck.

I'm booked in for my section on Monday and have absolutely no trouble during the pregnancy. You just have to keep an eye on things and make sure you have no blood. I've had none at all and I've barely given the PP a second thought. I know a couple of people who've had undiagnosed placenta trouble so I've just been grateful that at least mine could be monitored. Good luck.

thanks for kind words, i just feel like my life has stopped i am a worrier and sooo anted a full term baby and feel that there is no chance of that, instead i will be lucky to not have bleeding throught

here's rek21's major placenta previa thread there's quite a few of us on there who are now thorugh the otherside with Rek21 hopefully, joining us in the next week or two.

how to cope? I think that you need to think through all the practicalities and have a plan (childcare, DH work etc). Many many do get to and beyond 33weeks but usually will be resigned to a hospital bed from 33wks if a bleed occurs. General consensus is that bleeds in second trimester will result in a short hospital stay and baby will be given steriods to strengthen lungs (just in case)- my stay was for 3 days as steriods need to be injected in two doses over 24hrs.

For now rest as much as possible and do not exert yourself beyond what you would normally do. keep your notes with you. When I found out I got signed off from work (I work in a high risk envirmonment anyway and would not have been safe with a PP4 so better to stay at home)and loitered around home going mad, did the school runs, kept childcare going and went to local parks etc. For the children the only difference was that I didn't lift them at any time.

there's probably loads more advice but need to run off to do school run..

i am still in shock really. my main fear is a prem baby (my sister had a baby at 27 weeks and it was a terrible time), i just couldn't cope i am mentally not strong enough.

My am worried about commute to work but not sure how to / if its right to ask to be signed off or i should wait to see if i bleed first? what do you think?

I haven't yet come across a story born so early due to PP4.

regards commuting, I can't really comment as my decision was made after a first bleed at 26weeks. I didn't have a 20wk diagnosis of low lying placenta - everything was normal. I remember that first bleed though. I was taking my DD2 to the GP surgery. I got out of the car in the GPs car park and felt very wet, got into surgery and went to the toilet and found the worst. Managed to get a tag along appointment to my dd2 and by chance my best friend was only 2mins away and a phonecall got me the support I needed (DH was over an hour away but got home pretty quick).

TBH only you can make that decision. But if my commute was public transport rather than my own car I think I would think twice, particularly if it involved a commute into a city.

hi wanted to ressurrect this thread since i have a few further concerns. i am only 22 weeks and thinking that no exercise for up to 15 weeks with a history of gestational diabetes cannot be good for me or the pregnancy.

i have been at home now for 1 week and feels like an eternity already. trying to remain positive as i know hospital is the alternative so this is best of a bad lot really.

my question is, how did those of with PP stage 4 cope with no exercise and long days. did you have a routine? I have a 3 year old but DH has kind of taken over her care because i feel mentally exhausted and i think still a bit in shock. also paranoid about every twinge / tightening would normally i would take in my stride as just be due to pregnancy but now think is a precurser to bleeding/hospitalisation etc.

I had a low lying placenta at 20 week too, am now 32 weeks and havent been told to do anything different, I hve bled afew times and I also was assaulted at work (was hit in the abdomen) so ended up with a hospital stay, I have my check scan net week so fingers crossed I am one of the lucky ones and my placenta has moves otherwise c-section for me (I had one with my first child so Im not too scared).
I think the best thing to do is to try and relax, what will be will be and after all the doctors and midwifes know what they are doing

Hi Forevermore

I was diagnosed with grade 4 PP at my 20 week scan. I had my first heavy bleed at 21 weeks, though bled at 6/8/12 weeks slighty. I was let out of hospital and took another bleed at 24 weeks and was admitted for 3 1/2 weeks. I took another bleed at 25 weeks and scan showed the placenta had a tear. At 28 weeks I got out of hospital (1 week ago)with the hope of staying home till I reach 34 weeks. I have been on permanent bedrest for 8 weeks now.

Everybodys experience of this is different from what I can tell, with lots of people not experiencing any bleeding at all.

My tear in the placenta is no longer showing on the scan so Dr's are hoping its healed over.

I spend alot of my time reliving my hospital say and going over what Dr's have said. I worry constantly about tightenings, discharge and any little niggle or pain.

I have no idea how long I will manage to stay out of hospital or how long I will be able to carry on with the pregnancy without having an em CS. I also am worried about a preterm baby. Though I guess we will deal with what life throws at us, but im terrified.

I find it very difficult not to lift my 16 month old son, or tidy the house. I have already experienced what its like to live on the antenatel ward and its that memory thats makes me do as little as possible.

I have 3 other children at home that I need to be with. While I was in hospital my DH looked after the children. He is a recovering alcoholic and was sober 2 years. Yesterday I found an empty vodka bottle under the sink. I now have the added pressure of knowing I cant trust him to stay sober if and when im readmitted.

becboo you do sound very together. i presume the first time round ended up positive. how often did you bleed? does this always end in hospital stays? do you have complete previa too? so many questions sorry.

I was also wondering if when you stay they put you on a ward with mothers that have had their babies already? i wouldn't want that.

fingers crossed yours has moved away (i hear its most likely if its only marginal)

MrsMoc it is just awful having to go throught his with precious little ones to care for, especially not being sure if they are being cared for. I have heard the pressure is great for partners too. is there someone else who can help / support your partner if you have to be admitted again?

hopefully this site offer some support. i have already taken some comfort in the many sucess stories and tried to ignore the few negative ones. fingers crossed you don't get anymore bleeds.

Mrsmoc please can you set up a thread of your own??? I'd really like to have a chat with you. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi forevermore

I had placenta previa with my first and had around 5 bleeds. I also had restricted blood flow to the placenta so had to get fortnightly scans to make sure he was still growing. I had a high risk of spina bifida after blood tests and had to be tested for that. I then babysat for my friends son and he deveploped chicken pox a few days later and I had to be tested for that. I then had high blood pressure and odemea and had to be monitered for pre eclampsia. Im sure there was more but my pregnancy never seen a hospital appointment not have me in tears after it. I too am a born worrier. Guess what, it was all a waste of time because my son decided at 37 weeks he had had enough proding and poking and I went into labour. After my secondery waters broke along came tons of blood and clots. The hospital had me in surgery and he was delivered pain free by emer c in what all seemed like 20 mins. He is now a healthy 2 year old and I have just found out im pregnant again. My main point is, I wish I hadn't spent my pregnany in a state of 'what if's'. I also exercised reqularly before my son and was bored out of my tiny mind but you have to do it, it's all a distant memory to me now. Just be careful with what you are eatingand relax, enjoy your pregnancy and be comforted by the fact they will keep their beedy eye on you. Your not your sister remember, that was her experience. Good luck x

Why did they allow you to go into labour Bevlin?? With PP thats very very strange.

bevlin thanks for you post it wad so encouraging and just what I need to hear

Hi, I was diagnosed with low lying placenta at my 20 wk scan but thought nothing of it as I had the same last pregnancy but by my 34wk scan it had moved.
At 26wks I had a small bleed and was advised to go to hospital. When there was told I had PP grade 4 and was told to stay in hospital incase of further bleeds & would have to have c section at 36wks. I was there for 9wks with no further bleeds. and my scan showed that it had moved to a grade 2 so was allowed to go home.
Within 24 hours I had a 'gush' of a bleed and got rushed back into hospital! (When they examined me I was told I had a polyp too so reasons for bleed are 50/50). I had another 5 nights in hospital and was given the choicxe to come home if i wanted. It was a hard & scary choice but with 2 boys (2&5yrs) already at home I really want to be here.

Ive lasted a week tomorrow at home with no bleeds and am 37 weeks on thurs. Am now allowed to have a natural birth- which is what I wanted. But I am not allowed to do heavy lifting, advised not to go out (and personally dont want to incase of another big bleed), no sex and not allowed to do anything strenuous at all. So life is pretty boring ATM but better than hospital.

My advice is be extra careful and look after yourself but also be aware that your placenta could move to a lower grade -therefore a less risky pregnancy.

Unfortunatly there isnt much more that you can do other than wait and see. It is scary until you do know whats happening but just rest when you can and get as much help as you can to avoid a bleed & hospital stay.

Good luck. x

I'll refer to twinkle's previous thread about Rek21's thread titled Major placenta Preavia. Have a read through that. Most posters on there have been through it and have given lots of advice on how to cope with doing nothing. I guess being at home is a good thing if you want to keep busy. We've given advice on keeping busy in hospital(most of us spent weeks in hospital) but will apply to you too.

Mrsmoc hope your ok xxxxx

Hi Cazzaben,
I had just got up for one of many wee's in middle of night and my waters just broke. Mad panic up to hospital but they were so calm and sent me straight for a c-section. I was very scared but for anyone who is scared of having a c-section, it's just quick, painless and just seems too damn easy! I'd love to have a natural birth this time though (maybe im very nieve)!

I was told I had placenta praevia at my 21 week scan.They told me there was still time for it to move and would need another scan at 32 weeks to check.I was also told I may experience some bleeding.Between the 2 scans everything was fine until started bleeding on the day before my scan.Was admitted to hospital and the scan confirmed that the placenta hadn't moved.I was given 2 separate steroid injections to help develop the babys' lungs, but luckily the bleeding stopped and an emergency c section wasn't needed.I am now 35 weeks and have spent last 3 weeks coming in and out of hospital.Been home for 2 days now and hoping there are no more bleeds.You don't know when its going to happen -no signs or anything. So now I'm doing nothing ,just getting loads of rest.Expecting to have a c section in about 2 weeks. I just hope the baby can stay put until then!

I spent the first 3 months if this year in hospital with major placenta praevia. Thankfully all ended ok and baby girl was born at 35 weeks. I would love more children (have ds and dd) but everyone thinks I am mad and dh is to terrified to consider it!! I was just wondering if anyone has gone on to have normal pregnancy after major pp or would you not even consider it? Thanks