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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Low lying placenta, heavy bleed!

11 replies

gems12345 · 25/02/2010 17:13

Hi, I have just come home from hospital after having abdominal pain and a very heavy blood loss. I was convinced my baby had died. After some investigation I was told I have a low lying placenta which had ruptured causing the bleed. They told me I have to take things very easy because it could happen again and until im 25 weeks there is nothing they can do to save the baby. Im 18 weeks 2 days. They said that unless the placenta moves up on its own I will have to have a caeserean. Has anyone else had this and everything turn out to be ok? I am so worried. My little boy is so healthy and I am so scared that im going to bleed again and loose him. Any support or advice greatly appreciated!

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curlyLJ · 25/02/2010 18:17

Hi

I had a low lying placenta diagnosed at my 20wk scan and it has moved up. I know lots of people who have had low placentas at 20 weeks and they have moved by the time they are 30+ weeks.

I also had some bleeding at 31 weeks and although they are not 100% sure what caused it, I was told that expanding uterus pulling the placenta up as it grew was a probable cause. It is very scary though when it happens.

just take it easy, as you have been advised, and try to relax (easier said than done I know!).

overthemill · 25/02/2010 18:24

fwiw, i had this throughout my pregnancy and the baby was fine (almost 11 yo now, currently sitting on the sofa!). But I did have bleeding throughout the pg and delivered naturally at 35 weeks. i really had to rest and spent lots of time in hospital. but it was worth although i was terrified i would lose her as i'd lost one before.

good luck i hope it goes well

gems12345 · 26/02/2010 18:55

Thankyou for your replies girls. I've been advised to stay off work until further notice as my job is too risky so im going to have to find things to do to keep myself occupied! I was just wondering what does fwiw mean? Thanks again. xx

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kitstwins · 26/02/2010 22:43

I had this for my twin pregnancy. First bleed at 23 weeks, then another larger one at 25 weeks which triggered labour, which they blocked (apparently the bleeding can irritate the uterus which in turn can trigger contractions/labour). I bled pretty consistently from then onwards - some small, some large bleeds two at 28 and 31 weeks which triggered labour again, which, again, they blocked with drugs. Painless but shocking and frightening all the same so I really sympathise. I was put on what they called pelvic rest - nothing strenuous or anything that could irritate the uterus so no sex, no orgasms, no exercise, no lifting. Nothing too active. It was incredibly boring as I'm a really active person (run a lot, etc.). HOwever I took their advice.

Incredibly I got to 35 weeks although the last month I was in hospital on bedrest as I really was bleeding too often and they were worried about a giant bleed, which I was fitting the profile for (bleeds increasing in frequency and severity). My twins were none the worse for the experience - born fit and healthy at 35 weeks and even avoided special care due to the steroid injections I had at 25 weeks and 32/33 weeks (these help mature a baby's lungs and once you get to 24 weeks you can ask about these as they might want to give them to you in case you do deliver early).

Obviously I had to have a caesarean as my placenta was very unstable and I was warned a natural delivery was a very bad idea given the levels of bleeding I was experiencing and also the fact that I was expecting twins but your consultant will be able to advise on this further down the line.

You'll probably get a much higher level of care from now onwards, which is at least one bonus of having placenta praevia. You're not guaranteed to bleed again but if you've bled once then I was told you are more likely to bleed again than not so it's maybe worth having that mindset and being prepared just in case. I had a small 'bleed bag' packed which, in the event of me having a bleed when I was still at home, I could just pick up and hot foot to hospital without faffing around gathering up things. In my case as the bleeds triggered labour a couple of times this was a good thing as it meant that there was less delay in getting the labour blocking drugs into me (the sooner the better I was told). My bag had just enough for a night in hospital - a nightgown, cardigan, book, small bag of toiletries, phone charger, hospital notes, etc.

Another thing I did was to always have my mobile phone charged just in case i had a bleed and needed to call a taxi, etc.

Hope this helps and I hope that this was just a one off. I do know that several people have had a bleed and have then gone on to have no further episodes of bleeding so you may well be one of the lucky ones. Did they scan you to find out how low-lying the placenta is. Mine was partially covering and then moved to just beside my cervix so remained low-lying and within the 'risk zone' but I was told that as I had two placentas there was less space and therefore less likelihood for movement.

Kitstwins

gems12345 · 27/02/2010 13:17

Oh wow, you poor thing, you really went through it didnt you! Im glad to hear that your twins were born healthy! I've been told the same as you, no sex, no exercise etc although they didnt say anything about orgasms but I will avoid just to be on the safe side!! Also I am not allowed to work because of the job I do. I work with 2-4 year olds and it involves alot of lifting and running around which the doctors said is too risky, so until further notice im off work! I was dissapionted because I know I am going to be so bored but I am also relieved because I want to take things really easy and don't want to risk anything.

I already have a hospital bag ready, its a really good idea because we were in such a panic when I bled, waiting for the ambulance, I forgot a few things including my maternity notes.

Yes they scanned me and said that the placenta is low lying. It is just above the cervix, not completly lying on it which would be more dangerous. My midwife was pretty confident that it will move up on its own as my uterus grows and stretches. In the meantime im just hoping and praying that it doesnt happen again! And im wishing time would speed up so I can get to 24/25 weeks because I know that until then, there is nothing they can do to save the baby. Its such a worrying time isn't it!!

Thankyou so much for your reply and congratulations again on your twins
xxx

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hippopo · 27/02/2010 14:48

Hi,

I had scan yesterday (21 weeks) and they have found I have a low lying placenta to (not totally covering cervix but just to the left a bit). The Sonographers were v relaxed about it and just said it will prob move, lwts scan at 34 weeks and if it hasn't moved the worst case senario is you will have to have a caesarean.

Having come home and researched a little and read this post I am feeling a bit more worried to be honest. Have appointment at hospital on Tues so will ask more about it then.

Thinking of you x

TheFowlAndThePussycat · 28/02/2010 16:03

Hi there, I had a very similar experience to kitstwins this time last year and dd2 is a very healthy 10 mo now! She was delivered by c-section at 36 weeks. However 95% of people with placenta previa at 20 weeks have no problems by the time they reach term so with a bit of luck you will be fine. All the best.

gems12345 · 28/02/2010 21:07

Aww hippopo, sorry to have scared you. I think that most women find out about this at their 20 week scan and then go on to have no bleeds and it moves up on their own so it doesnt really seem like anything to worry about for alot of midwives. Now you know about it you can take steps to prevent a bleed, be more careful.

Thats really reassuring to hear about your healthy baby theflowandthepussycat! Thankyou for your reply Its always good to hear positive outcomes to this xx

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RainbowFrances · 17/03/2018 20:04

I am 18 weeks and have had two massive bleeds now, with clots. Been in hosptial for four days and won’t be coming out until it stops. I am so so worried 😢

Ragdolly81 · 17/03/2018 21:24

I also had a lowliness placenta and got told I would need a c section and post hystorectomy cause of my past history of bleeding after birth. I had a bleed and ended up in hospital too I was so scared. I am now 40 weeks and the placenta has moved and I have been told I am fine to have a vaginal birth my placenta didn't move till I was 37 weeks. My mum also had it when she was pregnant with me. Good luck hope all turns out well for you

RainbowFrances · 20/03/2018 09:33

I am home now. Still bleeding when I wipe and especially after a bowel movement (sorry)!
But really struggling as each time I see blood my heart just sinks. I pick myself up and try to be positive as it’s a healthy baby, but this could all go horribly wrong 😢 and I am really struggling to keep it together.
Also doesn’t help that when it was first identified I thought nothing of it, didn’t even google it! The doctors didn’t say (at the time) to go on any restrictions and that week I was recalling a lot with Work, did a pregnancy exercise class, and walked a lot!! IF they had told me more I would never have done so much!! So now I have all this regret too.

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