Lazy Placenta at 37 weeks

[angiekamos]

I am 37 weeks pregnant and yesterday went to my GP she discovered the baby is breech and sent me to the hospital for a scan, they confirmed her suspicions and tried to turn the baby, they couldn't as my amniotic fluid was low and they did another scan and discovered they placenta has slowed down and is not working properly, I am now booked for a c-section next Friday (11/06)...has anyone else had this problem? Worried Mum to be x

I am 37 weeks pregnant and yesterday went to my GP she discovered the baby is breech and sent me to the hospital for a scan, they confirmed her suspicions and tried to turn the baby, they couldn't as my amniotic fluid was low and they did another scan and discovered they placenta has slowed down and is not working properly, I am now booked for a c-section next Friday (11/06)...has anyone else had this problem? Worried Mum to be x

bump

No answer, sorry, but hoping all goes well fro you! Bump edy bump...

Poor you, you must be so anxious.

I had a similar problem - degraded placenta, baby no longer growing - but this was after a month of worsening pre-eclampsia, so DS1 was delivered at 35+4 days by c-section, with just two days' notice so that I could have steroid injections to strengthen his lungs. Everything was fine in the end, but it was a stressful end to the pregnancy.

I don't understand, though, why they are keeping you waiting for eight days before they deliver your baby; if the placenta is no longer working properly, surely it makes sense to deliver as soon as possible. If I were you I'd ask for the c-section to be done closer to this Friday than next. Delivered at 37 weeks your baby would be fine, and it would be much better for your peace of mind and blood pressure to have it safe in your arms rather than to be worrying about it for more than a week.

(Are they doing regular check-ups on you between now and next Friday?)

bump

Hmmm... I have no direct experience and I REALLY don't want to scare you more, but if they are really concerned that your placenta has ceaased/reduced functioning, they need to give you a c section asap.

My friend had this (baby's heart rate had slowed due to placenta not functioning properly anymore) and she had a c section the same day. Although she was 38 weeks, her baby was only 4lbs at brith becasue of the poor functioning of the placenta. BUT, that was a week and a half ago. All is now fine - she and the baby are now out of hospital and the baby is fattening up nicely!!!

37 weeks is considered term, so I agree with ttalloo - I would request an emergency cs or ask them to explain why they think you don't need one.

Are they monitoring the baby? Placenta function can drop off fairly rapidly...

completely agree with ttaloo. I cannot believe they let you out of the hospital for a week, they should have started you on steroids (although at 37 weeks perhaps it is not necessary) and then delivered the baby.

Please please monitor and track your baby's movements.

Good luck in this scary time

Wow, this is what they worry about when you go overdue and make a huge fuss possible about placenta degradation after your due date and insist on inductions precisely to combat this risk, yet they are making you wait eight days knowing there is a problem!
Get a second opinion fast and in the meantime demand daily fetal monitoring to check heartbeat and movements over a couple of hours - it will help put your mind at rest while you wait for your CS.

I have another scan today and also one on Tuesday, they said the placenta is still sending blood to the babys brain (most important) but it is not feeding the baby therefore he/she is not putting on any weight.
I have been feeling the baby moving around but I am also concerned about my amniotic fluid drying up as they said it was low but not dangerously low...
Because they sent me home until next friday I have been trying not to worry but as times goes on I am, can't wait to see the Dr this afternoon...
Will be asking why they are waiting until next Friday to deliver...
Any other questions I should ask???
I am new to pregnancy as this is my first child.

Hi Angie, I'm so glad you have a scan today.

Like legallyblond I don't want to scare you either, but please, please insist on an emergency c-section as soon as possible. If the baby's not putting on weight then it has to come out because there is nothing to be gained by keeping it in there any longer. At 37 weeks your baby is practically at term and won't suffer any ill effects from being born now, and there is absolutely no reason to put you through a further week's anxiety and stress, and potentially jeopardise the health of your baby by keeping you waiting for another week. It just doesn't make sense.

I know it's hard, especially when it's your first baby, to make a fuss, because you just want to believe that the doctors and nurses are doing what's best for you and the baby, but this categorically isn't right so please put your foot down, and demand a second opinion.

As well as asking them on what grounds they are waiting until Friday to deliver, ask them what benefit there is to the baby and to you in waiting, and what guarantees they can give you that this the correct procedure for a woman in your situation. And also ask them, if they insist on waiting another week, for daily scans and check-ups to make sure that your amniotic fluid levels aren't dangerously low or the situation hasn't worsened without you realising.

Can anybody come with you to back you up in case you get upset or they don't listen?

Good luck for this afternoon. I hope they listen to you at the hospital and bring forward the c-section as soon as possible. Let us know how you get on - I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I was going to write exactly what ttalloo has written but didn't want to scaremonger! Great post ttalloo!

I totally agree. If they have said that the baby is gaining no weight, there is no benefit to it staying in. You are actually at term (37 is considered term) so, in theory, there is no detriment to the baby being delivered now. If your placenta has been low functioning for a little while, the baby may of course be a lower weight (like my friend - see above) but at this stage, better out than in if your placenta is not good.

As for strategy, ask the benefits and risks of both a cs now or a cs on Friday. I guarantee that if you kick up enough of a fuss, they are likely to give you what you want, whichever it is you decide after hearing the pros and cons. Ask for a second opinon and demand to see another consultant obs today if you feel that you are not getting the answers you need. All of this can be done politely and firmly and really is within your rights.

If you deceide to wait until Friday, the baby must be monitored daily - there is no way round that.

Thinking of you Angie. I hope you are in hospital and that they have reconsidered their decision to wait another week. Keep us posted.

And although you must be beside yourself with worry, try to keep a bit of excitement too, you will meet you baby soon after all.

Good luck

I've been thinking of you too, Angie. I hope everything went well this afternoon and you've been booked in for an early C-section. Hope to hear good news from you very soon.

& v.good point from lifeistooshort about the excitement of meeting your baby soon. All this stress will soon be over and you and your baby will be getting to know each other - it will be wonderful.

(thanks, legallyblond!)

Hope everything's OK, Angie.

Thinking of you.

Any news?

hope that you haven't posted because you are too busy getting to know your baby, angie.

fingers crossed everything's OK with you both.