I'm pregnant but could all this happen again?

I'm 25 yrs old and just found out I'm close to 8wks pregnant which I'm thrilled about but I guess I stillhave some fears from my last pregnancy. I had a beautiful little boy 3yrs ago (almost to the day) @ 25weeks5days gestation due to a severe placental abruption. My pregnancy was complicated from the 12th week but my OB/GYN would not see patients till 14wks so when I bleed I went to the hospital, needless to say very destrought thinking I was having a miscarrage but thank the Lord I wasn't, the Dr's said your fine go on home... Well I then bleed @ 14,17,20,23,24 wks just small bleeds untill a small clot was passed at 25wks(2 days before I went into abruption) each time my Dr told me not to worry, some woman bleed during pregnancy, that all my checkups and ultrasound's looked fine.....but I felt like something wasn't right! I also lost a great deal of fluid from the 24th week on (which later learned was PROM) & from early on I felt a great deal of pressure in my belly as if the pressure pusshed down, once again Doc said "don't worry ..." the only thing I was ever told was my placenta was low lying, not previa just low. So my 25th week rolls around and I bleed again.... But this time a bit more so, so off we go to emerge again.... I passed a small clot, Doc said it was fine, he's seen clots the size of grapefruits (in exactly 46hrs I would know what he meant...) but once again say it with me "don't worry" the nurse argued with him to get me an ultrasound, which he didn't but thankfully she won the argument to give me the steroids ( the name escapes me ATM but to help with lung development) I was kept overnight and released in the morn, I asked the Doc upon my release if I should be on bed rest or any special concerns his answer "no" so the next day we went about an hour out of town to relax for the weekend and I now know that I had went into premature labour and was having contractions but at the time I thought it was just pains the Doc said I was fine, early the next morn I had heavy contractions and a massive bleed and was rushed to the hospital, I was losing about a popcan full of blood ( 300cc's) of blood p/min, I had the nurse call my Mother who was told I would not make it and very doubtfull for the baby. I underwent an emergency c-section under anistethic, & had several blood transfusions. What I am wondering now is what are the chances of any of this happening again??? I know I can not have a vBAC because I was cut both vertically and horizontal (if that's the correct term) so that is out of the question but does anyone know any thing that could help me? I would be ever so thankfull....

By Mamato4
Posted July 3, 2009 at 11:39 am
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Im not sure of your chances of having placental abruption again but I do recommend to SWITCH DRS NOW! if you havent already hehe. Your Dr doesnt seem like they have the time to listen and actually treat their patients. You definitely qualify to see a High risk Dr. I wish you the best in your pregnancy!

By mygirlsmom
Posted July 3, 2009 at 11:50 am
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Totally agree with Mamato4. You should be seen by a team of high risk doctors from day one, and definitely not the previous doctor. Keep us informed of your progress, wish you the very best.

By Angel13008
Posted July 3, 2009 at 11:58 pm
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The only advice I could offer you would be pray to god to help you thorugh this pregnancy . Secondly I would say take it extremily easy if at all possible . After I received the News I was pregnant again after having a preemie . I pretty much had put myself on bed rest and have been taking very easy. I'm currently 11 weeks. Best of luck to you in this pregnancy. Keep us updated !!!!!

By lilfiery
Posted July 4, 2009 at 11:47 pm
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I was almost exactly like you--but I didn't have an abruption, I had PROM and went into labor at 24 weeks. Delivered via emerg C-section my son 1 pound 1 ounce. My son is now almost 3 and doing well.

I got pregnant again but was followed by an ObGyn closely that time (INSIST on a specialist!! you are considered high risk pregnancy now). I went on progesterone suppositories (I would HIGHLY recommend you go on progesterone supplements!! I really think it helps support the placenta). I spotted in the beginning of my second pregnancy, but as soon as I went on progesterone it stopped. I went on to have a 40 plus weeker (9 pounds 3 ounces).

I was told I had a 25% chance of it (PROM) happening again with subsequent pregnancies....not sure about abruptions though. I had the same stuff as you (bleeding throughout entire pregnancy--being told by family doctor that lots of women bleed, low lying placenta etc).

PLEASE INSIST on a specialist, or at least a good ObGyn. Also really really consider progesterone supplementation until you are 36 weeks (start now!). It is natural progesterone, and as far as I read up--no side effects at all (except the suppositories were messy!).

Good luck.

By aviatorjj
Posted July 5, 2009 at 1:28 pm
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yeah your doctor did not give you the attention that you needed. have you been on the march of dimes website? they have a lot of info on statistics for having another preemie. the rule of thumb is if you have had one preemie your risk of having another is high. can you go see a perinatologist? the progesterone suppositores or P17 shots may be a good option for you.
there is a test they can do to determine whether your water broke, why didn't they do that? anyway, id find another doctor if i were you. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE ADVACATE FOR YOUR BODY AND BABY. good luck!

By IansMommy
Posted July 6, 2009 at 2:10 am
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I agree sounds like a bad Dr for you.
I think if you see a GOOD Dr that listens you should be fine next time. I don't think placental abruption would be a reoccurring issue unless there was some underlying condition like blood pressure that caused it. You should be referred to a specialist if you have the save bleeding in future pregnancies. Or ever have a consult with a specialist before becoming pregnant to discuss you condition, they can also refer you to a good ob.

I had a similar experience with my OB. I was getting headaches, fatigued, edema, blurry vision etc. He said I was just suffering from being pregnant no worries, thought I was over exaggerating. Well I was developing Pre-eclampsia. And wound up in the hospital fighting for mine and my babies life!

By preemiema
Posted July 6, 2009 at 9:30 pm
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I am sorry to hear about the horrible doctor that you had who did not take the time to listen to you. I hope that you find someone who specializes in high risk and that you are able to make a good connection with.
I had an abruption with my first and sadly he is not with us. They did a bunch of tests to see if they could find a reason but there was none. This was good and bad. Did they send you for testing or tell you anything that may have caused it like clotting disorder etc?
You will be in my thoughts. My best advice is trust your instincts and do not be afraid to call and continue to insist on follow up care early and often.
For my other 2 children, I saw the OBGYN every couple weeks at first and then monthly for a short while.
I was admitted with concerns (my own -- the doctor covering while my doctor was on vacation was not concerned and thought I was over-reacting) for 24 hour observation and ended up delivering my last child by cesarean because her heart rate kept dropping because as it turns out my placenta was not working well. When I saw my regular OBGYN, she said It was a good thing that you were insistant and kept calling.
I wish you all the best with this pregnancy and hope that it will be smooth, enjoyable and (as only parents who have had not so planned deliveries can say) uneventful.
Keep us posted.

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