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Placenta Previa

Sandy70706
  • By Sandy70706
  • Posted February 10, 2009 at 11:14 am · 45 replies
  • In Preemies
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

I am 17 weeks with complete placenta previa in my second pregnancy. I was diagnosed a week ago and have no bleeding so far. If you've had this, when did the bleeding start? How early can a baby be born to survive? (I've heard as early as 25 weeks). Has anyone had complete placenta previa at 17 weeks and the placenta moved away from the cervix? My doctor said this is unlikely. My doctor said not to lift or bend, but others have said I should just ly down with my feet up on the couch as much as possible. Any stories you have would be helpful.

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45 replies

Daniemejias

I dont have stories but I would play it safe and stay on bed rest just bathroom and back and keep a charged phone next to you just incase I'm sure your gonna be just fine and the baby too alot of women get it and as long as ur monitored you'll be ok good luck keep us updated

lindsay569

I had complete placents previa with my last baby and it was diagnosed very early on. I am not sure that if at 17 weeks it has a chance of moving, but I guess it could be possible. I ended up hemoraging at 29 weeks and went into preterm labor, but with mag and terb they were able to hold off delivering my son until 32 weeks. I did have several bleeding episodes while on hospital bed rest. If I were you i would definetlt take it easy and get as much rest as possible and no SEX.

Sandy70706

Thank you for your replies. They immediately put me on 'pevic rest' (no sex). They said that was the worst thing I could do in this situation. I pray I can hold on as long as you did for 32 weeks. Thanks for the support. I'll keep you all posted.

AnnMV

Hi, there! My name is Ann and I'm a cohost to this wonderful community! I'd like to highly recommend that you go to the pregnancy center at the discovery health main page, then scroll down (on the left) to pregnancy complications. There's a "pregnancy encyclopedia" there, in which there's really good article on placenta previa. Let me know if you have any trouble finding it. Good luck to you! Glad you're here!

cmomma

In 1978 when I was pregnant with my 2nd girl, I didn't know that she was 'partial placenta previa', so sexual encounters with my husband were very painful, he would get frustrated when I couldn't continue because of 'labor contractions'. I'd feel bad too. My Dad, a Dr., 'started' me one day when I was a couple of weeks before my due date, when I went down for a check-up. During labor, he discovered that SHE WAS partial placenta previa. As my labor progressed, I started to hemorrage, and the other Drs. were encouraging my Dad to do a C-Section (I was under half strength Demoral)... and then I started begging for one, because I was on the cold 'surgery' table. He kept checking the baby monitor because her heartbeat kept disappearing (under Demoral I couldn't tell him that I felt her switch from side to side via along my back).., and when she would surface on the opposite side of my belly the heart monitor would 'beat' really loud. My Dad was scared the first few times, but then he realized she was fine, and through prayer and blessings, we think that when she switched one time to my right side, that she grabbed the placenta with her little hand enough and held on to have it out of the way for her head to slide through and come out normally when she switched back to the left side of my belly. Didn't have to have a C-Section through luck, though I had lost alot of blood, and had to be put on iron and had a couple of transfusions afterwards (just as HIV was starting to be a problem, and no preventative measures were there to prevent the spread of the disease like there is today). A retired baby Dr. whisked her off to the nursery to check her out (this was a small town hospital and he liked to volunteer his services). She had no problems and was very healthy. She earned scholarships to the university. Today, she is a mother of a little boy, 2, and is pregnant and due with her 2nd in July.
GET 2nd OPINIONs -- don't just rely on just one Drs. opinion. Am so glad that I didn't have to recuperat from any major surgery like a C-Section afterwards..! Since you know that your baby is 'previa', then do avoid sex with your spouse and hope he understands that it might be dangerous to you and your little one, and that he cares more about that than what he wants. (If it is a boyfriend, dump him after you deliver or before, and find some guy more thoughtful and caring about you and your baby).
ALWAYS... try to have your baby naturally... and then if it doesn't progress after 12 hours, then, and only then, consider a C-Section. Never accept a C-Section before you have even tried to deliver naturally -- surgery is always considered dangerous to anyone, let alone a pregnant woman and her child in a C-Section, though they try hard to not let it be... it is still dangerous to be cut open. Pray and ask God to help you, and tell him how you would like him to help you. Have faith that He just might help you to have a safe and successful natural birth, with no surgery.
Have always been set up for C-Sections for that one daughter and my son, and have never had to have one... because of prayers. Good luck. May God answer your prayers for a safe and wonderful delivery. Mrs. H.

hottiehp21

Just over a year ago, I had my son at 25 weeks. He was the size of a 22 weeker. 1 lbs flat (455 grams) and 11.5 inches long. Statistic viability is 24 weeks and up. However, that early comes with a lot of risk and potential long term issues.
I found out I had PP around 13 weeks, and at 20 weeks, I found out it was "complete".
After being admitted into L&D at 25 weeks, with severe Pre- Eclampsia, I also had placental abruption.
However.. my circumstances are more rare, and less likely.
My friend who had twins, had a complete previa and delivered at 36 weeks via c-section.
Following your doctors orders, will give you the best shot at keeping that beautiful bun in the oven!

Sandy70706

thanks for sharing your story. I have my 20 week appointment in a few days. We'll see how it goes. I've been resting a lot and feel good. No bleeding yet. :)

AnnMV

Am so glad to hear you're feeling well! Good luck with your appointment, and please let us know how it goes and how you're doing. Lots of prayers your way!

CherieH

That's great you've had no bleeding yet! I was diagnosed with PP and began bleeding at 19weeks. I was placed on full bed rest (with 2 children, haha) but continued bleeding on and off everyday. I was admitted to the hospital at 25 weeks and was so depleted (crappy OB not monitoring me for 2 months) that I was given 2 units of blood the first day. I ended up with a full abruption at 26 weeks but my amazing son has done fantastic this past year.

The key is to remain on as much bed rest as you can, don't assume you can be up more since you haven't been bleeding. If you have a cautious doctor then you will be fine. I wish you all the best! Feel free to message me if you have any questions or need to chat!

meganrichards

Hi there,

I too have pp. I was diagnosed with it at 10wks after heaving bleeding. I am currently 14 wks. When I saw my dr. last week he indicated that he doesn't feel it will move given the placement of it. I've been bleeding on and off for the last 4 weeks. I've been put on pelvic rest but no bed rest. I'm anxiously awaiting my next ultrasound in 5wks to determine if it has moved at all and if not what the plan of action will be. Have you had any update since your last post?

Sandy70706

All,
I have a fantastic update. I went to see the doctor for my 20 week appointment. The placenta has moved completely off my cervix - although the doctor said it would not after 16 weeks. It is 1cm to the right, and needs to move 2.5cm to the right to allow me a natural birth (to not have a c-section). Since it moved so much, they believe it will continue to move right and up, since the rich blood is at the top. It is now considered a low lying placenta. I'm still on pelvic rest, but I can pick up my daughter again, since there's no pressure on my cervix. I had crampy pain in my lower abdomen since about 14 weeks. The doctor believes this was from the pressure of the placenta on my cervix. I put myself on bedrest as much as I can (besides going to work), and about 1 week before my appointment the pain in my abdomen went away. Of course I was hopeful it was because the placenta moved, but my husband thought it was because I was resting. Either way, we're very excited to know I no longer have complete placenta previa (or partial). Megan, I know you're only 14 weeks, and I hope you receive the same good news in the next few months. Just shows doctors are not always right. So, I'm no longer scheduled for a c-section at 36 weeks. I have my regular due date back, but now being monitored every 2 weeks because of my preterm labor in my first pregnancy at 28 weeks (completely unrelated issue). Thank you all for your support as I was extremely worried during this time. ~Sandy

Keisha_P

Hello Sandy,

Congrats, that is great new. However, the same thing happened to me. My placenta migrated and I was out of the woods but at 24 weeks I went into labor and the outcome wasn't good. My story is here and you are free to read it.

Continue to relax and keep as much pressure off your cervix as you can. I don't know how old your daughter is but I would STRONGY suggest you limiting your weight lifting.

Live BLESSED!
Keisha

LauraLC

I was born in 1977. (My mother was told she had placenta previa and was told to rest.) My mother was not aware of the severity of the problem and traveled via motorhome (laying down) from TN to AL. Of course my father drove. She did arrive at the destination without going into labor or bleeding. She ended up having an emergency c-section with me. Since she lost so much blood, her bood pressure was bottoming out and she was going into shock. After hearing how life threatening that was, I am so thankful to hear how early they can detect it now since I will start TTC this summer.

pregantAndScared

I am 23 weeks and have complete placenta previa. It was noticed at our 19 week ultrasound and I had bleeding at 21 weeks. Was admitted to the hospital for 5 days and am resting at home now.

Not sure how much I'm able to do as was just told to 'take it easy and not move around too much'. Am working from home now instead of driving into the office and have been mostly staying inside, going up and down stairs only once a day, not lifting anything, reading with my son instead of running around with him, etc.

What have you all been told in regards to continuing on. Anyone else have a first bleed so early?

Sandy70706

PregnantAndScared,
I have talked to so many people and I have heard everywhere from 28 weeks to going a full 36 weeks. Many of the stories sounded similar, those that rested a lot, either stopped working, or put themselves on bedrest because the doctor didn't yet say to go on bedrest, carried the longest. Those that were chasing kids around or their doctor didn't warn them about pelvic rest and lifting, they went sooner than 36 weeks. Then there's just your body. I would say, do the best you can to rest and everything else is in God's hands. It's not your fault, and total placenta previa is more common than I realized. When I started sharing my condition with a co-worker, her sister-in-law had just given birth via c-section at 36 weeks (bleeding early on, but carried all the way), then my cousin had twins, and she had total placenta previa until 24 weeks, and it went away by her 28 week appointment. She started bleeding at 13 or 14 weeks. She gave birth to 2 healthy girls who will be one this June. You'll be in our prayers and everything will be okay. Take it day by day. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions

pregantAndScared

Sandy,

Thank you so much for your reply. Am finding this very scary. At this point, our baby won't survive outside of me if anything happens, and on the flip side, I know that bleeding is even more likely as the placenta stretches. I'm not counting on mine moving as it's complete previa, but that's ok as I'll be having a c-seciton anyways..just don't want to bleed and have more scares.

I do have a (almost) 4 year old, but he's quite understanding and when we play now, we read on the sofa or draw / play games at the kitchen table. We have family members helping out with the active stuff. Am finding it hard though missing out on a lot of stuff with him.

Thanks for the advice. Guess I'm doing what I can with resting. Am doing little things like going to the theatre tomorrow with my husband (first time out of the house in weeks) and a much needed hair appointment next week, but otherwise, am skipping lots of upcomming events and just resting on the sofa or sitting at home.

Hope I'm like those that you said who carried close to term. Just want a healthy baby.

I see that your placenta has moved so you're ok now. That's wonderful news. You must be so relieved. How far along are you now?

Sandy70706

I had complete previa until 20 weeks. I go for my 24 week/6 month appointment next Friday 4/4. I definitely did the same thing... skipped all the family events and birthday parties, but went to dinner with my husband just to get out. That's great your family is helping out. I too missed picking up my daughter and playing with her. I used to do an 'airplane flight' up the stairs every night for bedtime, and I had to stop. She still whines occassionally saying 'I want the airplane', but I replaced that by the kissy monster... on every step she got another kiss.

As far as I have been told, statistic viability is 25 weeks and on. Usually, at the end of the second trimester, the baby goes through a growth spurt - which is when the placenta and baby hit that spurt and the pressure of the placenta and weight of the baby causes pressure on your cervix - and potentially another bleeding episode. I was told my criticial weeks were from 24 weeks and up because that was when the baby would start growing more than 1 lb (if I still had the complete previa). Like I said, my cousin bled very early, and stayed on bed rest with the twins and hers moved at 28 weeks.

pregantAndScared

Sandy, sounds like we've shared similar experiences with having it with our second and how we're handling it with staying mostly at home and changing what we do with our little ones. As mentioned, not expecting mine to move, which isn't a big deal as long as there is no more bleeding and I don't go into labour before my scheduled c-section (which I'm quite worried about as it won't be scheduled until week 38).
Thanks for the warning time. My son's birthday party is end of April and am really hoping to have no more bleeds so I can at least go and watch...and again, just so want everything to be ok with the baby.

Good luck with your appointment.

Sandy70706

you too. you can email me with other questions sandra70706@gmail.com. Good luck with the birthday party!

pregantAndScared

Thanks Sandra.

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