Ins and outs of Placenta Previa

[TXmommyof2]

I read the other thread but didn't think it was helpful in my case soo....

I will be 25 weeks on Monday. Thursday at midnight I was abrupty woken up by what felt like a small gush of fluid, I ran to the restroom and it was blood, scared the crap out of me, called the doctor and he said I can sit at home and monitor it to see if I soak through a pad. I did not want to wait so I put on a pad and went strait to the emergency room at my delivery hospital. I just had an ultrasound about 3 weeks earlier and specifically asked about placenta placement and was told it was high and out of the way, the report must have read the same way because my OB thought it was a cervical vessel that broke. I had an ultrasound friday afternoon and the perinatologist was certain it was a complete previa and not hopeful that it would move.

So I am curious, I thought the placent didn't move down only up as your uterus grows??

Also want to hear all stories good and bad of placenta previa and the outcome? Any miracle cases where you were diagnosed with complete at this stage and it moved?

I should be going home monday on bedrest and last I heard was that in a few weeks if I don't have any episodes I might be able to go back to work, I sit at a desk all day.

[snakelady]

I dont have any stories or advice, but I did want to say that I hope the rest of your prenancy is healthy an uneventful. Prayer coming your way.

[lbbmama]

They found a complete previa on my ~22w ultrasound. What I heard/read when I was doing my research is that a large percentage DO resolve, but it can vary. My placenta was mostly anterior, which gave us a better chance of resolution. One site said it's not that the placenta that moves, but how the uterus grows - to think of it like making a mark on a deflated balloon, as you blow it up, the mark "moves." What I read is that if your placenta is more posterior, there's a lower chance of it moving. So, it might help to know if your placenta is anterior or posterior.

My previa resolved completely & had I gone further, we would have been able to try a vaginal delivery. (I ended up delivering at 30w1d, but my placenta was out of the way!) They should do another ultrasound on you in the 3rd trimester to see where it's at. The biggest concern is hemorrhage, both for you and for baby if it doesn't move, especially if you were to dilate some. So, if it doesn't move, you'll have a c-section. If it's completely clear of the cervix, they may let you try a vaginal delivery. Good luck & hope you get some answers from your OB!

[TXmommyof2]

They found a complete previa on my ~22w ultrasound. What I heard/read when I was doing my research is that a large percentage DO resolve, but it can vary. My placenta was mostly anterior, which gave us a better chance of resolution. One site said it's not that the placenta that moves, but how the uterus grows - to think of it like making a mark on a deflated balloon, as you blow it up, the mark "moves." What I read is that if your placenta is more posterior, there's a lower chance of it moving. So, it might help to know if your placenta is anterior or posterior.

My previa resolved completely & had I gone further, we would have been able to try a vaginal delivery. (I ended up delivering at 30w1d, but my placenta was out of the way!) They should do another ultrasound on you in the 3rd trimester to see where it's at. The biggest concern is hemorrhage, both for you and for baby if it doesn't move, especially if you were to dilate some. So, if it doesn't move, you'll have a c-section. If it's completely clear of the cervix, they may let you try a vaginal delivery. Good luck & hope you get some answers from your OB!

Thanks, I beleive the perinatologist said it was posterior and I will have to see him regularly from now on. He didn't seem hopeful it would move. I will make better note of the specifics at my appointment in 3 weeks, I was just pretty stunned this time so not everything sunk in completely.

ETA: The balloon analogy is what I was imagining when I was thinking that it would typically only move up like the mouth was the cervix type thing. I'm planning on asking my doctor monday if it was a tech error or it just could have moved that direction.

[Mother79]

I just had an ultrasound about 3 weeks earlier and specifically asked about placenta placement and was told it was high and out of the way, the report must have read the same way because my OB thought it was a cervical vessel that broke. I had an ultrasound friday afternoon and the perinatologist was certain it was a complete previa and not hopeful that it would move.

So I am curious, I thought the placent didn't move down only up as your uterus grows??

This VERY same thing happened to me about 3 weeks apart in U/S's! How the heck does a placenta move from high up to complete previa?

I do have a history of 3 c-sections as well as uterine surgery and my last pregnancy was multiples, do I was high risk (I guess) to begin with.

I just don't believe that something CRAZY like this just happens.

I'm currently on pelvic rest and am not allowed to lift anything above 5lbs! I'm 21w4d as of today and have NOT had any bleeding yet (knock on wood). Of course MFM is not in a hurry to see me so I won't be seen until the 13th of July! I feel like a ticking time bomb. This just scares the crap outta me and I honestly feel like the doc's office was BS'ing me because they knew my IF's and I were going to attempt a VBAC whether they liked it or not. Now, (because I'm not completely CRAZY) it's impossible to have a VBAC.

I can't wait to hear stories and see what happens with your case! BEST of luck!

[JTJT]

I am sorry you are going through this. I know how scary it is.

We had a u/s at 22 weeks. We were told the placenta was in a good place. At 34 weeks I bled, heavily. The U/S showed a partial previa. In the OB office my OB said it was a marginal previa/low lying placenta.

I personally think that the OB made an error. I do not think a placenta can move down. Just my opinion of course.

My first bleeding episode occurred on June 15th. At first L & D said it was just an irritated cervix. I was back in L & D 6 hours after discharge with more heavy bleeding. I stayed in the hospital until 6/17. All last week I had spotting off and on. I had another bleeding episone on 6/21. It was in the middle of the night though and by the time I woke up it was just spotting.

I am just taking it super easy, even though my OB said basically just no sex, and no stair climbing or heavy lifting. I want this baby to be carried as long as possible. I was told contractions can make it bleed, as will overactivity.

Hope this helps you some. I was also told by the nurses that as you get closer to labor the bleeds will become more frequent and they usually see their previa patients many times in the weeks leading up to delivery. I hope that is not the case.

[TXmommyof2]

Thank you ladies for your replys. I am now home for two weeks and then possibly back to work. My doctor said this was 1/150 occurance and he sees maybe one case a year, which is why I guess most people I know outside of the surrogacy world have no idea what placenta previa is. He had no explanation as to why the tech missed this at my last ultrasound and was genuinely surprised since she has been doing ultrasounds for him for 10-12 years. According to statistics my outlook is good that I will make it to fill term as long as I don't have another bleed. The second bleed will put me at home for the rest of the pregnancy and if I bleed a third time I will be in the hospital until delivery. We are all very hopeful for the best possible outcome.

[DKmamato3]

Wishing you a long and boring pregnancy even if it is from the couch