Complete Placenta Previa--Anyone Had This? Advice?

I had a full placenta previa, also diagnosed at 20 weeks. Although I was hopefull it would move, and my doctor was too, it never did. I ended up bleeding at 26 weeks - a lot of "old" blood, a giant clot. I ended up in the hospital for 6 days, since the timing of the bleed was too early for my son to be born. I got the steroid shots, in case he did come early, to help with lung development. Once released, I was put on bed rest unil I delivered. I was able to shower daily and go to the bathroom, but stayed in bed/couch for 9 weeks, until I bled actively, bright red, at 34 weeks. I had a c-sec and although my son was in the NICU for 11 days due to lung development, he is a big and happy 6 month old now. This was my first. No reason for the condition was given. You will have to abstain from sex or vaginal exams, since that can cause bleeding. It was tough since I A. very active, but I saw it as my job as a hen sitting on her little egg, and that helped when I got cabin fever. I hope your placenta does move, but will gladly answer any other questions you may have. Best wishes!

A.,

Although I haven't had this particular problem, I've had two very high risk, very complicated pregnancies. I've learned the hard way that there is really only so much they can see on the ultrasound and there is really no way to predict what will happen (only the odds that certain things MAY happen). Try not to freak out and borrow trouble before you get there. Know your risk factors, how to minimize them, what to look for to know there is a problem going on and develop a good relationship with your OB. Now might also be a really good time to get a referral to a Perinatologist if you don't already have one. A Perinatologist is a high risk pregnancy doctor and their experience and training is very different from a regular OB. It takes way more to freak out a perinatologist and that is way easier on a high-risk-pregnant-mom's nerves. LOL

I was on bedrest (strict, I could get up to pee and shower once day and go to the doctor once a week, and obviously go to the emergency room regularly) for 15 weeks with my first child. And then I had a c-section. It isn't convenient but it isn't the end of the world. If it comes to that, you'll get through it. It sucks at the time but it is worth giving your baby the best chance at being healthy.

As far as problems being inevitable, take that with a grain of salt. After all the problems I had with my first pregnancy I was told that if I were to get pregnant again my preterm labor problems would be worse and start even earlier (earlier than 4 months? Holy Cow!) Well, that didn't happen. I did have preterm labor but it was much milder (probably because I was much calmer about the whole situation). I made it through my second pregnancy with no trips to the emergency room, no medication (I had a terbutaline infusion pump for the 15 weeks my first pregnancy), and only 4 weeks of modified bedrest (I was off work but I was able to do whatever I was comfortable doing).

Nothing is inevitable. Good luck,

T.

Hello ...

I've been working in obstetrics for the past 28 years. A complete placenta previa is definitely a valid indication for c-section. It does not necessarily mean you will have any complications during your pregnancy. Normally, there is some third trimester bleeding that can be managed but may mean that you will have to take it easy and possibly go on bedrest.
The placenta is the baby's "lifeline". All the nutrients and oxygenated blood flow cross over the placenta to reach the baby. When the placenta completely blocks the cervical opening, a c-section is called for. The lifeline cannot be delivered before the baby.

Hope this helps,

~M. K.
http://melaniekissell.com

Hi there, I had a complete placentia previa with my third child. I did not get put on bed rest, and I had no complications. My other kids were 3 and 6 and I worked full time. I too A. a very active person, my doctor did ask me to be "careful". My son was not early, but you might want to start mentally preparing for a c section now. That way if it does not move you've made your peace with it, and if it does it will be a happy suprise. If you do have to have a c section (I did), it's not the end of the world. It's all about your health, and your childs well being. Good luck.

Just like the other mom (Karleen) I had placenta previa. Because of this, I was told I will have a c-section. I believe I had a couple more ultrasound sessions than you normally should. I was told not to worry too much b/c a lot of times the placenta moves. And sure enough a month before my due date, it was "corrected". I was not put on bed rest and I delivered (normal) 2 days before baby's due. Hope this helps :)

Yes, I had this before when I was pregnant with my son. I worried about and by 6mos. it moved to the proper place. I really would not try to think about it until further down the pregnancy. It probably will move and in the instance
it does not, you would have to have a c-section. BUt most of them to move...I ended up having a vaginal delivery with being induced due to low anmniotic fluid.

I had complete previa with my daughter. She is 20 months old now. It is a very dangerous condition. With complete, the placentia will not move out of the way. You will have a c-section and you will deliver early.

I was put on bed rest at 6months, and had to send the final month of my pregnancy in the hospital. My daughter was delivered almost a montha and a half early.

Good luck to you! Listen to everything your doctor tells you and don't don't take any chances. If you start bleeding, go to the hospital right away.

The way I understood it, the early delivery is because they want to avoid you going into labor, which can be very dangerous. But early is not necessarily terrible and does not mean your baby will be premature. Even a few weeks early is still considered full-term. I had partial previa and my placenta never did move (I guess I was in that 5%), but my C-Section was planned for just a week before my due date. If your placenta does not move, then you will have to have a C-Section; the placenta is blocking the exit, so there is just no way out of this one. I will leave further comments to those who have had complete previa and can answer your specific questions. Good luck with your pregnancy and may you have only limited bouts of bedrest and a smooth delivery.