Placenta Previa - Roxbury, CT

I found out that I had previa in my first pregnancy when I started to bleed at 14wks. I was told the same thing and did a lot of reading on-line about it. Fortunately through-out the pregnancy the placenta moved on it's own. I was able to have a normal vaginal with no problems.

I had PP as well. I had a low lying placenta about 18 weeks, then I started to bleed about 20 weeks, that's when I knew. I bleed on and off from that moment until she was born. I was able to deliver normally, it moved by them. I was monitored 3 times a week, and was on bed rest. Do listen to the doctor, that is important. Everything will be fine. Good luck. She was healthy and all is well here. Get plenty of rest and enjoy bed rest, you will never have alone time again. lol Alison

I had this from my first ultrasound in my first trimester until I was almost into my third trimester, it went away on it's own and my son is just fine.

Try not to worry. I had the same thing happen to me around 20 weeks of my pregnancy. I know the info online can be scary but worst case senario is that the placenta doesnt move back up and you have to have a c-section. Most of the time it corrects itself. Mine did by my next visit. It was a shock to find out about it but rest assured that most of the time as your uterus grows it "shifts" the placenta back to the top where it belongs....good luck!!! =0) L. (due June 19th)

HI M.,
With my second I had placenta previa. It moved completely by the time I was ready to deliver. Think of your uterus as a balloon - If there was a dot on the bottom of a ballon as it inflates that dot shifts upwards away from the bottom. That's how my Dr described it. Of course this doesn't happen in all cases but I think in most cases it does shift upwards.
Good luck!

Hi M.,

The only thing I want to say is that you know your body better than anyone and that with this condition you really need to limit yourself and pay attention to what your doctors say. I too had placenta previa 100% and it did not move. I unfortunately was prone to preterm labor as well. I was told to stay off my feet and mildly listened, I did deliver early b/c of it, as I bled - but my story has a very happy ending with a beautiful little girl. I also had another baby after that and did not have the same condition. It is a very serious condition and should not be taken lightly, however you can continue to do things as normal - just listen to your body, if it is saying slow down then do so - not easy with a 3 year old I am sure though. Good luck and best wishes on the new bundle of love!
S.

Please be reassured that it is pretty normal. I have had it in all three of my pregnancies (currently due in August) and you just have to be careful not to strain yourself too much: no lifting, too much exercise, NO SEX! I have had bleeding from time to time, but nothing too serious. I just found out that it just went away with this pregnancy, whereas with my other two it did not go away before I was way in to my third trimester!

So don't worry, you and your baby will be fine!

I had placenta pervia in my 2nd trimester while I was pregnant last year. Don't be worried. My placenta shifted in the correct position by the 3rd trimester. I was told by my doctor that most of the time your placenta will shift in the correct position. I just had to take it a little easier & they checked my placenta every time I had a sonogram. Your doctor needs to stay on it. Worse case if your placenta doesn't shift you will be scheduled for a C-section. My daughter was born on 8/5/08 & was very healthy. I was okay & so was my daughter. Good luck. You will be fine!

Your doctor is correct... a lot of times the placenta previa corrects itself. In one of my pregnancies I had it early on, maybe around 12 weeks or so. By 24 weeks, it had moved and it was fine.

If it doesn't resolve itself, you won't be able to deliver vaginally and will need a c-section. You may also have spotting throughout your pregnancy. But the fact that they know about it and are monitoring it is good. The danger is when you don't know you have it.

Good luck!

My sister had placenta previa with her second pregnancy and it lasted right up to almost the end then at the last minute everything moved into place. She was in pain when she tried to walk more than 10 minutes but was told to take it easy and her & the baby ended up just fine.

I had placenta preavia up until 25 weeks and then it dissapeared... I had spotting every once in a while but nothing major and Me and the baby were fine!!! He is 6 months old now and I am completly healthy... As the baby grows and moves around they tend to push the placenta around and it shifts... were you told you had partial placenta previa or full? Relax and give it time.. Now isnt the time to worry about it.. If you stress yourself out it wont help anything! Good luck!!!

I had a low placenta, which is no not quite previa but close, and everything turned out fine. I had to be careful(no heavy lifting, no sex, no working out). My doctors checked a few times during the pregnancy to see if it had migrated up, which they told me it usually does. My doctors said it would probably move by the third trimeseter, so they checked then. It hadn't moved yet when they checked so they made an appointment for another ultrasound later. It didn't move up until a few weeks before my due date but I never had any problems. If it doesn't move, you'll have to have a c-section. Even though my placenta moved back into place, I ended up having a c-section because my daughter was too big for me to deliver. The c-section was great because I never had to go into labor so it was a very relaxed birth for me and my daughter.
The one good thing is that you'll get to have extra ultrasounds so they can look at your placenta. That means you get to take extra looks at your baby!

i had the same problem with my two youngest girls it does normaly go away. you will feel it turn around and go the other way.you'll get a bit uncomfertable and crampy. but it doesnt always go away.but the drs will be helpful and they will do eveything to make sure everyone is fine and safe.my turned around every few weeks when i went to the drs.the dr foundit funny. one visit it was normal the next it wasnt fine.until one day i put my hand on my belly and said god make her stop this and it stopped. i would just do lost of prayers to you and yours do it daily it will help. lots of luck H.

Hi M.,
I had placenta previa with my 2nd (9 1/2 yrs ago). I'm surprised at this stage of the game they called it that, usually at this stage they call it low lying placenta (which I had with my first (almost 15 years ago). With my first, it moved up (which is why they called it low lying and we'll watch and see. I delivered her 16 days early. With my 2nd, it never moved and I had a c-section (take the suppositiory afterwards to let the gas out, you'll feel a million times better, immediately). I delivered at 36 weeks. Baby was fine, and she's still fine (9 1/2 years later).
Good luck.
R.

Hi M.! I too had placenta previa, was hospitalized for 3 days at 27 weeks, and delivered a healthy 8lb 12oz baby at 39.5 weeks via C-section! So needless to say, do whatever the doctors tell you to do! When I went for my 20 week ultrasound, they told me it was "low lying" and to be on pelvic rest...no sex, no exercise, no heavy lifting, etc. I had a bleed at 27 weeks, was in the hospital for 3 days to be monitored and send home on "bed rest"...it was more like relaxation rest. I couldn't be on my feet for more than an hour at a time...and I was out of work for the remainder of my pregnancy. It's true that the stuff online can scary you but I think it's worst case scenarios...just listen to what your OB tells you and call them with any questions! Especially if you're not feeling "right!" Good luck and let me know if I can help you anymore!

First... don't "WebMD" things... very scary. I had the same condition, as did several of my friends. As my stomach and the baby grew, the placenta moved-up (so did theirs). My OBGYN had said that if it didn't correct itself then I would need a C-section. The only thing he cautioned us about was having sex b/c of the potential for injury. Ironic thing was I ended-up with a prolapsed cord and needed the section anyway! DON'T GOOGLE that either! Just ask the doc to keep you posted- very common condition and although it may result in a c-section it won't keep you from having a normal pregnancy.

Dear M., When I carried my daughter (now 40) before sonograms and such she was placenta previa. I did not know until I went into labor and the Doctor tried to break my water and out came lots of blood. He moved very quickly and my daughter and I were fine. I am sure with all the new technology you too will be fine. Hopefully you will get some more encouraging stories. I will pray that all is well. Sincerely, Grandma Mary

Hi Merideth,
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I see you've had lots of reassurance and you can add me to your list. I had placenta previa with my first child and it went away on it's own. No complications at birth and he's now 3 and doing great. I'm pregnant with our second child and I don't have previa so if you have it with this pregnancy, it doesn't mean you'll have it again. Don't be scared, sounds like your doctor is on it! Best of luck :o)

Hi M.,

My friend had Plecenta Previa, her daughter is 4 now,happy and healthy. She was a bit small when she was born but she was healthy. I will spare you the details of what happened to my friend, she is fine now. But, every situation is different and your doctor will do whats best for you. Don't stress (I know it's easier said then done), but you have think positive for your baby. If your stressed, your baby is stressed. Maybe you should sit down with your doctor and husband to discuss this further, get more insight. It might make you feel better.I wish you lots of luck and keep us posted.

I just had my baby girl in December (my second child) and when I had my anatomy ultrasound at 19 weeks my doctor told me that I had placenta previa and said that I would be monitored throughout my pregnancy. My doctor also said that diagnosing placenta previa at 19 weeks gestation usually turns out fine by the delivery date and that is exactly what happened to me. By the time I delivered my daughter the previa was completely gone and I was able to deliver naturally.

I had it in my 1st trimester - it cleared up by my 2nd I believe. Sometimes it goes away - sometimes not. From what I understand all it means is that you will need a c-section, I wouldn't worry. I had to have a c-section anyways as my son was breech & I had no problems with it. Good luck!

Hi M.,
I was told this with my daughter and it eventually corrected itself. In fact they told me this early on and monitored it so I had prepared myself for a C-Section so much that when they told me it had moved up and I could have her vaginally I flipped! :-)

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Kristal

Definitely don't panic - that is never helpful - but also don't take this as not being a problem. I had placenta previa also. I was diagnosed at 16 weeks and told the same thing you were - that it might go away. In fact subsequent ultrasounds showed it was moving and was only a partial. My doctor also told me don't worry. I was told to go about my life normally. I read alot of the things you did that get you scared and decided to be very careful. During this time two of my brothers and my sister got married and at all three weddings I chose not to dance (and I love to dance). At 28 weeks my first bleed occured. I was told that with a placenta previa bleed you usually go on bed rest and you can have three bad bleeds before they have to take the baby via c-section. Unfortunately for me the bleed was very severe and they had to take the baby via c-section 24 hours after it started since the bleed irrated the uterus and caused contractions which worsened the bleed. Today I have a beautiful 2 year old son with absolutely no problems but he was born 3 months premature at 2 lbs 15 oz. and spent 9 scary weeks in the nicu. I am not telling you this story to scare you about your placenta previa but because I want you to realize that it is serious and to be careful. I often think of what would have happened if I had not been careful at those three weddings and had decided to dance. I would most likely have started a bleed at that point and could have lost him because it would have been too early to have even survived as a preemie. Good luck and be careful. If you are walking, running, dancing, still having sex, etc. stop and take it easy. These simple things mean the difference when you are dealing with a placenta previa. Though my case is rarer than most it is a true possibility for anyone with placenta previa. If you are careful I can all but guarantee you will end up with a perfectly healthy child. Just be careful. I also tell you my story because most of the other responses to your post are so good and say that there will be no problem, problems can occur but since your doctors are on top of it your outcome like mine should be great even with a little problem. Good luck.

Congratulations on your baby. I had placenta previa with my first child. I was diagnosed at about 20 weeks. My dr told me not to worry about it, that it might correct itself and to go on with my life. I never thought too much about it. At my 30 week ultrasound they told me that it hadn't corrected itself and that I should plan on having a c-section, which was fine with me since I hadn't gotten around to lamaze classes. My daughter was born premature but it had nothing to do with the placenta previa. I never had any spotting or any other problems that were caused by it. I also never drastically changed things in my life because of it.

Best of luck to you. Don't drive yourself crazy. It can be a very serious condition but it can also turn out to be nothing. Just listen to your body and I am sure everything will be OK. Enjoy your pregnancy as much as you can.

I had placenta previa with my second baby. They told me almost right away at my first ultrasound. It didn't completely clear the way until like two weeks before he was born, but I delivered totally naturally and everyone was fine!

hello M.,

yes, i had placenta previa and i too was scared at first. my doctor told me NOT to read stuff online, that it would just make me more nervous and scared - so my sister did it for me.

mine did go away by the third trimester (too bad it didn't go away before then, we cancelled a cruise because of it).

just when you can, rest and keep your legs elevated.

hope the remainder of your pregnancy goes well.

nikki

M.,
I had placenta previa with my son and it did move out by the 3rd trimester. After having 3 c-sections I ended up having my son naturally. Like you I was totally freaked out by the news, I also have a medical background which only accentuated things, plus I did not find out from my doctor but from one of his partners who proceeded to tell my husband and I that I shouldn't even be carrying that pregnancy. My doctor was on vacation and got one heck of an e-mail from me so when he got back he saw me immediately and calmed both my husband and I down and let me tell you, his partner got blasted beyond blasted. I adore my doctor, he is beyond fantastic. Anyway I think as long as they know about it in advance they can monitor it with success. The problem arises when they don't catch it and it doesn't move, but that is not the case with you. Let me know if I can be of any other help.
Hugs,
T.

Yes, I had placenta previa with my first son. He arrived at 38 weeks, a healthy 8 lb. 7 oz. boy and is now 6 years old, and doing fine. I was already a high risk pregnancy because of my age, but my MD just kept an eye on me, and I had times when I had to stay home from work and rest, but everything turned out just fine. Listen to your MD, rest when he tells you to rest, and it will probably be okay.

Hi M.,
At this stage of pregnancy, it's certainly possible for the placenta to move up. With my first baby, I was told I had "low lying" placenta in the 2nd trimester, but ended up with a totally normal placental position when it was time for birth, and had a totally natural birth. Placenta previa is scary if you go into labor, so the normal plan is to schedule a cesarean before the due date and this usually avoids the problem. I know that no one really wants a cesarean (most people dont' anyway) but if you have persistent placenta previa, it is one of those occasions where a cesarean is the safest thing.
Good luck

I had placenta previa with my second baby who is now 8 months old. I had it about 6 months into my pregnancy and discovered it because I had a lot of bleeding after intercourse. This was VERY scary for me. I called the doctor immediately and I had an appointment the next day and was told not to have intercourse for a month till I was checked again with an ultasound to see if my placenta moved up. Which it did and everything was fine. I bled because my placenta was getting damaged from intercourse. Placenta previa just means your placenta is low, near the opening of your uterus. 9 times out of 10 as your uterus grows the placenta moves up out of the way. Worse case scenerio is it doesn't move up and you will have to have a C-section. I wouldn't worry too much. The good news is they know you have it and will monitor it. The only real danger would be if they didn't know you had it and you delivered with your placenta in the way. It could cause you to hemorage. After this happened to me I did a lot of reaserch. Good luck!!! You will be fine because they know about it.

Hi M.,

I had Placenta Previa with both my pregnancies. You need to stay off your feet as much as possible. If you work, then make sure that you use a stool to elevate your feet whenever you can. Also watch your salt n sugar intake as well.
With my second child-I had to watch my salt n sugar as well. Its amazing when your food shopping and you look at all the nutritional facts -how much salt n sugar is used in bread alone.
The most important thing is- do your best to relax- whether its taking a brief 5min cat nap at your desk, or going for a pedicure.
I was gaining weight like crazy- swollen to the point I was buying a new pair of shoes every 2 weeks!
The good news is both my girls were born big & healthy.
Sometimes the PP just goes away gradually- I wasn't so fortunate.
Its scary to get these results- I understand. Positive thinking goes along way! :) Best of luck to you and your little one.

Hi M.,

It can be scary...of course it can. Anything that goes "wrong" during a pregnancy is scary, because you worry about that beautiful life you're keeping safe.

I too was diagnosed with PP at about 20 weeks. At 30 weeks I had heavy bleeding, and it was determined that I had a placental abruption, where the placenta actually tears. I was in the hospital for a week, monitored constantly, then sent home on bed rest. Had to call the school where I was teaching and tell them I wouldn't be back in, not even to pack up my books. Very scary.

But, and here's the wonderful part...the day after his official due date, at a glorious 40 weeks, one day old, I delivered my son, vaginally and quickly (only 4 hours of labor!). He was a healthy 8 pounds 7 ounces, 21 inches long.

As many others suggested...do whatever your doctor suggests. Rest more than you feel you should and try not to worry. As long as you feel that little one kicking and rolling, know that s/he is doing well.

My wishes for an easy, worry-free remainder of your pregnancy, and a smooth labor and delivery.

T.