Placenta Praevia / Low Lying Placenta Question....

[MammyMammy]

:idea: Hello All,

I was told yesterday at 20 week scan that my placenta is basically lying low and could slip down to cover my cervix....

This is called Placenta Praevia....

But, can someone please tell me what this REALLY means, as my sonnographer seemed horrified (but she was as usual, pathetic) and my obstetrician said later that she hoped that it would move out of the way at some later date, but a 34 week scan would be done to check this, and size of kidneys which were not right size....

Mirriam Stoppard books talk about "taking it easy" and "bed rest" etc etc....and that a caesar is INEVITABLE....

Now - is this OLD advice? Can I do anything to encourage the placenta to shift, ie, the way I lay down, or eat things that will help?

I am JUST TERRIFIED OF HAVING A CAESAR and want to try to actively increase my chances of having a VB (not the beer, the birth, although I could slam down an ice cold VB at any time ...if i was not with child....!!!)

Any advice or experience you have with this would be EXTREMELY helpful, and please please please please help!

I wonder if it can correct itself, how common is this, can a caesar in any way be avoided if placenta does not move?

Thanks all xx:hugs:

[tickle]

90 - 95% of low lying placentas found at 20 weeks move well clear of the cervix and don't end up becoming placenta previa. Please don't stress, I'm sure you'll be fine.:thumbsup:

In regards to if it doesn't move, it really depends on how bad it is. When it's closer to your due date, find out what grade you have and where exactly it is positioned. You don't have to have a c/section if you have previa, depending on where the the placenta is.
If I were you I would put it out of your mind completely until at least 34 weeks!

[Mum&bubs]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I was told the same thing at my 20 week scan and stressed out nearly my entire pregnancy. Mine moved up though and It's pretty common for them to do that as well!

So fingers crossed for you! Take it easy!

[MammyMammy]

Thank you so much!

I hope thats the only answers that I get!

My Obstetrician is the best - and she is such a realist too - she had this way of letting you know whats important and what is not - and she seemed to think it best to apply the "wait and C" (ha ha get it) approach....

I really hope my placenta moves because odd as this may sound, I am so very excited about attempting a natural vaginal birth and seing my baby enter the world via my birth canal....

Plus I have friends who have had terrible caesar experiences and i want to avoid it for health reasons too.

Cheers!:hugs:

[Mrs J]

my aunty had this most of her preg but at the last scan it had moved and went on to have a normal VB. I know another person that is has moved to and had a normal VB. GOOD LUCK

[sam's mum]

one thing that they should have told you is to head to hospital IMMEDIATELY if you have any bleeding. If you bleed it will be from you and not from the placenta and this places you at risk from the blood loss.

Having said something that may scare the ****ens out of you - it is exactly as the others said and will probably move. Mine didn't and I needed a cs because it was covering the cervix. Depending on how close it is to the cervix the ob will let you know whether you have the option of trying for a VB or whether you need a cs.

I wasn't put on bed rest or anything, but I was told not to overdo it. If you have a bleed, that is when they will put you to bed, and there you will stay. (pretty much, depends on the severity of the bleed)

[mumx3littlies]

I was also told at 20week scan that I had low lying placenta but that most of them move up and out of the way as your tummy and baby grow. Thats just what happened and at 33week scan was given the all clear for VB. Good luck and I hope this happens for you.:)

[JATS]

I was told I had Low lying placenta at 20w scan and had another one booked for 34 weeks.

34 week scan, was told it was 'borderline' but would definatly move in time, but had another scan booked for 36 weeks 'just to be safe'.

36 week scan, still borderline but had moved slightly since last scan, again assured it'd move in time, another scan booked for 38 weeks...

38 week scan, placenta still very low, right on the cut-off for a v/b, took half a dozen Drs over 2 hours of scans, prodding, poking, serious discussion etc to decide it was too dangerous to risk a VB and had a c-section booked for 6am the next morning!

I was totally unprepared because I was assured repeatedly that a c/s was highly unlikely. For your sake PREPARE YOURSELF for the c-section as much as you do for a v/b. My c-section turned out to be a wonderful experience but would have been even better had I been prepared.:hugs:

[AM]

I got the same line with my first pregnancy, low lying at 20 weeks yada...

Firstly..Placentas cannot slip down...it is a complete impossibility, as they are fixed to the wall of the uterus. Secondly...they do not 'move' as they are fixed, but as your uterus stretches to accommodate the growing baby, the placenta is also stretched away from the cervix.

There are 4 grades of placenta previa, and only the worst grade, grade 4, is C/S territory - ie, placenta completely covering the cervix.

As someone already pointed out, about 95% of cases of 'suspected placenta previa' (which should really just be called 'low lying placenta' this early as TRUE placenta previa can often only be really properly diagnosed very late in the piece) rectify themselves before birth.

As long as your placenta is 1cm away from the cervix, you can give birth vaginally.

I think your chances of having a c/s are pretty slim myself, all the best!

The stats are that placenta previa occurs in around 1 in 200 births at full term. that is 0.5%.

[MrsMiggins]

:hugs: It's not really as bad as all that!! As others have said, there is every chance you could go on to have a normal vaginal delivery.

I had a low-lying placenta detected with both my pregnancies at a scan at 19 weeks. Unfortunately with DD, it did not resolve enough to avoid a c/s, although it was borderline. And the placenta at 19 weeks covered the os.

With DS however, a repeat scan at 32 weeks showed it to be well clear.

I was surprised to read that the sonographer told you it could slip down further. I've never heard of that happening & believe you me, I've done a helluva lot of reading about this!! The reason they give you a repeat scan (usually at 32 weeks), is because in most cases the growing uterus stretches up, pulling the placenta clear.

In any case, please try not to stress. I've had to have 2 c/s now and while it is not how I'd ideally have chosen to birth my babies, both have been positive experiences.

[AM]

Love My Tommy Bub - That is one intense signature you have there!!:eek:

[JATS]

Quote from the TV show House :laughing:

[AM]

haha! I was watching House last night too...

[Jenko]

I also had a low-lying placenta at 20 week scan. It moved up by 34 weeks and I had a wonderful water birth.

I was also quite worried when I was first told, but you can't do anything about it, so try and not worry about something that may not be an issue.

[MammyMammy]

Thank you everyone for all your help and experiences...

THE SONOGRAPHER WAS COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT in my opinion anyhow so maybe she didnt know how to explain what the placenta may do (ie slip)

To me it seemed odd, that it could slip - surely if it slipped it has torn and then you have bigger issues than a Csection...you have to get that baby out immediately!

I think she just was having a bad day and didnt know how much saying something innapropriately could affect how much someone stews over it...lucky my ob has explained that i shouldnt worry etc (she is a relaxed-max!)

Yay - I may still be able to have a VB

yah!:yes: :yes: :yes:

[mummymac]

Hi ladies, I just wanted to share my experience with you as I like many mums with low lying placenta was optimistic that it would move up. My bleeding started at 24 weeks. I was told any bleed can turn into a big one so ALWAYS go to hospital/doctor asap. I did and fortunately this bleed was a small one and after 2 hours of monitoring I was sent home.

The next bleed happened at a business lunch. I'd been doing NOTHING just sitting down (I have a desk job) and bang! Big bleed as I went to the toilet. Straight to hospital where I stayed until my son was born at 34 weeks to the day. It was so scary, I never stopped bleeding... it would slow down then I thought yay I can go home but without warning it would start all over again. My OB told me it was unusual and she had expected it to move up. I had so many u/sounds and eventually it came up to 3 cm but the bleeds continued. I was not emotionally prepared for this as the chances of the placenta moving upwards are so high...typical for me to have been in the minority! It was a day to day experience not knowing if he would be born today or not. I had had 2 CS before (my 2nd daughter was VB as she was stillborn at 21wks) so I had little fear of the CS but just wanted my boy to be safe. I was finally told that one more big bleed and that'd be it. Sure enough, at 2am on Tuesday 16 November 2010 I had that massive bleed. I just knew it was over and I was having him that day. Mind you, each bleed I was stunned to know he was fine... totally oblivious to it all! The CS went off without any issues and my massive 6lb 4oz son "Ben" (I had gestational diabetes) was born 6 weeks prem. I got to hold him and that was the most incredible experience of my life. He was in special care as he didn't yet know how to suck but was feeding great on the tubes and quickly learned to BF. So girls, if you have the low lying placenta just prepare yourself for the unknown. I would have been better off if I did as each bleed I shook uncontrollably. Yes rest up, but my experience just goes to show after being out at lunch then after that being bed bound in hospital that bedrest is good but you just never know what's around the corner! Just remember at the end of the day as long as your baby is born healthy that is the main thing... don't fear the CS... all that matters is that dear baby of yours is safe and well. xoxo :wave:

[babesX4]

i had spotting at 15 and half weeks, by 16 weeks i finally got in to get an ultrasound done, and they said bub is fine, but ur placenta is very low lying...i had no idea what this meant, but at my 18w4d scan(doc said go early as i had more spotting) they said the same...ur placenta is low lying and u have placenta previa. i stewed on it for a week n half before i could get into my doctor to ask about the report that was written about my scan. At this stage, i had no idea what was going on, and i was petried. The report didnt tell me a measurement or anything, it just said 'placenta almost covering cervical os, review at 30 weeks'. I asked my doctor if this meant ill need a c-section, and asked what grade i have etc, but the report was written so basic, that he has not much more info than read in my copy of the report. i am now 21w4d, and still know bugger all about this.

I have spoken to some girls who've had a c-section and heard horror stories, and was scared. but then spoke to my lovely SIL who has had 2 c-sections and she reassured me it will be fine. I've been trying to prepare myself for one, as my doctor said it looks like i have grade 4 placenta previa, but he said thats just a guess, going by what the report says, and we wont know for sure what grade until my next scan. This is my 5th bubba, so i have said to him if i need a c-section is it possible to get my tubes tied while in there, which he said is possible. I am also petrified of VB after my 3rd labour was just horrible. Theres been a few ppl say to me, if im happy for a c-section why not just opt to have one, which im thinkiing of doing but the thing im worried about..........is the unknown. my other 4 pregnancies went fine, only problem was i carried too low, as my stomach muscles are torn and not strong enough anymore. was told i could go as early as 25weeks, but luckily my last two went to 39 weeks and 40weeks, so im pretty safe with that...its just the fact ive been told theres a problem this time and i dunno whats going on, and my doctor didnt have any info he could give me on placenta previa, or c-sections.

ive been warned not to google them as theres conflicting info on them online which i can totally understand, but if anyone has some info i would appriciate it.

[mummymac]

Hi, I just want to say I totally understand how you are feeling. I had 2 healthy pregnancies too that went off without a hitch. they were both c-sections and this is probably (as well as being an older mum) contributed to my placenta previa. My OB told me age and the fact the placenta can get stuck on scarring is usually the reasons for the low lying placenta but she really thought as did I, that it'd move up. It did, to 3cm but the bleeds just never stopped. Baby (Ben) was fine, I was monitored three times a day in hospital (drove me nuts being strapped up on the monitor all the time) but he was so content, never got distressed. There is something like a 90% chance your placenta will move up out of the way but I believe usually this is not until you are about 32-38 weeks sometimes even later.... I lasted until 34 weeks with mine and Ben was fine, just needed to be tube fed at the start but I still got to hold him in the operating theatre which I didn't expect at all! You will be fine, please don't fear the c/s they do so many of them a day and you will still be able to hold your baby afterwards which lets face it, is the best reward ever. Worrying about your placenta will not make it move up, just try to take it easy when possible (not easy with other kids to care for). If you ever have any fears or questions feel free to talk sometimes it helps and I'll do what I can to reassure you as I know and understand your worries fully. Take care.:wave: