Q's about Placenta Previa! scared..

AmberPie

II am 13 weeks, 5 days pregnant with first baby. Two nights ago I woke to discover I was bleeding (bright red, for about an hour like a light period) then it stopped, and not much cramping.  I hadnt' had any bleeding before so I waited until my OB office was open and called. 

My OB's nurse who fields all the calls told me that unless I was cramping and passing clots than I have nothing to worry about and that she was sure it was caused by intercourse I'd had previously that day. She pretty much acted like I was worried about nothing. So I took her word for it..

Then last night at 3am I woke up  in a puddle of blood, and we went straight to the ER.  Bleeding wasn't stopping and was soaking thru huge pads.  After an abdominal and internal ultrasound, and the ER doc consulting with the on-call OB for my OBGYN office, they determined that my placenta was sitting right on top of my cervix and explained Placenta Previa to me.  The ER doc put me on bedrest for the weekend and then I'll meet with by OB on Monday for further eval.

I'm totally freaked out and wondering if anyone has any stories to share about their expirience with this.  I was already a high risk pregnancy due to FActor V Leiden and am on Lovenox, which they've now told me to stop until the bleeding stops, and until I meet and discuss everything with my doc on Monday.

Anyone stories, advice would be lovely: I'm a worrier at heart and this has only made it that much worse! 

moonrose2715

Sending you T&P's until you get your answers.

I don't have first hand experience with this (though I'm sure lots of ladies here do) but my coworker was diagnosed with this recently.  The number one thing she told me was that she was put on "pelvic" rest.  i.e. no sex or stimulation until the placenta grew up and away from the cervix or until baby came.

I would just rest and take it easy.  You need to be as calm as possible.  As long as they checked baby and there were no problems there, the best you can do right now is take care of yourself.

Feel better!

MrsKLS

With my 1st pg I had partial previa that was discovered at 16 weeks and by 30 weeks it had moved up and out of the way  - never had any bleeding, never had to be on bedrest or even pelvic rest. This PG I had extreme low-lying placenta - similar to previa except that it was not sitting directly on the cervix but just barely above it. I did have some light bleeding around 23 weeks on was put on pelvic rest at that time. By 30 weeks it still had not moved and I was placed on strict bedrest. At 35 weeks it finally moved up just enough to make the Dr happy.

It all depends on how much bleeding you have...I would say most likely you will be on pelvic rest (meaning no sex, no exercising). A significant amount of women that have this problem the placenta will usually move by 28 weeks or so. If it does not move up - you will most likely end up having a c-section.

Try not to be too scared or worry yourself too much about it...there are risks but this is very manageable. And your Dr will keep a close eye on your progress.

araevg

90% of all previas discovered before 20 weeks will move up and out of the way. The odds are in your favor!

That being said, I have complete placenta previa and have been on strict bed rest since week 31 due to heavy bleeding that put me in the hospital. I'll have a scheduled c-section at 36 1/2 weeks.

I'm a rare case though! If you poke around on various message boards, you'll notice that most women's placentas move up and out of the way by the time they're full term.

Best of luck to you!

Sassystace

I had complete previa with my DS which was discovered at my big u/s at 18wks.  It became a marginal pp by 29 wks and was no longer a previa by 35 wks.  I had spotting my entire pregnancy but never any major bleeds.  I was on pelvic rest (no sex, no exercise) my entire pg but not on bedrest.  Hang in there!!  The bleeding is soo scary and the fear of it happening again is always there but take it easy and hope for the best.  Like the previous poster said, the odds are very good that it will 'move' away from the cervix as your uterus expands and grows.

rcbuko

I have placenta previa with this pregnancy and also had it with my daughter.  WIth her, it had resolved by 20 weeks.  I had a significant bleed that sent me to the ER at 12 weeks.  All was well and she was born healthy at full term.

WIth this pregnancy, i had a bleed at 9 weeks and after an ultrasound it was revealed that I once again have placenta previa.  At my 12 week ultrasound it seems as if the placenta is starting to make its way up.  

Right now, as with my daughter, I am on pelvic rest until the placenta previa resolves itself.  My doctor also told me to limit lifting my daughter and so I am hardly lifting her at all.  

I too am a worrier and bleeding, especially red, always sends my mind imagining the worst.  Hang in there.  It is very likely that your situation will resolve itself.   

craziheazo

I had partial previa that was noticed at 13w3d and it never moved, but I'm an oddball. I didn't have any bleeding until 30 weeks. I had one small bleed then and the large bleed that led to the preterm delivery of DD#2 at 33w4d. I also had pPROM, a small abruption and was dilating quickly.

 Like PP's have said, you have a 90% chance of it moving. I had an emergency c-section and it wasn't horrible. I was able to have a spinal and DH was able to be with me. DD#2 had good Apgars (without time for steroid shots) so we even got to spend a few minutes with her before she went to the NICU.

Good luck!

stacieandclint

9 out of 10 times the placenta moves up before 26 weeks so hopefully that will be the case for you. Try to relax and not stress, the stress is not good for your baby. Good luck, I hope it moves for you!

NewlyWeds13

I was told I had previa at my 12 week 1st trimester (ie- NT) scan.   I went in a 16 weeks for a cervix measurement and it was still previa. 

however by my 20 week big ultrasound it had moved up out of the way.  

As others have said, it moves up in most cases when diagnosed before 20 weeks.

hang in there.  Prayers and thoughts your way!