'marginal' placenta - what would you do?

elinorc1

At my last appointment, around 30 weeks, the doctor did a vaginal ultrasound to check where my 'low lying' placenta was in relation to the cervix. She measured it at 1.6 cm which she classed as 'marginal'. Since I have had absolutely no bleeding or problems up to this point she is willing to do a trial of labour, but with the idea that if there is absolutely any bleeding I will go straight for a c-section... While I'm happy she's on board with the trial of labour, the downside is that because of the risk, she wants me to go to the big, private expat hospital here (Mexico City), where the c-section rate (I'm not kidding) is around 70-80 percent. Obviously, I'm terrified that just by going into this hospital I'm massively increasing my chances of a c section, even though I trust and like the doctor and I believe her when she says she'll let me try natural birth.

I told her that ideally I'd rather not go to that hospital, but the slightly less industrial and more humane place that we'd been talking about previously and she agreed to measure and check where my placenta is again at the next appointment. The question is, if it's still very close to the cervix and she's still fixed on the other hospital, what would you do? Would you try and get a second opinion? I'll be 34 weeks at that point. Anyone with any good stories about marginal/low lying placenta and no bleeding and a great natural birth? That would make me feel better too...

DelBride2012

Does that hospital take a lot of transfers, and is it the only safe option for women with complicated births? High C/S rates alone do not really tell the whole story.

elinorc1

Those are good questions - thanks. I should probably talk to the doctor again about whether there might be other options. And I hadn't thought about how high c/s rates there could be because of transfers and other factors... I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot to that hospital. 

triagain2

L&D nurse here. I've delivered plenty of marginal previas vaginally. They can be intense because there is slightly more bleeding and you are wondering how much is too much the entire time. That said, I wouldn't worry too much about the high section rate at the hospital, it comes down to your individual doctor more than the overall statistics. My doc is 15% primary rate, but my hospital is 40% primary rate. GL!

perplexed59

If I was going to have a chance of having a c-section I would want it to be at a hospital where they do them all the time. That way they will be very experienced and will have see a lot of weird situations and probably know how to deal with them better. Talk to your doctor about your fears and talk about when she will feel like you should be having a c-section if you are bleeding. In the end it is all about getting that baby here safely and for you to be safe as well. Fingers crossed that your placenta moves way up and you won't have to worry about any of this. 

elinorc1

Thanks all! I think the point about the doctor's cs rate being more telling than the hospital's is an important one... I'm going to try and focus on that since the dr's rate is low and she is pro vaginal birth generally. Also, it's so good to hear from someone who's seen this kind of situation work out with a vaginal birth! Thank you for replying, it gives me a bit of confidence.