Does placenta previa always = bedrest?

irishdancer · September 2009

Well it's week 28 and my placenta has not budged and I still have complete previa. The doctors have only put me on pelvic bedrest, not total bedrest because I haven't had any bleeding.

I am a wedding planner and have two weddings scheduled in my 8th month. Has anyone with previa gone their entire pregnancy without bleeding or bedrest? I'm just trying to calculate my odds of having to find replacements for the weddings. I'd really like to do them myself if at all possible.

sniderbaby · September 2009

I don't see many people post stuff on here with previa. I also have complete previa and I am 33 weeks. I had light bleeding start two weekends ago and heavier bleeding last weekend. Last weekend (32 wks), I called the doctor and they told me to come to the hospital to get monitored. I go the celestone (steriod) shot that helps the baby's lungs develop faster. I just knew the doctor would put me on best rest but didn't. The bleeding started back again today after no bleeding for 3-4 days. I haven't yet called the doctor because it's not to the "dripping" stage and I am just resting today to see if it subsides. I figured the next time I have to go in due to bleeding they will definitely tell me to go on bed rest. I have read a lot about previa ladies going on bed rest from the 20 something weeks...but not what my doctor has done. From what I understand...with complete previa, you are HIGHLY likely to have bleeding at some point. Obviously the most important thing is to not go into labor but as you start to dilate you will start to bleed because the cervix is opening up. My doctor said to set a goal of getting to 34 weeks..next week. At that point, I will have an ultrasound to check the size of the baby and to see how much I've dilated (he will NOT check me vaginally as it will encourage the cervix to open even more). He said once the baby gets to 5 to 5 1/2 pounds if the smallest issue arises (continuous bleeding) after 34 weeks, he will feel comfortable taking the baby. Otherwise, I will have a c-section between 36 and 37 weeks.

I hope this is helpful. I am constantly looking to see if anyone has posted anything about previa but like I said, I rarely see anything on this board about it. I wish I could compare my situation to others. I had a low lying placenta with my DS but it had moved up out of the way by 30 weeks and I had a super easy pregnancy and delivery. Not this time aorund. It's been REALLY hard on my body and has been totally different that my first pregnancy. I seriously can't imagine being on my feet for more than 5 minutes at a time at this point (33 weeks) so it might be unrealistic to plan on planning a wedding later on.

kamcfarlane · September 2009

i had a previa and was on and off bedrest from 20w on. i had 2 small (like 1 drop) bleeding incidens at 22w and 30w and then a period-like bleeding episode at 32w.

i was sent straight to the hospital (like couldn't even take my car home) from my 32w appointment. i got my first steroid shot when i got there. the next morning i went for an u/s (the placenta looked like it was moving away, but i was bleeding more, so they were confused) and the dr pushed hard on my stomach trying to get DS to move his head. about 15 minutes after i got back to my room i had a major bleed (this was about 1pm). i was immediately given the 2nd steroid shot (even though it was less than the optimal 24 hours). the goal at that point was 34w, but more realistically, 24 hours past the 2nd shot. at about 7pm that night, at 32w6d, i started contracting (non-painful) every 2 minutes and they decided to deliver.

from what i understand, if you've had bleeding, it's more likely that you'll have bleeding again. also, the bleeding episodes tend to get worse with each one. the crappy part is, there's no warning and that's what scared me the most.

i'm sorry that both of you are having problems with this. i've been there and it sucks! there are so many people that have previas with no problems, it seems like it's going to be a walk in the park. it's hard to find someone else that had complications as well.

as for working in the 8th month, only time will tell unfortunately. i was threatened with hospital bedrest from 20w on and was told after the 2nd and 3rd incidents that if i had one more, i was done (as in bedrest). sorry i can't help more there! but, if either of you have any questions, feel free to email me! (kate dot mcfarlane at yahoo dot com)

irishdancer · September 2009

Thanks for your insight. Please keep us posted on this board. Perhaps there are lurkers who are in our situation. I do have two assistants on the weddings, so I'm hoping I can just point and boss. : )

Best of luck to you! It is scary, but in my situation, it has been so uneventful that I think I'm in denial about how serious it really is. I'm taking it easy on my own so I don't encourage any bleeding.

fisha25 · September 2009

It seems not alway mostly just pelvic rest. I'm on bed rest and have complete previa but I'm on bed rest because i have a blood clot that has torn a small portion of my placenta away from my uterus and so i bleed often, very often, so my dr doesn't want any extra pressure on my placenta, otherwise i'd just be on pelvic rest she said. good luck

Sassystace · September 2009

I have complete placenta previa too but I am no farther along than you so it is all a guess to me how long I will last either. This is really stressing me out with planning for work as well. I had another u/s today and they told me that my placenta has no hope for 'moving' anywhere. I get steroid shots in 2 wks and was told I won't be allowed to go beyond 37 wks if I make it that far without a major hemorrhage that makes them take the baby out earlier. I have had light spotting all along although nothing scary yet--although they tell me I need to get to L&D asap if anything heavier starts up. So talk of bedrest has not come up, more that if I have heavy bleeding I will be hospitalized and once you have one bleeding episode you are more likely to have it happen again...

sniderbaby · September 2009

I too have downplayed the whole situation until here recently as mine was also very uneventful until around 31 weeks. I did know i had a low lying placenta at 20 weeks but didn't get "diagnosed" with placenta previa until 30 weeks. I am doing everything I can to stay off my feet as much as possible just to make it to 34 weeks to avoid any MAJOR complications. I do think it's a lot bigger deal that I realize...or at least it COULD be.

Caitlin & Sean · September 2009

I was put on modified bed rest at 23 weeks due to light spotting.I have a c-section planned for 10/20 when i will be 38 wks and 2 days. I have nst's 2x a week and see my OB 1x per weekl. I have not had any bleeding since being put on bed rest. If i make it to 10/20 I will have been on bed rest for 14 weeks. GL. Feel free to ask any questions. ( I am Always around)

lildevil968 · September 2009

I had a complete previa until week 33 with DD. The never put me on bed rest, only pelvic rest.

cvsbean · October 2009

Hi guys -

I am 27 wks and was diagnosed with complete previa at 22 wks. I have had no bleeding whatsoever. I get checked again at 28 weeks. I too am curious to know if it always results in a c-section. I read so many different things on the internet with no clear answers. Some sites say complete previa in 2nd trimester corrects itself 90% of the time. Some sites say complete previa almost always ends in c-section. And bedrest - how likely is that? I am so confused.

It is good to know there are a few of us on here to compare to.

thanks!

leighleigh1021 · November 2013

Hey ladies! I was diagnosed with previa at my 16 week appointment, put on pelvic rest and restrictions on lifting and strenuous activity... all was smooth sailing until Monday-exactly 30 weeks. I had some light bleeding (like a pad's worth) and was admitted to the hospital with some contractions which i coulsnt feel.. I've had both steroid injections, no more bleeding and contractions have stopped...so I'll be released tonight! Moderate bed rest (I can cook dinner to go shopping or walk around the block)- but nothing really requirong me to be on my feet more than an hour. They said if I bleed again, I'll be put on complete bed rest. . If I'm over 34 weeks I'll most likely deliver. C-section is scheduled for 12/18 ...fingers crossed I make it! Good luck to all going through this... it's not easy and can be scary!

saratogasteph74 · November 2013

It seems like it really depends on your dr.'s train of thought. I was diagnosed at 18 weeks with complete previa and had a major bleed at 22 weeks and 3 days. I was in the hospital for 48 hours for observation and then discharged on complete pelvic rest and restricted activity. I'm now 27 weeks and 2 days. So far i haven't had anymore bleeds and my placenta is starting to move up although it's still considered low lying just not complete. I have been out of work since the bleed because i work in an ER and do 12 hour shifts. However, they are letting me go back this sunday. I'm a bit nervous but will try to stay off my feet as much as possible. Wishing everyone here the best of luck!!

fishieking · July 2014

I was diagnosed with complete previa at 22 weeks. Was told it would move and that I was just fine even though I have PCOS, bicornuate uterus and complete previa. I already was unsure of the doctor(naval hospital) before being diagnosed but this set me to search for another. I found a perinatal specialist and have been happy since. However, they gave me a diagnoses on top of the others. Placenta marginal insertion and that the chance of the placenta moving was slim. At 29 weeks I had my first sight of bleeding. Spotting brown blood and the doctor told me that if more come out that I should go to the hospital. Continued to bleed so I went to hospital. Was there for an hour just to check vitals and baby's heart beat. Two days later I had fresh blood bleeding witch was more than brown blood and less than a pad but to hospital I went. Only there an hour and put on bedrest. Told if bleeding was spotting to lay down and see if it goes away in an hour. Another two days passes and I get more fresh blood but after laying down it goes away. Now I'm 31 weeks and not a sight of blood since. I just traveled through car from California to Michigan for three weeks to visit in laws so I'm praying nothing happens until I get home at 34 weeks. On strict bedrest but with a two, five and six year old, it's almost impossible and I know I've been pushing my luck especially with this trip!!

Orangechick · July 2014

Thank all you ladies for posting. This feed has been so helpful for those of use behind you. I have complete placenta previa at 20 weeks, but have already had 2 bleeds, one of which was significant. I was put on modified bed rest after the first one for 5 days, but have since been able to go back to my desk job. It is really scarey, and I have been searching high and low for what the future holds for those of us that bleed. Most cases seem to be asymptomatic until close to the end. Hope we can all catch up later to hear how it turns out for others. Maybe that will help give comfort to those of us waiting our turn.

mrszundelli · July 2014

I had cpp, was put on modified bedrest at 29wks, then 2nd bleed at 32wks landed me in the hospital till my cs at 33wks, 5days. While I was in the hospital they encouraged me to walk and said they did not recommend bed rest ever, because my body was going to do what it was going to do no matter if i walk or not. I've read different doctors recommend differently. For me, modified br didn't do anything, I was laying down from sleep all night when my 2nd bleed happened in the morning.

redrockmama · July 2014

I saw this and thought I'd share fromt the other side.

I was diagnosed with complete pp at the 20 week ultrasound. I had a couple of follow up ultrasounds but no bleeding at all. I was pretty confident (in denial) that it would resolve and I'd be able to go back to my home birth plans with my midwife. I finally gave in and realized a planned c-section was necessary after the 32 week ultrasound. The placenta had budged a tiny bit, but was still considered complete. The majority of the placenta was not over my cervix, just a tiny thin little tail was barely covering it.

We had one last ultrasound scheduled for 35w 3d to double check the placneta location and schedule the c-section. Miraculously it had resolved and was only considered low lying. It was 1.5 cm away from the opening of the cervix. The 37 week c-section was off the table and I was given the option of a 39 week c-section or a trial of labor in the hospital.

Then, at 36w 1d I had my first bleed. It was small and I was sent home from the hospital after a couple of hours. Then. 36 hours later I had my 2nd bleed which was a pretty big bleed. They admitted me and I was on hospital bedrest for 3 days before I begged them to let me go home until our planned c-section 2 days later. I hadn't bled at all since being admitted to the hospital, not even spotting. I got home in the evening, about 7 pm and was only home for 20 minutes before my 3rd (also very big) bleed. We rushed back to the hospital and I was quickly admitted. They monitored me and the baby for a couple of hours before they decided to do the c section first thing in the morning. Our little guy was born at 36w 6d and is now 1 month old. He didn't need any time in the NICU and other than being a little sleepy and gaining weight slowly he did great and is amazing!

It is really scary and there are so many unknowns, especially if/when bleeding starts. I thought I'd make it to the end without bleeding since it took so long, but I was wrong. Just remember that you have great folks taking care of you and your little one. Oh and my miwife said the same thing about bedrest, it doesn't really prevent bleeding, it is just more something they do so you don't think you did anything to cause the bleeding. My first two bleeds happened when I was sleeping, 3rd after I'd been on bedrest for days and was sitting on the couch.

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