I am 27 years old and pregnant with our first child. Last week (at 28 weeks: 3/4/99) we went in for an ultrasound because I had experienced some light bleeding around 26 weeks. Because my bleeding was very little and was dark brown, the doctor didn't seem too concerned about this situation. However, immediately into the ultrasound my doctor started asking a lot of questions about if I had experienced more bleeding since then etc. Then she informed us that I had partial placenta previa and that I should abstain from sex, exercise and only go to work and come home and rest. Then I started to get really nervous. However, at the time, my husband and I both were dumbfounded and didn't really ask any questions, basically because we didn't even realize what placenta previa was. Since last week I have been searching everywhere for information and I have read a lot of interesting stuff. 

 

Most people are telling me that the placenta usually migrates, but from what I've read, since my was diagnosed so late in pregnancy, the likelihood is much less for the placenta to migrate? Does anyone have any information on this? 

 

Also, even if I don't (hopefully) experience any more bleeding, should I talk to my doctor about getting steroid shots in case the baby has to be delivered early? 

 

Lastly, I am carrying the baby extremely low and am feeling a lot of kicks really low, is this something that I should be concerned about? 

 

Thanks to anyone who has any information! (3/11/99) 

 

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Update (3/26/99) 

 

I have some updated information to be added to my story. Yesterday we went to the doctor for another ultrasound to see if the placenta had moved. And luckily it has! It's still considered a low lying placenta, but it not anywhere near the cervix. The baby is in a head down position (although not yet engaged) and you could see on the ultrasound how the placenta moved out of the way! 

 

So, there is hope out there, even if you are diagnosed late in pregnancy like I was! I am now beginning by 32nd week. 

 

Good luck to everyone who is experiencing previa! 

 

And thanks to everyone who e-mailed me with your thoughts, they were GREATLY APPRECIATED! 

 

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Update (7/31) 

 

I delivered a healthy 7lb. 4oz. baby girl on May 20, 1999. One week early! Everything was fine with the delivery and she is almost 13 lbs. now at 9 weeks old! 

I had 3 very healthy, and uneventful pregnancies before I had an early miscarriage. With my fourth child, I was very nervous in the beginning, I had a small hemmorhage behind my placenta, but no bleeding and my pregnancy continued with no complications and I delivered a healthy baby boy at almost 42 weeks. 

We were pleasantly surprised when I had a positive pregnancy test when my son was about 5 months old. At 10 weeks I started having cramping, followed by bright red bleeding. I was scared I was having a misscarriage. At the hospital they did an ultrasound, and diagnosed a subchorionic hemmorhage. I was told it would resolve itself and to expect light bleeding for the next several weeks. I did have light spotting which eventually tapered off, and at about 15 weeks had another very heavy, bright red bleed. At the hospital I was diagnosed with complete pp. My doctor gave me little hope of the placenta moving and was put on limited activity. At my next ultrasound at 20 weeks, my placenta had moved but was still low lying. A few days later and I had the largest bleed of all and was admitted into the hospital. An ultrasound showed no pp, but I did have two blood clots in my uterus. I spent a total of 8 days in the hospital with two more bleeds while I was there. I am still having spotting and still getting more blood clots, which my doctor is unable to figure out why I am getting these. The good new is, My baby is healthy, and my placenta is out of the way. I am still on bedrest and will be for the majority of my pregnancy. 

I will keep my story updated, because I am told my condition is not a common one and I may be of help to anyone who continues to have problems even after the placenta moves. (2/9/99) 

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Update (3/21/99) 

To update my story, I had a huge bleed Feb. 27th and was back in the hospital for 5 days. They thought I was going to deliver. I had steroid shots, etc. However things calmed down and I was released. I am now off bedrest. But my doctor is still planning to deliver my baby 2-4 weeks early to prevent any more emergencies. Even though my placenta has moved, I continue to have spotting. I start having non stress tests and u/s once a week beginning in 2 weeks. And an amnio at 36 weeks. I am worried....but the baby so far is doing fine. 

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Update (4/19/99) 

Here is my latest update. My pregnancy has been goin along great, I have made it almost 34 weeks. I am getting non-stress tests twice a week, and u/s once a week. 2 weeks ago, they found another blood clot in my uterus and the baby was breech. Last week no problems noted. We are shooting for 36 weeks. Yeah!!!! I have been back to work and feeling great. Things have really turned around for us. 

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Update (5/28/99) 

Here is an update to my story. I delivered a healthy baby boy on May 10th. He was 3 weeks and 1 day early. I was induced due to my doctor wanting to avoid any complications. I was in labor all day and at the very end I had a major bleed. However my doctor said a vaginal delivery would still be safe. Cade came into the world at 10:14 p.m. weighing 6lbs and 4oz. He was 18 1/2 inches long. His APGAR scores were both 9's and he is doing terrific. 
 

story: I'm not sure how I wandered across this page and I have to admit that I don't remember all the details of my pp because I guess what followed kinda blocked my memories, but here goes...

I was pregnant with my 3rd child. He was a surprise -- my other 2 kids were 16 and 19 years old. I hadn't gotten pregnant in all those years and just assumed that I could not. A doctor told me once that my theory wasn't a very good form of birth control but after 15 years without a pregnancy I disregarded her comments.

Both of my other pregnancies were normal and uneventful so I assumed this one would be, too. It had been a long time but I'm still young (35) and strong as an ox. I had an o/s at about 20 weeks and they said I had a partial pp but no one told me what that meant or that it was a problem. At 21 weeks I had my first spotting -- bright red and very scary. I rushed to the doctor. They again mentioned PP but no one said what that was or that it would be a problem. As the weeks went by I continued to spot and sometimes really bleed hard. It was continuous for 5 weeks and the doctors continued to dismiss the severity of it. I was told to limit activity (no stairs, lifting, sex) and come back if it got worse. I did go back several times but just kept getting the same advice. I got so used to bleeding that I think I really didn't take it seriously. (It seemed like the doctors weren't...) They had told me that I would have a c-section but that was the only real consideration. 

On January 2nd, at 25.4 weeks, I started having cramping (which I later learned were contractions -- I guess I was in denial). I was bleeding pretty hard. By the next morning I decided that I needed to go to the emergency room. I was immediately admitted and they yelled at me for not coming sooner! Well, if anyone had ever really told me what was going on I might have taken it more seriously.

I was given magnesium sulfate to stop the contractions. That is the most miserable stuff. I wasn't allowed to have my head above my feet. They gave me several doses of steroids. Even with all of this going on, I just figured that with modern medical technology being what it is they would stop the labor. It never occurred to me that this would be it. They said that I would have to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of weeks and probably for the rest of my pregnancy. I figured that 12-14 weeks on my back would KILL me. After only 2 days in there I was about to lose my mind. They d/c'd the Mag Sulfate because it appeared that the contractions were under control. I was feeling better and begging to go home. It was not to be. On January 6th (at exactly 26 weeks) the labor began again and this time they couldn't stop it. I was prepped for a c-sect but after 2 really painful u/s (try having one while in labor with a full bladder!) they decided to let me deliver vaginally. I was given an epidural and within 30 minutes had a beautiful baby boy.

I was really lucky. My baby only weighed 2 pounds, 1 ounce and was 13-3/4" long. He was expected to live, but they weren't sure about his chances for major disabilities. He was 54 days in the NICU and really hasn't had any major setbacks. He will be 6 months old next week and is so beautiful. He's still tiny -- less than 13 pounds and just under 23" -- but he is developing normally for his corrected age. It certainly made me consider what a perfect gift he is, no matter what the outcome. I have grown emotionally and spiritually in ways I would never have imagined. But I would never, ever wish this experience on any baby or family.

I post this because I would to encourage those who aren't having severe symptoms to take their pp seriously. I wish I had found this bulletin board while I was going through this. I wish I had met someone who had gone through it. I wish that the doctor had impressed upon me what was really going on (that is partly my fault for not asking more questions). However, those wishes will never come true. So all I have left is to wish that you all have successful, uncomplicated, and happy pregnancies and birth experiences. Don't be discouraged by bedrest if you need it. Every day in the womb between 22 and 28 weeks increases the baby's chance of survival by 3-4%. It is worth it, it is so worth it! (7/2/99) 
 

 

Hi! Thank goodness for this site! 

 

My name is Leanne and I am 31 yrs old and expecting my first child. My husband and I experienced 2 years of infertility and then conceived through Invitro Fertilization. I had terrible hyperstimulation of the ovaries that caused severed bloating and fluid around the lungs, meaning bedrest for 3 weeks. After all that, you can imagine our distress when we were told I had marginal - or partial - placenta previa at 18 weeks. When I first started reading about it, I was thoroughly convinced there was no way we could have a vaginal delivery, and so I contacted Karen who told me about Club Previa. When I began to read everyone's concerns, I felt much better. I realized how lucky we are. I've only had one spot of blood at 16 weeks. I noticed that the lower abdominal pain I experienced seemed a common thread to many, and I felt less like our IVF procedure had perhaps caused this further complication. Please read my message about belly pain relief if you want a suggestion to help relieve it. I too, am carrying low. My doc has cautioned me against intercourse, and when I phoned back the next day to check out whether that meant I couldn't have orgasms either, I was told by the nurse that would be OK. I thought that odd, and when Karen told me her doc had told her not to, I decided to hold off if at all possible. But the second trimester is the "Hungry and Horny" one, at least for me, so I'm not sure how I'll fare holding off. Oh, well. 

I am curious to know if anyone else is an IVF mom. Anyway, I go back for my next U/S in 3 weeks to see if there's any change. Fingers and toes crossed. 

Due date: August 8th. (3/14/99) 

 

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Update (6/21/99) 

 

My marginal pp went north! We have been happily celebrating since we received that wonderful news officially on April 15th. I've been on sick leave from work since June 1st because of severe edema (which causes sore feet, ankle and knee joints) and pregnancy induced carpal tunnel in both hands (numb and sore!), and thank heavens. I don't know how I could manage to teach this past 3 weeks. I still have a hard time "taking it easy" like I'm supposed to, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. We've been attending Bradley Method (Husband-Coached Natural Childbirth) classes and really learning alot, especially about relaxation techniques. In our classes, we learned a different way of calculating the due date; take the first day of last period, count backwards 3 months and add 15 days. This gives us a due date Aug. 15. However, according to the doc's little wheel, our original due date was Aug. 8, and that was recalculated based on an ultrasound reading to be Aug. 4. So, even though we are an IVF pregnancy, and know the precise moment of conception (as it took place in a petri dish), it's still a rough guess. Ironic. We've been informed (unofficially and not 100% certain) that we are having a little girl. This was stated by 3 ultrasound technicians at different stages, so that says to me that it's pretty certain. We've chosen a name - Ivy Clementine. I'm a bit concerned that her initials will be ICP (kids can be cruel), but love the names and they're the only ones we could agree on, so there it is. That is our update. Oh, yes, and my husband who is 18 years older than me and will be 50 in the fall, will also be a grandpa for the second time in September. This is a banner year for him! 

I hope everyone's situation turns out well. Our thoughts are with you. 

 

LeanneP and Baby Ivy 

 

Hi! My name is Esther. I am 26 years old and have 3 other children. I didn't know before this that that was a risk factor for PP but I guess now I know. I was actually diagnosed at a routine sonogram at 22 weeks - they told me - very nonchalantly - that the placenta was a little low, but nothing else. I didn't worry too much about it at all, because some of my friends were diagnosed with PP at that stage and the placenta moved up, as it does in the majority of cases. 

I went in for my next sonogram four weeks later. My midwife looked at the results, and said to me - you know you have to be careful, etc. etc. etc. and I just shook my head - I was tired, it was a long day after work, and I just wasn't taking this business too seriously in any case. At work the next morning I got another call from a different midwife of the practice and she said to me "You know you have placenta previa and you have to be really careful - no sex, no lifting, no heavy work." So I - still not really listening - said "the placenta's just low and it's really no big deal". She blew her top and said that I now have complete placenta previa - meaning it's totally covering the os; and instead of migrating upward - as it should have done - it migrated downward. Well, I finally started listening! 

 

Now that I've read everyone's stories I'm really starting to get scared. I've had a few subsequent sonograms, no luck - it's still there, but I've never had any bleeding. 

 

I'm now at 33 weeks and I wonder if anybody out there had the placenta move upwards at this point. After reading everyone's stories, is there anyone out there that didn't have problems with diagnosed PP? 

 

I also wonder if anyone has heard of taking vitamin C or iron supplements and if it can possibly help? 

 

To all of you who wrote your story, thanks for the info., and if anyone has any info. for me - I would really appreciate it! Thanks!! (3/24/99) 

 

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Update (4/19/99) 

 

Two days after I wrote my story, I started bleeding (at 33 weeks for the first time). To make a long story short, after going into the hospital two days in a row for bleeding episode, my doctor gave me steroid shots, put me on Brethine - which is a horrible drug - and put me on strict bed rest - and I had to LAY - not even allowed to sit. Whatever it was I was doing seemed to help, because I've had only slight staining since then. All the information I've read here has really helped me, as I understood what the doctor was doing and knew enough to ask questions (for some reason my doctor seems to take the route of the less he tells me the better, so all this information really gave me a lift). I should be having a C-section soon, and I hope to let you know! 

 

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Update (6/26/99) 

 

My baby (a boy) was born on April 19 at 9:30 am by scheduled C-section. My doctor was of the opinion that at 37 weeks, if the baby's lungs are developed - out! They did an amnio on Thurs - the C-section was on Monday - and since the amnio came back positive they went ahead with the surgery - I was technically 37 weeks minus one day - but I think I was actually 36 weeks because I don't have a regular 28 day cycle - and the sonnogram kept saying a week later - however my doctor goes by LMP (last meunstral period). His birthweight was 4 lbs, 14 oz. - a real dissapointment for me because according to sonnogram taken at 35 weeks he should have been at least 5-1/2 lbs! Because he had some minor problems when he was born I just got a quick glimpse before they wisked him away to the nursery for observation. He made a funny sound when he breathed - I don't remember the technical term, but it resolved itself within the hour. He had trouble maintaining body temperature, so the put him in an isolette between feedings, and he also had major trouble breastfeeding - I would supplement every nursing with a bottle - he barely got anything from nursing. (He's now nursing very well, however it was really not easy, and the fact that he had so many bottles originally really set us back). Looking back, I wonder if it was wise to deliver so early, especially since my bleeding was under control. However, I was really scared about getting a "big bleed" and you never know with that (I've also since heard some scary stories of people who waited too long) so it's hard to know what the right thing would be. However, I did not know that even if the baby's lungs are matured, they can still have other - minor - problems and even though it doesn't sound like a big deal considering what preemies go through, it was a big deal to me. I wish I would have known that - I might have made a different decision. 

 

My doctor really warned me of the risk of placenta accreta - and a few times! that I really got scared. But someone pointed out to me that he might have just had a case like that and it really shook him up. He also warned me that I am at higher risk for excessive bleading during the C-section so they prepared blood in case. Thank G-d that wasn't necessary, but my doctor told me that I did lose a little more blood than by a regular C-section but less than average for placenta previa. I felt really chilly afterwards for about a week which someone told me is caused by loss of blood - I don't know if this is true or not. 

 

This site was really wonderful and really helped me deal with this - my doctor didn't tell me too much about what might happen - I guess not to frighten me too much but when someone's withholding information from me it really makes me feel like a child - now be a good girl now and close your eyes and we'll take care of it. I don't like it, and this site was really really helpful in that respect and also wonderful in getting support. (I mean, all your friends and relatives get bored after the 2nd time you go through your story - right?). I really liked the Saudia Arabia report - for those of you who like their information in thick doses. 

oh, someone mentioned they had to have an up and down cut - I don't know why, I had a bikini cut. 

 

Also, I definitely had my first bleed after I did some "major" (well, relatively speaking) housework and I did feel pelvic pressure and mild contractions just before I started bleeding. Sometimes there really is a correlation. 

 

Anyway, thanks again for your wonderful site, and good luck to all of you! 

This pregnancy, my second, is another story. AT 15 weeks I went in for an amnio due to maternal age only (I am 36). The level 2 u/s that was performed showed that I had a "low lying placenta". This didn't concern me at all because I had the same condition with my first pregnancy with absolutely no problems 

A week later, the day after Christmas I had bright red spotting (week 16). Next day saw the Dr. who advised me to restrict all exercise and to be prepared for the "worst". Unfortunatley, she was not very supportive and was in and out of my examing room within 5 minutes. My husband just looked at me and asked if she was always so "friendly" with me. He did not like my OB/GYN at all and I have to admit that I felt worse after seeing her feeling like I had to prepare myself of the probablitiy of a miscarriage. 

Two weeks later I had my first bleed at week 18. My former OB/GYN was not at all supportive or reassuring and just stated that I needed to get a u/s ) to find out the position of the placenta. She spent less than 3 minutes with me and she was gone. I also decided to leave, as a patient of hers, after having so little support during a trying time. The u/s performed that same day (both trans abdominal and trans vaginal) showed that I had complete pp. Six days later I had another u/s, this time a level 2, which was attended by a peri. This u/s showed that I had anterior marginal pp which was 1.9 cm away from the cervix. I had done enough reading by this time to know that there was no way possible for the placenta to move that far in six days. The u/s that was perfomed the day of my first bleed was misread!!!!! 

The peri stayed that I could go back to work, but to restrict from lifting, sex, exercise, etc. I was so overjoyed to hear that I did not have complete pp. As I was walking out the door, the peri stayed "You can still bleed with marginal pp". I felt so excited about the good news. I knew I was in a much better situation and I wasn't at all fearful about another bleed (silly me!!!). 

I was back to work for only four days (an admin job) when I had my second bleed. Thankfully the bleeding did stop. My husband came and picked me up from work. I was at this time without a OB/GYN due to the treatment I received after my first bleed. I had a consultation with a new OB/GYN that same day and manged to get in early and see him even though he didn't have my medical records. My new OB/GYN (my third and final - I whole heartedly believe!!!) was wonderful and talked in length to both my husband and myself about my condition and pp. I had done enough reading before hand to also have a list of questions for him. He answered all the questions fully, listened to all of my fears and reassured both my husband and myself that this was a team effort. Good Dr.s are out there even though sometimes it takes a while to get to them. The Dr. put me on bedrest for two weeks. Thankfully, I did not have any bleeds during this time. 

I am currently 22 weeks and have been back to work for two days. And the story continues ..... 

Mary Alice  (2/8/99) 

Mom to Bryce (4) and marginal pp Boy due 6/7/99 

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Update

At 32 weeks, I had the wonderful experience of my placenta taking the ultimate trip way NORTH completely out of the way. I was so happy that I just wanted to go out and celebrate, but unfortunately that was not the case. As I was just about to walk out the door the peri stated that she wanted to review my three hour glucose test (my one hour glucose test had come back high). 

The three hour test confirmed that I had gestational diabetes. I have to admit that I was not too concerned with this condition considering what I had experienced with pp I thought of gd more like an irritatnt then a serious condition. I was referred to a specialized clinic that deals with diabetes patients and patients that develop gestational diabetes. Due to clinic staffing problems, I was not able to be seen until last week - week 35. 

The RN and the nutrionist that I meet with were quite concerned with my glucose levels. I was placed on a very, very strict diet. I go in tomorrow morning for another blood test and I have been advised that if the numbers are still high that my c-section might have to be performed at the end of this week. The RN also stated that if the baby is delivered this week that there could be a very great chance that the baby might have to spend time in NICU due to insufficient lung development. 

Apparently when a women has gestational diabetes that is not closely monitored, that the baby is spending so much time with its pancreas making extra insulin that the baby sometimes does not create enough surfactant for proper lung development. I have already discussed this situation with my Dr. and he also stated that steroids are only beneficial up to week 34 and after that they would not benefit the baby. 

I am scared. I thought once I was over this darn pp experience that I was no longer looking at NICU. I will know by either Thursday or Friday if I will be having this baby on Friday. There is so much to do to get ready - the crib isn't even up yet!!! 

Thank you all for your caring and support - it is greatly appreciated. 

Mary Alice 

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Update (7/2/99) 

Welcome to Conner Warren Helm, born at 7:51 a.m., June 2 to Mary Alice and her husband Chad! He weighed in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 19" long. He has reddish-brown hair and blue eyes. His APGARs were 9 and 9... 
 

I was diagnosed with complete pp during a u/s at 12 weeks. I had the u/s because the doctor thought I was having twins (I was huge). Well, we only found one baby but the doctor mentioned that my placenta was completely covering my cervix but not to worry because that is common early in the pregnancy due to my previous c-section (my little boy was 9lbs 2 oz and just wasn't coming out the old fashioned way). 

He said we would do another u/s around 28 weeks and if it had not moved be prepared for bed rest. So of course I freaked for a couple of days but then adopted the attitude that it just wasn't going to happen to me and I wasn't going to worry about it. 

Well we scheduled the u/s for 26 weeks just because that is where my four week apppointments fell. At the u/s we found that the placenta had not moved at all...still completely covering...right smack dab centered over the cervix. We also found out that the new baby is a girl. 

So my doctor told me that he would give me the next two weeks to get everything in order but starting at 28 weeks I was to be on complete bed rest for the duration of the pregancy. I had bathroom priveleges only, and of course no sex. He said that we would be doing a c-section at 38 weeks unless something happened before then. So in my calculations that is 10 weeks of bed rest. Yikes! 

I have had absolutely no bleeding to date so I have come to the conclusion that I have one of the more conservative doctors out there. Luckily my employer is cooperating and allowing me to work from home so the lost income won't be an issue. 

I am on my 5th day of bed rest. Gee only 9 1/2 weeks to go! I go to the doctor again March 4th. I'll post an update after my appt. (2/22/99) 

Holly 

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Update (6/21/99) 

Well, here's the long over due update to my story. 

I made it to 38 weeks (10 of those on strict bedrest) with no bleeds or spotting at all. I got up at 3am on the morning of 4-29-99 to get ready to be at the hospital at 5am for my scheduled c-section at 7am and when I went to the restroom there was blood on my tissue! Imagine my surprise!!!! 38 weeks nothing and then the day I am going to have the baby I bleed!!!! After waking my husband and convincing him I wasn't teasing him...we decided to just go ahead to the hospital as planned and not call the doctor on call at 3am. So when we got to the hospital at 5am I told the nurse right away about my spotting and she confirmed that it was just spotting and not a major bleed so we proceeded as already planned. 

They prepped me for surgery which included the normal strapping me to the monitors and putting in two IV's. One normal size for the fluids etc. and one HUGE one for administering blood at a high rate of speed "just in case". The doctor had already ordered extra blood that was typed and cross matched and setting on go "just in case". While all this was taking place I thought I felt some contractions so I finally asked a nurse if I was having them according to the monitors and she said yes I was. Nothing real consistent but yes I was having contractions. Gee...I guess this baby was going to come that day no matter what. 

So on to the operating room we went to have a baby! I had seen my doctor just the day before and he convinced me that the best way to do this c-section was to cut me up and down instead of a bikini cut. This way would provide him and any other doctor that may be called in a better view of what needed to be done. My doctor told me that he was concerned because I had not bled at all that perhaps that indicated that the placenta had grown through the uterus and that is why there was no bleeding. If the uterus had indeed grown through then it could have grown into the bladder or some other organ and this would required a general surgeon to repair. There was also a chance that I would end up with a hysterectomy. So of course I couldn't let my vanity stand in the way of my life so I agreed to the up and down incision. 

So I got the epidural and away my doctor went. Hannah was born at 7:25am and the placenta came out without a problem. The doctor said that he probably could have done it through my old incision after all but he was still glad that he went in that way because he ended up putting some extra stitches in the bottom of my uterus to stop some of the major arteries that were bleeding down where the placenta was attached. 

So we were prepared for all the bad things that could have happened to me and none of them happened. And most importantly we got a beautiful heathly baby girl named Hannah Nicole Faubion. 8lbs. 5oz. 21 inches. We stayed our 4 days in the hospital and went home together as if none of this placenta previa thing ever happened. 

Hannah is 7 weeks now and growing like a weed. 

If there is one thought I'd like to leave you with, you being any woman who is now facing this pp condition, it would be that every time I hold my precious baby girl the 10 weeks of bedrest and all the fears and worries that come with pp fade a little more. 

There really are happy endings!!!!!!!!!!!!! God bless us all! 

Holly (Mom to Kelsey 6, Tanner 3, and my pp baby Hannah 4-29-99)

 

I am 27 years old pregnant with my third child, my other two were born healthy and pregnancy was without complications. I started heavy bleeding at 13 weeks and was in the hospital for 2 days when the doctor told me that my placenta was covering the cervix but that it should migrate up and that I would have to be on 2 weeks bedrest, which I must say is driving me crazy. I am now 15 weeks and the doctor plans on doing another sono next week to see where everything is. I have only had one more episode of bleeding since the hospital that the doctor expected. It is encouraging to read that hopefully this early in the pregnancy I may not actually have placenta previa but I still know there is a possibility that I do. I am so glad that I found this page it helps to know that I am not alone. (4/9/99) 

 

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Update (4/19/99) 

 

I just wanted to update you on my current status: My placenta moved out of the way of the cervix, although is still low lying, of course in the process of having all the bleeding wouldn't you know a complication would arise. I am now 17 weeks and baby is doing fine, when I began bleeding on March 17 and went to the hospital and was placed on bedrest there apparantly was still 

a significant amount of blood that needed to come out so since I was doing nothing it couldn't and it is in between the layers of the placenta membrane.

 

I saw a perinatologist yesterday the 15 of April to distinguish this big bubble was this or an amniotic band, he said I would be at risk for preterm labor and early rupture of membranes. He placed me on yet another month of homebound, not so much bedrest as before but I still can't go back to my job as a ICU nurse, he said if this bubble didn't go away I wouldn't be able to go back at all. I am happy to report that I am not bleeding any more, I have a brown discharge that is old blood, which is ok. 

 

I want to tell all the previa moms out there that I have the utmost respect for you ladies, I know how it is laying there and having no control over what is going to happen. After one week I couldn't cry anymore, it's just plain depressing. I hope all your babies are beautiful ones and we all return to our normal level of functioning in time. 

 

Please keep in touch and I will keep you all updated, I am still bored to death. (4/19/99) 

 

My daughter, Rebecca, began spotting at 9 weeks. She was told at 11 weeks she had a placental tear. She was put on partial bedrest,she could sit on the couch, go to the bathroom, take showers,but spend a lot of time in the bed. The bleeding became worse with several episodes of heavy bleeding and passing clots the size of your fist for hours. One episode lasted 24 hours while passing a clot every hour. After making numerous trips to the Dr. and many ultrasounds on a Friday at 16 weeks, she stood up to go to the bathroom and the blood ran out like a faucet was turned on. She was totally covered in blood from the hips down. I called 911 and an ambulance took her to the hospital.Her bleeding had almost stopped on Sunday and was released. On Monday morning at 4 a..m. she was once again gushing blood. We returned to the hospital and was seen by a perinatologist. He said at this point the baby (a boy) is doing fine but she had placenta previa. She was sent home on complete bedrest and told someone needed to be with her 24 hours a day. I have been doing a lot of research today since she was diagnosed and I ran across this website. I'd appreciate anyone who can help us to fully understand what we are dealing with. Oh I forgot she is further complicated because she has a high antibody level and is taking a heprin shot nightly to thin her blood. (6/12/99) 

 

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Update (6/19/99) 

 

This is to update my daughter's condition. Since 6/9/99 she has several bleeds but on Tuesday 6/15 she began having mini contractions by Wed. 4 am they had become quite hard by 10 am she was in horrible pain she was being given demerol and valium every hour and it was not touching the pain. At 2:30 pm she lost her baby. The dr. said the placenta completely tore away from the uterus. 

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