Placenta Previa

[marlasmom]

Maybe I am just venting and worrying, but does anyone have any info on this? My daughter was just diagnosed via ultrasound as a "partial placenta previa." She herself was a placenta previa, but I had not had an ultrasound and my water broke and the placenta partially separated about 7 weeks before my due date. I ended up driving myself to the hospital and they induced labor and all was fine.

Now she tells me that this could mean bed rest and a C-section. She meets with her doctor next week.

Reason tells me if it were an imminent problem they would do something immediately - not wait a week. OTOH, it was a nurse who called her with the results of her ultrasound and she didn't know if the doctor herself had seen it.

Does anyone have any info on this. Believe me it is much harder when its your baby having a baby. I pooh-poohed the whole thing to my daughter and said that everything would be fine - look how great she turned out ..... etc., but I am worried.

 

[Poohnatic]

Sometimes the placenta will adjust, especially if she's not within two or three weeks of term.

I was watched with first pregnancy because the placenta was low lying and at a risk for placenta previa. I had two sonograms two weeks apart and as my pregnancy progressed (I think 30 and 32 weeks), the situation resolved itself.

I understand your worry, but with sonograms, the baby can be watched much closer than even 10 years ago.

Good luck.

Suzanne

 

[Christine]

I was diagnosed with partial placenta previa with both of my pregnancies. My cousin had a more complete one. In both of our cases, everything progressed normally and there were not problems.

The most they did for me was to give me sonograms often to watch the progression of the placenta. I was told that if the placenta did not raise closer to by due date that I would go on bed rest, possible C-section, etc. But, luckily, as my uterus grew the placenta raised up and by the time I was 37 weeks, the cervical open was no longer obstructed. I think this is pretty common and in *most* cases the placenta pulls up out of the way.

 

[RadioNate]

It shouldn't be an immediate threat. What it means is that part of the placenta is over the cervix. As the baby grows there is a strong chance that the placenta will "move" to one side or another since it is only a partial thing now. If it doesn't move a c-section is a possibility as the baby can't go through the placenta to be born. KWIM? I'm trying to to be too graphic here.

While it's scary bed rest or a c section isn't the end of the world. Just tell her to relax and wait to talk to the dr about how serious the previa is. How far along is she? It could really be a tiny bit that takes care of itself.

 

[floridafam]

Here's what WebMMD says:

my.webmd.com/hw/being_pregnant/hw180819.asp?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

I wouldn't worry too much. Like you said, if there was an immediate problem, they would be doing something now.

She's corrrect, she may be put on bed rest and have to have a c-section. That's not always the case. The problem may correct itself.

Good luck and keep us posted.

How far along is she? (if you don't mind me asking)

 

[marlasmom]

She is 26 weeks along. They keep offering to tell her the gender but they want to be surprised. I want to know - (there's all that shopping I can do if I know) but I'll have to wait.

It sounds silly and maybe I am just venting - but everything happens to this kid. She fractured a leg bone while running competitively (she tells me she hasn't run now for a month although she was convinced she would keep running throughout her pregnancy-lol), she went to school in Europe for a year, came home for Christmas and ended up with chicken pox, developed an ovarian cyst while in Europe, was hospitalized for a week, the list goes on and on. Even when she was a baby, the pediatrician said "someday I'm going to see this child when she doesn't have an ear infection."

She is laughing it off and saying it means that her dh has to clean the bathrooms.

Thanks for the good words. It's just too soon now.

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I wouldn't worry too much, I had a low lying placenta w/ DD and it moved and everything was fine. I would just make sure her doctor watched it.

 

[jennyanydots]

glad to hear she's got a positive attitude about it.

 

[Serena]

MM, I know you are worried, but this is something they will keep a close eye on. They don't take any chances with babies. And they won't take any chances with your grandbaby.

Just be calm and confident for your daughter, even if you have to fake it. It's the best thing you can do for her.

 

[bsnyder]

MM, I had a complete placenta previa with my second pregancy. It never moved, and I did have to take it really easy the last few months of my pregnancy and have a scheduled C-Section, but other than that, it was not a problem at all.

Good luck to DD. And tell her running is out of the question now.

 

[tc]

marlasmom: I certainly know how you feel. Prayers and pd for your daughter and her baby. It's so hard to see your child is a situation like this. Hang in there, and keep us posted.

 

[snoopy]

I remember reading about this in the pregnancy books, it seemed like something that definately could be controlled.

My best to your daughter.

 

[Freyja]

Hope everything turns out fine. Keep us posted

 

[froglady]

I had Vaso Previa during my last pregnancy, and made out just fine. (That is Placenta Previa, with the umbilical cord attachment being over the cervix) I was on bedrest for 2 months, and had an early, scheduled c-section as soon as the lungs were mature enough for him to breathe independently.

Everything worked out well, and I certainly felt much better post -op than most, as I never went into labor, so was well rested. Just look into a cleaning service, or line up lots of helpers if she gets put on bedrest. I had a wonderful support group to run errands, cook, transport my other child, etc.