placenta previa statistics, anyone? - Page 2

[stixoffire]

I am wondering for you ladies that were diagnosed with Complete Previa - did any of you do a lot of standing up for long hours on your feet during the first 25 weeks of pregnancy?  I am just curious if there is a common factor that would cause this. I am very appreciative to all of you who posted your experience with timelines and detailed information - it is very helpful to be prepared.

[JudiAU]

I had complete previa at 20w with my last. I had no bleeding or other symptoms and was not advised to behave in a specific way unless I had symptoms. I was only advised that "almost all" previas resolved themselves and not to freak out. It moved although I don't remember the time table but it was plenty of time to both freak out and then not worry and then freak about breech.

I work at a computer all day.

[stixoffire]

I am asking because my wife was diagnosed at 27 weeks with a complete placenta previa - I thought this was a very rare thing but apparently not. I am freaking out a bit - I love my wife and I have grown to love her more - the doctor sent us home and said if she bleeds alot bring her back to the ER - I am thinking 'they let people go home like this' - and yet I see many women in the same boat - go home - if you bleed we hope an ambulance will get you to an ER quickly. My wife freezes in an Emergency - so I am naturally concerned. Anybody out there dx'd at 25 weeks or more ?
Please help this husband calm down - if you did bleed what did you do as first aid while waiting for the ambulance or on the way to the hospital - any advice you could give is appreciated, Thank you.

[LaughingHyena]

Please help this husband calm down - if you did bleed what did you do as first aid while waiting for the ambulance or on the way to the hospital - any advice you could give is appreciated, Thank you.

I had placenta previa with both my children. With the first I had several hospital stays due to bleeds. The first was around 26 weeks I think. As far as I remember I was told if it's more than a few drops of blood ring for an ambulance, otherwise make your own way in. Or in my husbands terms "if there is enough blood to make a mess in the car ring for the ambulance!"

As I say I ended up with several bleeds, each time needing the ambulance. They always arrived very quickly, and took me straight into the antenatal ward at the hospital. For me each bleed tendered to be one dramatic gush then it would slow down very quickly, and after a couple of days of observation I was able to come back home. I was not on full bed rest, just pelvic rest (no heavy lifting, hovering, sex etc). I had a couple of rounds of steroid injections to help babies lungs mature.

I didn't do any particular first aid stuff while waiting for the ambulance, get a pad on ready for the journey and lay down quietly. I didn't eat or drink in case I ended up with a c section. We kept a bag packed and ready with all the things I needed for the hospital (lots of books, mp3 player etc as I was to stay in bed at first)

In the end DD was born by c section at 34 weeks after my bleed didn't stop and she was becoming distressed. She needed some time in NICU, support with breathing for the first couple of days then getting the hang of feeding. However she's now a fit and healthy 8 year old.

The second time round I was again diagnosed but didn't have any bleeds, and things went much more smoothly. I hope things go that way for you too.

[MeepyCat]

Stixoffire, if you are not happy with the care your wife is receiving, don't just stand there and take it, okay?  Ask questions, get second opinions, do not be afraid to be a PITA to the doctors you deal with.

I had placenta previa with my last pregnancy, and while I did spend a week on hospital bed rest, I eventually wound up bleeding like crazy at home.  I had to wake up my husband (who sleeps like a rock), and call an ambulance.  There aren't really any first aid measures for hemorrhage resulting from previa, besides lie on your side and try to keep your feet up.  Once the EMTs realized the seriousness of the situation, they drove like bats out of hell, which was the appropriate first aid measure - get me to the hospital fast.  We got to the hospital in plenty of time.  Our daughter spent 32 days in the NICU, and she's a normal, healthy three year-old now. 

Advice - oh my.

1.  Don't trouble yourself too much with the definition of "bleeding a lot".  Does the bleeding alarm the two of you?  That's enough.

2.  Keep your cell phones charged and make sure your wife always has one with her.  If you can get a person to stay with her (and she can stand to have company) that might also be reassuring to both of you.  Please note, however, that she may really need some alone time.  Sometimes having people in the house was too much for me.

3.  When/if you call 911, do not use fancy technical words.  The operator likely has no idea what "previa" means, and when you use medical latin, you sound calm.  Calm people get slower response times.  When you call 911, and sound like you're panicked and your wife is bleeding like heck and she's gonna die, you get an ambulance faster.