Placenta Previa - what are the chances placenta will move?

[Ashes]

My friend is devastated to find out that she has placenta previa ( you know, where the placenta is partially or fully covering the cervix area so giving birth vaginally won't be likely ). She is 20 weeks. From your experience, what are the chances that the placenta will move out of the way so she can deliver vaginally?

[Ashes]

Argh I just saw the other Previa thread. Sorry ... will read that, but feel free to post here anyways.

[DoulaLoveLou]

I honestly don't know the statistics of what her chances are but I'm sure it depends on if she has partial placenta previa or complete. Acupuncture has a really high success rate for correcting placenta previa. I suggest looking into acupuncturists who are comfortable working with pregnant women.

[Ashes]

Thanks, she has partial previa, so only about 2 cms of non "meaty" placenta in the way.

[S.Elise]

No personal experience, but I also know there are yoga poses that can help with this. Definitely think she needs to find an acupuncturist and yoga instructor!

[MeepyCat]

The odds of placenta previa diagnosed at mid-pregnancy u/s resolving before delivery are really high - my midwives quoted me a number upwards of 99%. If the placenta is not centered on the cervix, it is far more likely than not to resolve.

Your friend should make an appointment for a more detailed u/s later in pregnancy (around 30 weeks), to recheck placental position and look for things like vasa previa. And I'm gonna say, take it easy.

Hugs to your friend, and assure her that this kind of thing usually goes away.

[Ashes]

Thanks Meepy. Someone found in a book for me, there is a 19/20 chance it will move. My friend has an u/s at 32 weeks to check again.

I have been following your story on the other previa thread. Hope your baby can come home from the NICU very soon. I am sure you can't wait to bring her home.

[KoalaMommy]

I had a partial previa with my 2nd at 20 weeks and was fine for delivery. My midwife didn't even make a big deal out of it. It moves more often than not, so she should be fine!

[Ashes]

Aww that is so good to hear KoalaMommy.

My friend asked me to ask further: Should she do the acupuncture etc before the 32 week u/s? Like.. now? or later? ( I am thinking now ).

[DreamsInDigital]

I had placenta previa that was discovered at my 20 week u/s. It did resolve by birth, but not at 32 weeks. She should ask for another u/s at 36+ weeks if her 32 week u/s doesn't show enough change.

[MeepyCat]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

I had placenta previa that was discovered at my 20 week u/s. It did resolve by birth, but not at 32 weeks. She should ask for another u/s at 36+ weeks if her 32 week u/s doesn't show enough change.

Yes this. Had things gone differently for me, my plan was to demand an ultrasound either the night before or the morning of the planned c-section to make sure the section was really necessary. When I broached this idea to my midwives, they thought it was pretty reasonable. IF abdominal surgery turns out to NOT be necessary, it would be better not to have it.

[studentmomma]

Ashes - would definitely recommend starting acupuncture earlier rather than later (so I agree with you). My complete previa resolved after 6-8 weeks of acupuncture, sabina, etc - and it won't move back, there's no chance of harm being done by these things. Best of luck to your friend. (She's lucky to have someone who cares so much!)

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I agree with all the advice here.

I think a lot of women get told this and get all worked up about it b/c the OBs are so rabid to protect their behinds from malpractice. It's just easier to treat you as "sick" than as pregnancy being a normal everyday occurance.

I fired my OB b/c of this exact thing. She pretty much told us at 20 weeks that we had previa, and if we had a homebirth, the baby & I would both die. My husband very nearly punched her in the face. A few weeks later when we were interviewing midwives for the hb, we asked about the previa. She said that most women do show it on the early ultrasound, just because things are so squished inside there at the beginning. Nothing has stretched or moved yet. Plus, you have to drink so darn much water that your bladder smashes things up too. A lot of time they'll send you to pee and try again, but they didn't do it for me. She made us feel comforted and relieved and not "sick".

Needless to say, we hired her, delivered just fine at home. The 30 week u/s was just fine. Not even a need for it really. Another reason to charge more money for an unneccesary test.

[Ashes]

Thank you everyone for your input! My friend is so sad about this because she thinks giving birth is the one thing she is GOOD at I think things sound hopeful here.

Funny, she is the one that told me about the MDC community, but she has never signed up so it had to be me to ask the question.

[zonapellucida]

Mine have been partial and moved. At twenty weeks she still has PLENTY of uterine growth to pull it out of the way

[JudiAU]

I had complete previa at 24w and gave birth at home, by myself, with an awesome birth. =) Super fast recovery too. I was also breech for awhile.

Tell her not to panic. She has plenty of time for it to move, especially if she isn't having bleeding. My midwife said not to work about it.

[~savah~]

I had placenta previa at my 20 week ultrasound also. I did another ultrasound sometime around 32 weeks and it was completely out of the way. I would tell her not to worry, I'm pretty sure the statistic I read was less than 5% don't move.

[Pookietooth]

I think they really shouldn't be telling women at a 20 week ultrasound that they have a previa. I had one dx'd at 20 weeks -- it was a complete previa, meaning it completely covered the cervix -- but by 36 weeks it had completely cleared the cervix so that I could have a vaginal birth. I took the homeopathic remedy Sabina (30C three times per day) plus I saw an acupuncturist who treated me weekly and gave me Chinese herbs and had me doing moxabustion at home. I have no idea of any of those contributed, but I'm happy either way.
I think it's something like 90-95% move from week 20 to the end. She will probably have another u/s near the end to confirm though.

[babytranscend]

Just found out I have a low lying placenta and I am at 21 weeks. They told me not to worry but I can't help but all your posts made me feel better. Wondering if I should stop doing yoga and walking a half hour three times a week? I have always looked forward to delivering naturally in a birth center but this makes me feel discouraged. Going to look into getting accupucture within the next week up untill my next u/s in 6-8 weeks. I did have some heavy bleeding in the beginning but nothing since just alot of pressure. Any thoughts?

[MeepyCat]

Babytranscend, you'll want to talk to your doctor about that one.

I had complete previa (persisting until delivery - grrrr), but kept doing light yoga until I was put on pelvic rest and continued walking until I was put on bed rest (half an hour is about how long it takes me to get from my house to the train station on foot, the trip to the local farmer's market was slightly longer).  While I did have two small bleeds, neither those nor the big bleed that resulted in early delivery was related to activity (I was lying down at the start of all three of them).  That said, your statement about "a lot of pressure" worries me - bring this up with your doctor or midwife, please.

There's nothing wrong with acupuncture if it makes you feel better, but make sure the practitioner knows about your condition and avoids any pressure points that might stimulate your uterus or cause contractions.