Ugh...ok background (bear with me)
Pregnancy #1 I hemorrhaged at delivery and again 2 days later. A portion of my placenta had adhered to my cervix and had to be surgically removed. I had 6 units of blood transfused in over the course of about 30 hrs. between the 2 hemorrhages and the surgery. The birth was a drug-free water birth. Pregnancy complications included a low-lying placenta, significant edema, and mild PIH. I also apparently had a double-lobed placenta.
Pregnancy #2 Was supposed to be another drug-free water birth but baby was transverse breech and wouldn't turn for anything. When I went into labor I had an emergency CS. A classical incision on my uterus was necessary to safely turn/deliver baby. No other pregnancy complications.
Pregnancy #3 Knew that I'd be needing a repeat CS due to the classical incision on the uterus from #2. Subchorionic hemorrhages diagnosed at 8 weeks following a moderate bleed. Strict bed rest at 15 weeks following a major bleed. I've been on bed rest for 7 weeks, I'm 23 weeks tomorrow. The MW transferred my care to an OB due to the inevitable CS combined with the complications. I met with the OB for the first time today (she was the OB who delivered #2, but since it was an emergency CS, I'd never met her before #2 was born and we don't have much history. She's in the same practice with my MW). Anyway, she was talking with me about my placenta position. I said that I was told that it's in the front, but that's all I know. She expressed concern that it might be in a bad position relative to my CS scar (on my uterus) and added that the placenta may have adhered to the scar tissue from the earlier incision. She asked me to give some thought to how I'd feel if I hemorrhaged again at delivery because the placenta is adhered to uterine scar tissue, and she had to remove my uterus in the event of an emergency.....not really sure WHAT to think. Um, I'd like to keep my uterus. I don't want to bleed to death. Are there any other choices?
So, if we are armed with information ahead of time, can't we be prepared to address a placenta that does not fall cleanly away from the uterus? Can't they be prepared to scrape away the placenta, transfuse blood, etc. if we know in advance? Am I being irrational? (I don't have any real future plans for my uterus, but I'd still really like to keep it around). I really really don't want to bleed to death though. I almost did that the first time and it was bad, but I've also never worked with OBs before and maybe she's just much more comfortable with the idea of cutting out a uterus as a surefire way to achieve a positive outcome than I am. Any ideas?
Pregnancy #1 I hemorrhaged at delivery and again 2 days later. A portion of my placenta had adhered to my cervix and had to be surgically removed. I had 6 units of blood transfused in over the course of about 30 hrs. between the 2 hemorrhages and the surgery. The birth was a drug-free water birth. Pregnancy complications included a low-lying placenta, significant edema, and mild PIH. I also apparently had a double-lobed placenta.
Pregnancy #2 Was supposed to be another drug-free water birth but baby was transverse breech and wouldn't turn for anything. When I went into labor I had an emergency CS. A classical incision on my uterus was necessary to safely turn/deliver baby. No other pregnancy complications.
Pregnancy #3 Knew that I'd be needing a repeat CS due to the classical incision on the uterus from #2. Subchorionic hemorrhages diagnosed at 8 weeks following a moderate bleed. Strict bed rest at 15 weeks following a major bleed. I've been on bed rest for 7 weeks, I'm 23 weeks tomorrow. The MW transferred my care to an OB due to the inevitable CS combined with the complications. I met with the OB for the first time today (she was the OB who delivered #2, but since it was an emergency CS, I'd never met her before #2 was born and we don't have much history. She's in the same practice with my MW). Anyway, she was talking with me about my placenta position. I said that I was told that it's in the front, but that's all I know. She expressed concern that it might be in a bad position relative to my CS scar (on my uterus) and added that the placenta may have adhered to the scar tissue from the earlier incision. She asked me to give some thought to how I'd feel if I hemorrhaged again at delivery because the placenta is adhered to uterine scar tissue, and she had to remove my uterus in the event of an emergency.....not really sure WHAT to think. Um, I'd like to keep my uterus. I don't want to bleed to death. Are there any other choices?
So, if we are armed with information ahead of time, can't we be prepared to address a placenta that does not fall cleanly away from the uterus? Can't they be prepared to scrape away the placenta, transfuse blood, etc. if we know in advance? Am I being irrational? (I don't have any real future plans for my uterus, but I'd still really like to keep it around). I really really don't want to bleed to death though. I almost did that the first time and it was bad, but I've also never worked with OBs before and maybe she's just much more comfortable with the idea of cutting out a uterus as a surefire way to achieve a positive outcome than I am. Any ideas?
