Detecting placenta previa

[NJ*Doula]

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[katja]

You can have an ultrasound and a home birth.

[mwherbs]

first time pregnancy it is about a 1 in 5000 chance you will have a previa

"care should be taken when diagnosing placenta previa during the second trimester. This condition is reported to be 10-100 times as common in the second trimester as it is at term. Although the underlying physiology remains somewhat controversial, the disparity remains a fact. When placental tissue lies near or over the internal os in the second trimester, repeat imaging should be performed at a later date to confirm the diagnosis."

probably the most common cause now a days is previous c-section scar, in particular the first pregnancy after a c-section but actually any uterine scaring/injury can increase risk

maternal age over 35
grand multiparity
multiple pregnancy
previous previa- increase rate of re-occurance
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bleeding at 32-37 weeks most common sign -- 30 week ultrasound might be just the ticket for you

[lola731]

Not to concern you at all, but I did have it with my second, and had NONE of the risk factors (I did extensive research on it when I was diagnosed with it). I also didn't have any bleeding. i still had a complete previa at 37 weeks, but at 38 weeks it had moved just under 2 cm. off my cervix, so I was given a clear for a vag. birth. Went into labor at just over 40 weeks, had a lot of bleeding, but still had a med-free vag. birth, after being prepped for a c-section. My case is rare, but every case is different. Mine was detected at 20 week u/s, and I had follow-up u/s at 34 weeks, 36 weeks, 37 and 38 weeks (at my pre-op appt. for the scheduled c, I had my Dr. do "just one more u/s. Thankfully it moved and I got to transfer my care back to my mw). My third pg I was so worried about being diagnosed again, but that placenta attached far off my cervix . Like a pp said, late u/s confirms it, and painless bleeding in the 2nd trimester can indicate it.

Carrie, mama to Jake (4), Lola (2), and Ike (4 months)

[zoebird]

anyone know of a way to look for it without untrasound?

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by zoebird

anyone know of a way to look for it without untrasound?

I think the only way to look for it without u/s is just by going with it's symptoms. Since it's main symptom is usually bright red painless bleeding it's something you would want to get checked out and I think the only true way to diagnose it is through u/s as that's the only way to see where the placenta is.

[mwherbs]

depends on the placenta if it is low and in the front it changes the shape of the uterus and you can hear it and not the baby so well
with a vaginal exam- if there is effacement then it might be felt- unexplained bleeding is the most common way it is found from about 32-37 weeks- also with a low placenta a baby may be breech or in another position because that funnel is filled with a pulsing placenta

my husband was a baby with a complete previa in the 50's they did conservative management- which was to hospitalize mom and put her to be and try to wait until he was bigger and could survive-- back then I think that they looked for fetal blood with a microscope-fetal blood is bigger than adult blood. in any case he was born via-c-section and obviously survived.

[NJ*Doula]

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[mwherbs]

low lying to the back would not be easy to find or hear--- other wise it depends.. sometimes I can hear a placenta sometimes not