Really disappointing news from my u/s

[clovermom]

I had my u/s this morning (I'm 19 wks.) and I have a complete placenta previa (placenta is covering my cervix). So they will monitor with another u/s in 4 wks. Sometimes the placenta will be pulled up as the uterus grows--they couldn't give me any numbers as to how likely this is because it depends on exactly where it is attached and how it moves etc. My mw is waiting to receive the pics which will show if it is a corner of the placenta or the center that is covering the cervix.

Part of me is so disappointed. Out of my only two pregnancies I've ended up with two, random and unavoidable conditions that necessitate a c-sec. All I've ever wanted since long before I ever considered getting pregnant is a beautiful, natural, out-of-hospital birth. Why does my uterus love drama?

But, part of me is strangely calm and at-peace with this. I think it is actually more a feeling of defeat. I mean, I try and try for the birth I want each time but how can you argue with this?

For the time being I'm going to stay with my mw and pray and think positively (try!) that the placenta will move. After the next u/s if it hasn't I will probably switch to an OB. I don't want to be in the same situation I was last time--not having established a care provider when a c-sec became necessary. I guess if it moves after that I could always switch back to her.

I'm so sad. Please, if you're inclined, pray for me that it moves.

PS: Dh and I are buying a Power Ball ticket tonight since I seem to have such great (or not-so-great) odds!

[BathrobeGoddess]

Oh I am sorry! Sending out the move on up placenta vibes!

[heinz28]

I'm praying it moves for you!

[jenr]

With my second pregnancy, my 20 weeks scan showed a placenta previa, but my midwife told me not to worry that they can and usually do move up to 27 weeks. She said after 27 weeks they usually don't move. Mine moved so I was lucky.

Hold out hope for you getting the birth you want.

[My*Scorpio]

Source: Weighing the Risks: What You Should Know About Ultrasound

Location of the placenta. A very low-lying placenta (placenta previa) puts mother and baby at risk of severe bleeding, and usually necessitates a cesarean section. However, 19 out of 20 women who have placenta previa detected on routine prenatal ultrasound (RPU) will be needlessly worried, as the placenta will effectively move upwards as the pregnancy progresses.

[*~Danielle~*]

Hugs. I had complete placenta previa with my first pregnancy. By 28 weeks it had moved up and out of the way. There is hope! As an aside, I had a cesarean anyway...but not because of the placenta previa.

[Fujiko]

(Not in your DDC, but...)



I know what you mean when you say that you're at peace with it. This is the kind of thing that was unforeseeable and there wasn't anything anyone could have done to prevent it, and there is nothing anyone can do to fix it (although odds are good that it will correct itself by itself). I don't know what the conditions of your first c-sec was (I do see twins in your sig though) but after my c-sec I had (and still have) thoughts about all of the what-ifs, and if the c-sec was really necessary. I'll be going for a HBAC for my next baby, but for some reason I know that if something like placenta previa happens, I will feel less stressed because I won't have to worry about it for the rest of the pregnancy and throughout labor, because the decision is already made. Less pressure.

I will pray for your placenta to move. A natural birth is better than a c-section, even if there is more stress.

[nighten]

I'm sorry the ultrasound news wasn't ideal, and I'm very hopeful that your placenta will move up. Everything I've read indicates that there's a much better chance it will at this stage, than it won't. So good luck and am sending thoughts and prayers your way!

[Queen of my Castle]

Oh, mama, that's not the news we hope for, is it? You must be so dissapointed. I hope for your sake that the placenta moves, as others have indicated it might- it would be great for you to get the chance to have that birth you want. Thinking of you!

[AKislandgirl]

Oh Clovermom, I'm sorry for such disappointing news. I hope this changes for you as time goes on. Don't give up yet!

[Devaskyla]

<<Dashe, JS et al. Obstet Gynecol. May 2002. 99(5 Pt 1):692-7

Persistence of Placenta Previa According to Gestational Age at
Ultrasound Detection

Incidence of placenta previa persisting to term when the previa was discovered at x weeks of pregnancy:

15-19 weeks -- 12% persistence to term
20-23 weeks -- 34% persistence to term
24-27 weeks -- 49% persistence to term
28-31 weeks -- 62% persistence to term
32-35 weeks -- 73% persistence to term

Complete previa was more likely to persist than incomplete previa, and prior cesarean was an independent risk factor for persistent previa among those diagnosed in the second trimester.

However, even when previa is present late in pregnancy, about 1/4 still do "move up" and resolve by term.

Not sure why they told you they couldn't give you any numbers, unless they just meant for you specifically & not general numbers.

[Larissa]

I am so sorry to hear that, but it sounds like you have a great shot at your placenta moving.

[MomtoXane]

I would be totally disappointed too! I hope everything works out for you.

[justKate]

: MOVE placenta, MOVE! :

[Citykid]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Clovermom. It sounds from what others have posted that you do have a decent chance of it moving out of the way, and I hope it does. But if it doesn't, you can think about it this way if it helps: that in the "good old days" everyone likes to talk about, this is one of those cases where your baby would not have survived, but yours WILL survive. We are down on c-sections because they are abused (and used abusively) so often. But in cases like placenta previa, it seems to me they are a very good thing.

[LionTigerBear]

Sounds like there's a great chance it will move! I will pray for you that it does.

[clovermom]

Thanks everyone, especially those who posted statistics! I have been taking a class all weekend so really hadn't had a chance to research this at all. Looking at those numbers I do feel more hopeful. We have time on our side so that's a good thing. Thanks also for all the good vibes! I won't know anything until I have another ultrasound in about a month but I will certainly keep you posted.

[mamamelia]

add me to the list of mamas who had complete placenta previa at thier routine scan. my placenta moved well out of the way by the time i had dd (full term), so try not to worry. i had low amniotic fluid with dd (due to suspected PROM) and so it gave me one extra thing to worry about back then. hugs to you mama - i'm sure all will be well in the end! i'll be praying for you too.

[an9elkatie]

I'm sorry! I just prayed that it would move!

[Meg08]

Sending lots of move-placenta-move thoughts your way.