Seeking Moms Who Have Had Placenta Privia Before.

Dear H.,

I was diagnosed with placenta previa at about 13 weeks and was put on bedrest at 15 weeks after an incident of heavy bleeding. After 5 weeks of bedrest, the placenta "moved" and I hard a normal, vaginal delivery. However, the OB who diagnosed my previa was sure I had a complete previa and scheduled me for a C-section at only 20 weeks. Fortunately, the previa had resolved by then, and the OB examining my ultrasound (not my original doc.) advised me to get right out of bed and start working out. Needless to say, I switched practitioners at that point. I had a normal, vaginal delivery and gave birth to a beautiful, healthy little boy. I DID have a retained placenta following my son's birth, but thanks to a very experienced, very persistent midwife, I was able to avoid surgery. My placenta was just a lemon all the way through!

Oh, and while I was on bedrest, some of my blood tests indicated a good possibility of Down syndrome. If you've had any bleeding, a false-positive for Downs is actually a decent likelihood, since the bleeding lowers your hCG levels, and low HcG is an indicator for Downs.

I hope that's helpful. I did a bunch of research on previas while I was on bedrest, so I may be able to answer additional questions if you have them.

1 mom found this helpful

i have 2 girls, 15 yrs and 10 yrs. the first i had a low lying placenta and it moved and she was born vaginally. the second was placenta previa and you MUST have a c-section because the placenta is at the bottom of the uterus and there is no place for the baby to come out vaginally. some people are in the hospital, some bleed a bit. i bled for a couple of days and then delivered at 35 1/2 weeks. the one thing i would definitely recommend after a c-section is the next day to have a suppositiory. this will help to get rid of all the gas that is building up and you will feel a million times better.
i watched the birth as i did the vaginal one as well.
good luck and talk to your obgyn about it all. that should hopefully help to ease your mind a bit.
hope what i said was helpful, good luck.

H.,
I had placenta previa early on in my pregancy with twins. I did not go on bed rest and pretty much went on with my life as usual. It went away later in my pregnancy and din't give me any problems. I was already going to have a caesarian because of the twins but it didn't have anything to do with the previa. I was stressed out about it when I was diagnosed but it turned out to be fine. I have a friend that went through the same thing. Hers lasted longer but she delivered without any complications.

I had PP w/my 2nd son - he was born June 12th this yr. I didn't know I was pregnant til about 14 wks - I was on the mini-pill, Camila, and weaned my older son from nursing right around his 1st bday (Oct.1st). Anyway the 1st wk of Nov. I started having what I thought was my period returning (since I weaned my son) - the cramps, spotting, then a heavier flow - but then it lasted for over a month. I figured my body was regulating itself, going back to "normal"...anyway it was PP but honestly it was, as the dr said, "marginal," which meant it was slightly in the way and most certainly would move up and out of the way by the end of the 2nd trimester. Still, it was a scary thought, to have to have a c section...i think it's hard not to worry, but as long as your dr. lets you know the degree of the PP and makes sure to have periodic ultrasounds to check on the placenta's location, you should be fine. Mine moved out of the way, and the dr. made sure to have me do extra ultrasounds just to be safe and sure. It was worth the extra $20 for the peace of mind. good luck to you!!

Hi H.,
I was diagnosed with placenta privia early in my 1st pregnancy. I prepped myself to have a c-section and by 25 or so weeks it moved up and no longer had to have one (well at that time, I ended up with one for other reasons). I never had to go on bedrest or any kind of restrictions. Hope you have a healthy pregnancy!

K.

Hi H.,
Congratulations on your baby due in June! I had placenta privia too. I can't guarantee that your experience will be like mine as every pregnancy is different, but I didn't have bed rest, or a c-section. As a matter of fact, I don't think I had any restrictions at all. Maybe not to lift heavy stuff, but it's a good idea not to do that anyway when your pregnant. It went away on it's on - can't remember when. I'm sure you'll be fine, good luck!

mine also went away by I think by 5 months. Dont get too worried about it. I hear it normally goes away.

Was on bedrest before I was diagnosed for other reasons.
Stayed on bedrest throughout pregnancy. Delivered vaginally. Placenta moved enough for me to deliver.
Hopefully, your doctor discussed with you scenarios that
could be of concern. Good luck.

I had it with my last two pregnancies and it did not go away. I had the second baby two weeks prior to due date b/c I hemorraged. I lost 50% of my blood. The third baby was born two months prematurely and was healthy. I did not go on bed rest and believe that it resulted in the hemorraging in both pregnancies. I would REALLY take it easy b/c you cannot go by my experience or another person's experience who made it to full term. Each body is different. Don't risk it-it's mot worth it.I too was diagnosed at 4 months for each pregnancy. My last pregnancy was partial and developed into full previa. Relax and enjoy that beautiful baby growing inside of you. If it turns around-great, then you can go back to business as usual.

I had it w my now 12 year old son. I was diagnosed around 12-16 weeks. I was put on bed rest for 2 weeks then bleeding happened again 2 more times the last time being the scariest cause of the amount of blood but after2 weeks of bed rest I finally was ok. My Hcg levels weren't & I got a false positive for Trisomy 13 a genetic abnormality. I had natural birth w/ him & my 3 year old daughter. With my 2 month old I had an unscheduled c-section but not from the previous P.P. Insist ur doctor get ultrasounds done b4 any early csections though. I hope that helps!

H.
I had partial placenta privia at 20 weeks and it resolved by 28 weeks. I asked for an ultrasound at 28 weeks bc I wanted to know it was gone and prepare for natural childbirth. From what I can read/research 90% of women who are diagnosed with it in the 2nd trimester it resolves by the third. Dont stress. I was never put on bed rest. Good luck!

R.

I had placenta previa diagnosed early on - probably around 16-20 weeks with all 3 of my children. One still had it in the way 3 weeks before the due date. With all 3 it moved out of the way and I didn't have to do anything because of it. Later in the pregnancy if it is still there, I believe there are exercises you can try to get it to move. In the meantime, try to stay calm and positive.

Yes, I have been twice diagnosed with Placenta Previa at 16 weeks. My current pregnancy I was diagnosed at 16 weeks and found at 20 1/2 weeks the placenta previa was gone. Needless to say I am so happy and thankful and am looking forward to having a wonderful remainder of my pregnancy with no stress. A large amount of placenta previas go away - infact many doctors will not even tell you at the 16 week apppointment because so many go away by 20 weeks. Unfortunately with my first pregnancy this was not the case. I still had a full placenta previa at 20 weeks. My doctors told me not to worry, most of them move up and to stop working out, pelvic rest, etc but that I was fine to keep working and living a normal day to day life. They would reassess the situation with another ultrasound at 28 weeks and see if it had moved. Well... I never made it to my 28 week appointment. At exactly 28 weeks, the day before I was due for my next ultrasound I began bleeding. Again, I was told with most placenta previas you can usually have 3 bleeds before you have to deliver via c-section. Again, unfortunately for me, this was not the case. I hemmoraged and had an emergency c-section with my first son. Fortunately with the wonderful advances in premature care I now have a have a beautiful, completely healthy 3 year old son. I do not tell you this story to scary you but only that if, after your 20 week ultrasound, you still have a full placenta previa - be very careful. Don't lift anything, don't work out, don't have sex, etc. I was extremely careful but think I still did a little too much. My doctors made me not worry as much as I wish they would have. It is very serious but again very dealable if you watch what you are doing. I do know of people that have gone on bedrest and I don't necessarily think this is a bad idea but modified bed rest. I think you can do things but not go overboard. Good luck!

Hello H.,
I have a 4 year old boy and had a normal vaginal delivery and now having my 2nd child. I too have been diagnosed with it at 19 weeks and was told the same thing. However, they are being hopeful that it will move and at my 22 weeks appt on 12/31, they will confirm. Are you on bed rest as of now? As of right now I am not on bed rest and pray for things to have changed at that time. But overall I want what's best for the baby. Please keep me posted and I will do the same.

I had it diagnosed at 16 weeks, it resolved by week 28. The only thing I could not do was lift heavy things and have sex, otherwise life went on as normal and I did not hve a C-section.

Yes, I was diagnosed with PP at 20 weeks- it went away! No bed rest... as my belly expanded, the placenta moved-up! I had a c-section, but for a different reason. If it doesn't move, you will need a c-section, but keep in mind that it's all about your health and safety and the well-being of your little one!!

I had placenta previa and it went away by itself.