Stage 2 Placenta at 34 Weeks

You have nothing to worry about. My pregnancy with my older son was identical to your situation. I had a 2 vessel cord,my placenta was aging rapidly, and I had NST done twice a week. I ended up being put on bed rest at 37 weeks and induced at 38 weeks. I have to admit, it was kinda nice being pampered for the last week! My son was a healthy 6lb 11oz screaming bundle of joy. The more you stress about it, the harder it will be to enjoy the whole experience, and really, in the end will make your delivery much harder. If your doctor was worried, he would have you on bed rest,and even if you do end up in bed, just enjoy it. You won't be getting much rest soon enough.

Relax. everything will be fine.

Congratulations! I just wanted to let you know that my first son was born at 33 weeks and the second at 35 weeks and although they had to stay for an extended hospital visit, they are both thriving and reaching milestontes! Good luck and try not to worry too much -- it sounds like you have a doctor that is really on top of the problem and is not going to induce or rush into anything too quickly!

J.

You are going to worry no matter what, you are a new mom to be. It is perfectly normal to worry. Just listen to your body, you know it best. If something doesn't feel right, it most likely isn't. If you have only a two cord vessel, is that in the umbilical cord? My daughter was born with only two, she is now almost 13.It is not easy to be a mom when the Dr. says we have to watch things, Just keep faith in your ability to know your own body and your feelings. My daughter did have medical problems but I'm not sure if you are experiencing the same things. My daughter did not move much in the womb, I never did feel her move. I just kept telling the Dr. there was something wrong, when she was born there was the confirmation. Let me know how things go.

J.

Something that might help is to know that girls generally develop faster than boys. My sister at 36 weeks delivered boys that were totally healthy. For some reason she always delivers that week. So if it helps take it a week at a time. 37 weeks is considered full term and babies born at 36 weeks don't always stay in the NICU. I know that you are going to worry and it will be hard these next few weeks to relax. So maybe get some good comedies that you love to watch talk the ears off your girlfriends and husband. Do whatever helps you feel relaxed and know that beautiful baby is almost here and you are going to be a mom. Good Luck and my heart is with you.

You are close enough to the end that you shouldn't be worring to much. My last of 4 I was on tributaline and about 3 other medications alternately for almost 6 months with bed rest the whole time wondering if I was going to stay pregnant long enough to hold my baby. Being a first time for you, yes it can be scary the whole unknown stuff, but relax enjoy because you will not be able to do this for a very long time after your baby is born. I'm not sure there is anything you can do to keep the placenta from going into stage 3, but relaxing or "being lazy" is good for the placenta. Don't just sit (that is bad for your leg veins), but sitting in a recliner at it's most layed back stage works nice. Listen to your body and even though you have never done this before, your body will figure it out and you just need to follow those instincts.

K., I had issues with my amniotic fluid level and had to go in for NST and AFI (ultrasound measuring level of fluid) twice a week for the last 3 months of my pregnancy. Sometime around my 30th week they found that my placenta was at stage 2 also. It can apparently hit that level and stay there for quite some time. You probably have nothing to worry about. Be thankful that you have a doctor that sounds like he is going to stay on top of this though and watch you! As hard as it is, try not to worry! And load up on fluids!

The doctor is monitoring your condition. Really, worst case is that you go into labor and deliver early, right? Babies born at 34 weeks are generally quite healthy and don't need a lot of time in the hospital (lungs are the main thing now). And it sounds like your doctor thinks that she'll wait a bit longer before coming. Stress and worry will make things worse, so try to just relax and have faith.

Try not so worry about something you cannot do anything about. Pay attention to the signs your body is giving you and call your doctor if you are worried. But I would suggest trying to stay calm for your child and also make sure you are eating as healthy as possible. If your placenta is aging quicker you need it to get all the most healthy nutrients to the baby it can. If you only give it healthy ones thats all that can pass. Enjoy your time as a new mom I have a daughter and it is great! New Daddies are so sweet with little girls!

Hi K., Congrats on your first baby! I don't have any experience in your situation but I can offer you some advice that I live by. Stay on top of what is going on, write down what the doc says and hold him to it. Remember to relax, undue stress is never good for unborn baby. Don't freak yourself out by reading all kids of articles about it on the internet from all kinds of untrustworthy sites. I usually go to WebMD to try and get answers or pregnancy.com. They are legit sites and it is in leman's terms. Good luck to you! Don't worry. Practice deep breathing.

I would really consider getting a second opinion. Tributaline is nasty stuff and can cause a ton of other issues. If you are not feeling the contractions and your not dilating then I really doubt you need it. The fact that the ultrasound says grade 2 is suspisous to me... ultrasounds are pretty unreliable. I differ from popular opinion of 'trust your doctor, he knows best' I would really do some research for yourself and look into speaking with another doctor. I just had a client come to me a few months back and her doctor had told her that she WAS going to lose her baby by the next week (and she was pretty far along) we put her on an herbal tincutre and it completely took care of the problem and she had a full term chunky little baby girl!!
So all that said... do some research, and don't be scared, listen to your body.
HTH,
S.

I just had a baby in December with almost same problem. They were so worried they took him c-section at 37 weeks but he was only charting growth wise at 35 weeks. Good news is he is very healthy, he was just small. He just hit 10lbs and is right on track. Truly, if your doc says to go early...36 -37 weeks then do it!! She will be just fine. The longer she stays in with low nutrition is bad, at least that is what I understood. It is better to deliver vaginal due to squeezing the lungs or something... I forget. But we had to have csection for other reasons. The risks are greater the longer you carry. Congratulations and Sleep when she sleeps! TRUST ME!