Placenta Previa

Hi everyone.

Sunday, we discovered I have placenta previa.  Today, I am 13 weeks.  I am 40 years old, so I know that my age is a factor (this commonly occurs with pregnant women who are between 30-40 years old).  Has anyone had any experience with this, and what was your outcome?  Obviously, I am concerned, so I would like to hear from anyone who knows first hand or has a friend who when through this. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Darkestlight]

As your grow a lot of times your placenta will move and will no longer be a problem. It's not a big worry unless you are bleeding usually. I was told I have marginal placenta previa at 14wks I believe. Now I 'm 23wks and it appears to have moved some. Only time will tell if it will move enough. Only about 10% of cases of placenta previa that are diagnosed in first and 2nd trimester are that way at birth. It however your placenta doesn't move you will have to have a c-section.

[BabyforLori]

Thanks for your post. I have a few questions for you... Did you have any spotting or bleeding when you first found out?  How long did it last?  Now that your placenta has moved, has the bleeding stopped?

We found out due to the bleeding which began on Sunday.  I am still discharging very small amounts of brown blood and was wondering if this was normal.

[mom627]

I also was diagnosed with partial placenta previa at about 26 weeks, and at the time, the doctor told me not to worry about it and to go about my activities as normal.  Three days later I started hemmorhaging and thought for sure I was going to lose the baby.  I wound up in the hospital for a week, with nothing but doom and gloom that I'll deliver early and that for sure I'll be back with another bleeding episode.  I was put on strict bed rest and have been for the last 4 weeks.  Now I'm nearly 30 weeks and the last u/s showed that the placenta had moved a bit, and now it's marginal.  I'm so relieved, but not out of the woods yet.  I haven't had any more bleeding, but have been very careful (not even picking up my 11 month old son at all) to adhere to doctor's orders.

I think at your stage you should be a little more careful, knowledgeable about what CAN happen, but optimistic that it can move as your baby and uterus grow.  Chances are it will resolve itself and you'll continue on to have a normal delivery.  

Best of luck to you, and take care of yourself!

[BabyforLori]

Thanks to everyone for all of your posts.  I really appreciate the information.  It is very scary to start bleeding in the second trimester - just when you think that everything should be fine.  This really caught me off guard, so I really appreciate your feedback.  Thanks,  :))))))

[Darkestlight]

No, I was lucky. I never bled. They found mine just looking on a ultrasound. A lot of women can bleed brown blood. It just means the blood is old which is good. Since you've already started bleeding I would follow your doctors orders very strictly especially since you are only 13wks and it could be a long road in front of you filled with bed rest and limited activities, not necessarily, but it COULD. I honestly think age has nothing to do with placenta previa since I'm only 21. I would say try to relax and anytime you start bleeding heavily a hospital trip should be in store.

[have 2 kids]

I had placenta previa with my 2nd pregnancy.  I didn't know age had anything to do with it (I was 32)    I had many bleeding episodes through out the pregnancy and premature labor.  

[melaniesmom]

Im late, its september, but I had placenta previa with my baby 3 years ago...I was only 20 and I had it, but when my baby was 6 months old she flipped and so did the placenta. I delivered normal after having said it would be csection, so anything is possible and hope u have the same luck I did....but you CANNOT deliver normal if u still have placenta previa, its dangerous....so make sure with doctors what is going on....they might send u to a specialist at 6-7months....=)