Silent Placenta Abruption - Stillborn

[Drac]

I lost my baby at 8 months due to a silent Placenta Abruption.  It was silent because it did not show on a ultrasound, I had no pain or bleeding.  The blood was hidden between the placenta and uterine wall.  There was no cause found.  I had high blood pressure, but it was controled by Aldamet.  My sugar levels were slightly elevated, but not extreme.  I had increased amnotic fluid.  I also went into DIC.  I had four pints of blood and 4 pints of plasma.  Luckly my bleeding slowed down and after 24 hours I did not have to have an emergancy hystarectomy. Could the amnotic fluid cause apruption?  Do you recommend future pregancies?  What tests should I have run to rule out certain causes?

[TanteMilly]

Oh I am so sorry you're going through this. I'm afraid I don't have any information for you, but I wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you.

Shelley

[capermom]

OMG, Drac, it must have been terrible. My heart goes out to you. I can't imagine... I just can't. Take care of yourself and good luck in the future.

[StephW]

I'm sorry but I can't answer any of your questions.  Talk to your doc about these concerns and also search the internet on that and compare notes.  That may help calm some of your nerves.

My, no OUR thoughts and prays are with you and your family.  Come and post anytime you need support or just want to vent.  Get plenty of rest and take care of yourself.

[nurse12hr]

I am so sorry for your loss; stillbirth is one of the most tragic events imaginable.

Almost ALL of your medical conditions can lead to abruption and stillbirth.  Hypertension and increased amniotic fluid most notably.  

DIC is a horrible, life threatening complication of stillbirth that can kill the mother.  I am so glad you survived this whole ordeal.

You should be watched carefully for hypertension both now, and during future pregnancies.  The extra amniotic fluid is a condition that would not necessarily recur, depending on the cause.  You are at a higher risk of recurrance of the gestational diabetes, also.

You will no doubt receive EXTREMELY close scrutiny during future pregancies, including the use of non stress testing during the last 6 weeks or so.  I know MANY mothers who have had stillborn children who go on to have healthy pregnancies next time around.

My deepest sympathies, and if I can answer any more questions for you, let me know.

[Still_AndiJ]

I agree with Christie on everything. And I can let you know that both my mother and aunt went on to deliver healthy babies the next time around (both wasted no time and had babies within 18 months).

Andrea

[Drac]

Thank you for your help.

I would like to add that the Friday before this happened I went in due to decreased fetal movememnt.  When I went into the emergancy room her heartbeat was fine.  I started to have contractions, but they gave me something to stop them.  The nurse told me that her movements were fine and heartbeat fine and I could go home.  Was that a sign that she could have been Saved?

This has been so hard.  I miss Gracie horriably.  We have no children and want children badly.  Do you know of someone who had abruption and went on to have healthy children?  I would like to know.

Thanks to EVERYONE who has commented.  The support is helpful.

[4CHASE]

WE ARE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. WE, TOO, LOST OUR SON DUE TO COMPLICATIONS FROM PLACENTA ABRUPTION. HE LIVED FOR 12 DAYS, THEN DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS FROM EATING. HE DEVELOPED NEC, (NECROTIZING ENTERCOLITIS) WHICH IS COMMON AMONG PREEMIES. HE WAS 8 1/2 WEEKS EARLY,AND WEIGHED 3 LBS, 11 OZ. WE HAVE ANOTHER SON, WHO IS 7 YRS. OLD. WE, TOO, WONDER IF THIS IS VERY LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I'VE FOUND IT SEEMS IT'S ALL IN WHO YOU WANT TO BELIEVE. IF YOU WISH TO TALK TO ME MORE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. TAKE CARE.

[Elle24]

I know how you feel, although my life was not at as much risk as yours was.

I lost me Samuel in the 2nd trimester at only 23.6 weeks due to a placental abruption. The doctors say this is not common in the 2nd trimester.  I was not at high risk for this, but now I will be if we try to have another one because I have been told there is between a 10 and 20 percent chance of it happening again.  My first born was only 10 months old when I became pregnant again.  He was delivered by ceasarean.  Do you or anyone else know of women who had a placental abruption the 2nd time around when the pregnancies were less than 2 years apart or who had a ceasarean delivery?  Our beautiful little Sam was 1 and half pounds and 13 inches long.  He was a silent birth.
We still would like to have another one, but all we can do is hope and pray.  I have heard and read that many still have healthy babies after a placental abruption.  Keep your faith.

[ashort]

I know someone I believe had an abruption at 8 months...it was actually her second pregnancy.  She said that they didn't know what caused it.  She hasn't had any children since...not because of that though.  I wish I knew more about it but I really don't.  Her's wasn't silent though...she just started bleeding a lot.  She went to the hospital and they delivered the baby during an emergency c-section.  I' m so sorry for you loss and wish you all the best!

[Trialanderror]

Oh this is so awful for you. My best friend had this, however the stillbirth happened earlier at month 5. It must be devastating at 8 months. The same friend, though had a perfect pregnancy and birth before and after. Wishing you the all the best. There are some emotional support websites, on one of them parents place poems and prayers for their lost ones. You never really heal from this but you`re not alone.

[momin Nebraska]

I lost my son at 38 weeks. He weighed 7lbs.8ozs.. I too almost lost my own life. I had 16 pints of blood transfused that night and had to have a partial hystorectomy. This has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through. The only thing that has saved my sanity is my two sons that I had prior to this tradgity. I had no warning signs of what was about to happen to me. I was induced with the births of my other two boys, so when I started feeling what I thought was the on set of labor, it was actually me hemorraging to death. I love my other sons to death, but I long every day for that baby I never got to take home. He would be 5 years old this year and starting kindergarden. I am sorry for anyone that has to go through this.

[rosie1600]

I too lost my son at exactly 36 weeks. I had a normal pregnancy until I started to bleed with cramps. I went to ER and there was not heart beat. I had my contractions induced and had him vaginally. I also was able to hold him for the complete day. It was the worst day of my life. At least you know what caused the stillbirth, I up to now have no answer. I have a 7 year old son and after my little angel in Nov. 2005 I did have a blighted ovum. I am currently trying to get pregnant but so far nothing.
My doctor did tell me that stillbirth babies are so common. I never knew how common it was until it happened to me.

[momin Nebraska]

I am so glad you got to hold and see your' son. I had my son by c section and with me being in such a critical condition, I was totally under. I had to be transported to a bigger hospital that was more equipted to handle my medical needs, so I never got the chance to hold or even see him until the funeral. I then oppted to not view him. I was too affraid that I would not be able to handle it and I didn't want to break down in front of everyone. I didn't want their pitty, I wanted my baby. I also had to be strong for my other two boys' who at that time were 6 and 1 years old. For who ever reads this, if this ever happens to you, which I hope it never, ever does, hold your baby, spend as much time with them as possible. It will help you heal.

[Galia982]

Hi. I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I had a totally unexpected placental abruption when I was 36 weeks. My baby died and laso had DIC . I received 10 Unitsof red blood cells,and fresh frozen plasma . It happened a month ago and I miss my baby so much... it is hard to get on with life so I understand you very well. Support groups are very important . I joined one online.
You are right about seeing the baby. I had the chance to do this and I will never forget my sweet angel.

[masmama]

I, too, had a placental abruption.  My baby was overdue at 42 weeks and my amniotic fluid was low, so I was admitted to the hospital to be induced.  My pregnancy was normal, the baby was healthy, and I had no risk factors for placental abruption.  I labored for 12 hours, but during the last two hours there were signs of fetal distress that were not acted upon.  By the time an emergency c-section was called, it was too late.  Our baby was born alive, but on death's doorstep.  Her brain had been destroyed by oxygen deprivation -- she lost all her blood inside me when the placenta separated from my uterus.  She lived for six hours, and died in our arms.  This was three months ago, one month before yours.  I miss her every moment of every day.  We have a friend whose sister had a placental abruption with her first pregnancy and went on to have a healthy baby, and is now pregnant again.  I hope to get pregnant again and have a living child to love before long, but I know that nothing will ever bring our beautiful baby girl back and that I will miss her forever.

[laurakeefe605]

I lost my son at 18 weeks due to placenta abruption. I don't know how to go on.....He was a twin and I lost him by miscarriage 5 weeks earlier.....did the death of the first twin cause the placenta abruption?? I just cant cope!

[didididi]

I lost my son due to abruptio placneta on 29th Jan ,2008 at 20 weeks of pregnancy. I had a very healthy pregnancy until I started spotting at 18 weeks. The doctors could not find any cause. I have a 3 yrs old daughter and she was born by c-sec. Do you think that that might be the cause of the abruption? My doctor told me I can try for next pregnancy after my first period and he ordered some test for blood clotting disorder. He told me if I have any disorder then he would put me on baby asperin during my next pregnancy. I want to wait to try for next pregnancy until June 27th, his due date.

[lizzy69]

I to had a placenta abruption.I went in to the er it was on the exact due date.I started to spot so i went in.I had a total of 3 bleedings throughout my pregnancy,but only 1 being very heavy bleeding.But they always told me everthing was fine,and i knew in my heart it wasnt going to be ok.My son was in fetal distress since i arrived in the hospital and they took almost 3 hours for them to decide to do a emergency csection.My son almost lost his life and so did i.He was deprived of oxygen so due to that he has brain damage.Fortunately he survived but he has alot of challenges ahead.He is 15 months old cant sit,crawl or walk but i thank god everyday hes with me and i feel blessed having him in my life.

[Jess1986]

I also lost my son to placenta abruption at 34 weeks I had no signs just one day I had a bit of back pain then went to go to the toilet when I heard a pop and blood started pooring out of me.I went to the hospital and there they did a ultrasound and found that my son Lincoln had died. I was rushed into surgury to have a emergancy csection and had to have 2 blood transfusions and a hystorectomy I was wondering if anyone knows if there was test they could have done to prevent this I just wanted some answers I have a 2 year old son and had pre eclamsia with him when I was pregnate.

[boosty]

oh my God, i have no advice or anything. i just wanted to say that i am so sorry for your loss and that you are going through this. i am now eight months pregnant and it hurts my heart so bad to hear what youre going through. i am sorry. keep strong.

[bexxy]

i lost my daughter due to a placental abruption on the 28th may of this year. i was 38 weeks pregnant. my whole pregnancy was going fine, until the night of the 27th of may, when all of a sudden I got severe abdominal and back pain, started throwing up, was so lightheaded and dizzy I could barely walk and I was covered in sweat. I called an ambulance, and they took me to the hospital, but told the staff that were on that I was just "exaggerating the pain of labour". I told them I was definitely not in labour, as I've been in labour before and know what it's like. After I had been at the hospital for about half an hour, they did a couple of examinations and determined that I was definitely not in labour. Even though they knew I wasn't in labour, and I was in so much pain and vomiting and all that, they still did nothing. They left it two hours before checking the fetal heart rate, and they did pick one up, it was 118 bpm. A few minutes after they did that, blood started gushing out of my vagina. A code blue medical emergency was called over the PA, and about 10 doctors ran in and rushed me to theatre for c-section. When I woke up, I was told my daughter had died. I was also told I was at a different hospital, and that I had been in an induced coma for about 24 hours. I had to have 18 blood transfusion, and lots of fresh frozen plasma. I was only given a 20% chance of survival.
The OB said if the c-section had been done as soon as I arrived at the hospital, my daughter could be alive and I wouldn't have been so unwell. "Poor judgement call" is the explanation I got.

[OlinCrouch]

Hi. My name is Olin. I  am a 30 year old man living in Largo,Fl. My girlfriend and I lost our first son 3 days before his due date. She just started compaining about being ill one  night and started throwing up. We then agreed she should go to the hospital because she thought she was going into labor because of abdominal pains. When we arrived at the hospital ER,  they took her to the labor/delivery room..They then discovered his heart was beating at 30 beats per minute, very low, and ordered an immediate C-section. They tried to save him for 20 minutes they told us after he was taken out of her body. But it was too late.. We are still waiting for answers as this happened recently, the first thing they checked was too see if my girlfriend had been using cocaine,, of course that test was negative. so, i feel for everyone here on this site.. Tomorrow is our sons memorial service.. He was a very beautiful child at 6 lbs 11 ounces and we took pictures and got to spend the day with him in my girlfiends recovery room. .. He looked like Mama and had my chest.. We are very heartbroken.. Thanks for reading and thank you everybody for sharing your story.. God Bless You all.. Olin

[ru16]

Im 38weeks pregnant and lost my son due to placental abruption..

[Tracy45]

I lost my son Liam due to placenta abruption on the 14.12.09. I fell over on the 07.12.09 and went to a and e they checked the heart beat and said every thing was ok and sent me home.I am still waiting for the placenta to come back to see if that can give me any answer to why this happend but i think they should of give me a scan and this would have should that the placenta had started to come away. I was 38 weeks he was born silently and weighed 6 pound 4

[Samantha446]

Hi:

I am 23 weeks pregnant and was told by my doctor I have placenta abruption. I have been put on bed rest but he has made it seem like this is not a big problem. After reading all the comments I am scared that maybe they aren't doing enough. He even let me go on vacation. I am not sure what to do? Does  anyone have any suggestions?

[Annice1234]

they can't do anything to stop it.  bedrest is your best bet.  i was told by a perinatologist that he didn't  think bedrest would do anything but take the guilt off of me if something happened.  i was on bedrest for 2 weeks before he told me this, and then i went off of it.  i had my baby at 22 1/2 weeks and he was right...now i wonder what would have happened if i had stayed on bedrest.  i probably would have still had him early, but you never know...
at least adhere to pelvic rest.  no heavy lifting (not even another child if you have one)..and no sex.  
i was only told to do that a few days before i had my little boy.  
at least you're already farther than i made it.  
make sure they follow you closely.  rush to the er if you start bleeding badly.  

[Samantha446]

Dear Annice:

Thank you so much for your reply. How are you doing?  When you found out about haveing PA did they tell you if it was mild, moderate or severe? I think I need to be even more careful then what I have been. It is so dishearting to know there really is nothing you can do to stop this from happening. Did you have any signs or warning before you went into labor? I am 42 years old and have never heard of this before until now. I have two kids ages 22 and 16, but this is my second husbands first baby and I am pretty sure that if I lose Tristan I won't be able to have another one. The hardest part is I am so attached. My heartaches for all the women that have been through this. I will make sure that the doctors monitor me more closely and I even heard there is a hormone I can take that can help stop miscarriage. They can also give me steroids to help build up his lungs so if he is born early then his lungs will be more developed.  At this point I will do anything.

[Annice1234]

yes, they can give you steroids.  i think they should.  unfortunately, my pregnancy wasn't even considered "viable" yet, so I wasn't even able to get steroid shots.  They were going to start them at 23 weeks...
I started bleeding at 16 weeks.  I would pass HUGEEEEEEEEEEE blood clots!!  The golf ball sized ones became (is that a word??haha) small to me.  The first time I passed one, I thought it was the baby!  I had no idea. Anyway, it took 4 ultrasounds by 4 different people for them to finally find out what was wrong.  I think they thought it would clear up, but finally started getting worried when I was still bleeding (actually even worse) and pass clots a month later.  I would soak through pads...that got normal to me and I quit going to the ER.  I got many ultrasounds though and things looked good despite this huge blood clot at the edge of the placenta.  YOu can't see everything on ultrasound though.  Anyway, I finally went to the ER the last time becuase I was having contractions.  There was nothing they could do to stop them because I was contracting because I was bleeding...and the bleeding made me contract more.  What a c r appy cycle.  I literally started bleeding to death..it looked like a war zone in there.  After getting blood transfusions..4 units..they finally had to take the baby, or they couldn't guarantee my survival.  The good news is...he's ALIVE..and 6 months old!  Born at 1 lb 2 ounces, and is now almost 11 lbs.  He's got some problems...but is doing VERY well considering...
Apparently weeks 24 to 26 are hugeee if you can make it that far.  Those are very important developing weeks.  But every day at this time is important too.  
I had a really bad case...apparently they aren't all that bad.  
I will keep you and your baby in my prayers.  
Keep us posted.  

[Samantha446]

Dear Annice:

I am so glad to hear that your baby survived and you are both doing well. I just learned yesterday that what I have is moderate and it sounds like yours was severe. They keep telling me the same thing about the pregnancy being viable at 24 weeks, so I will go next week when I am 24 weeks for another ultrasound to see if it has gotten worse or not and to discuss the steroids. I thank you so much for your story, to hear all of what you went through and for your baby to survive gives me hope! I needed that! I will keep you posted on the developments. Thank you for taking time to talk to me about this. I so appreciate it.

[jtoy]

i lost a baby girl in june of 1993 due to plecenta abuption , it was 4 days before the due date i was devastated , there was nothing they could do because i had an ultrasound 1 week before and nothing was detected , when it happened it was like a water balloon poping , i still have nightmares about it and the babys father wasnt very supportive emotionally

[hisbabygrl]

I am 26 weeks with my only baby grl. I have three boys and the dr's said this was my last shot  becasue of how thin my uterus is and a slight window.. My placenta is actually right above the window and the Dr said that  their was a smll amout of it hanging over the window.. After reading all your stories I am sooo scared that something will happen to my sweet girl.. I have pretty much put myself on bedrest but with a 5 year old an a 2 yr old and a 15m it's not that easy... The other night I went to the hospital and they did their contration monitor and her heart rate was great when she would stay on the monitor but I'm soo worried that something will go wrong...

I am soo Sorry for all of you that have lost their babies... My heart brakes everytime I read about it at any stage it has to be hard but at a viable stage that someone could have done something has to be the worst... My thoughts and prayers are with you guys.. I'm here if anyone needs to talk..

[minnewk]

I lost my little boy due to placenta abruption at 34 weeks. He weighed 4lbs. 8ozs.  It was terrible and I almost lost my life.  I had six pints of blood but I was lucky to avoid a hysterectomy.  I was 24 when it happened and it was my first pregnancy.  They could never determine what caused the abruption because I saw the dr. 12 hours before it happened and he said everything was good.  Needless to say the dr. felt very guilty and stayed at the hospital all day.  So I waited 2 and a half years before I got pregnant again.  The pregnancy was very nerve racking and I used the same dr. that I had gone to in the previous pregnancy.  Towards the end we did a stress test twice a week and he even sent me to see a high risk dr. once.  He induced me at 37 weeks and now I have a healthy 8 month old daughter!  

The loss of a child is indescribable.  My life went from expecting my first child to back to life before the baby.  It is absolutly terrible and I wish that no one had to feel that kind of pain.  I will never know my son and I can't help but fill robbed.  

I am lucky to have my daughter and hopefully one day I will have a little boy!

[tinyt924]

I lost my baby 2 weeks ago to placental abruption.  I was 32 weeks.  I had problems with my blood pressure but it was being controlled with aldamet.  Around 12 am I got this sharp pain in my stomach and I was going to the bathroom when I felt the blood running down my leg.  I went to the hospital and the doctor on call said she had to get me to the OR.  I was put under , when I was coming from under the anesthesia, I asked my husband about the baby and he told me he did not make it.  This has been the hardest thing for me .  I have a beautiful 3 yr old daughter, but I am  very afraid to try to have another baby.

[ilovemyangel2009]

im sorry for your losses i know how the feels i lost my lil baby girl at 25 weeks due to a silent placenta abruption w no amniotic fluid my ob n my perinatologist said they don't know the cause since is very rare that i did not have no symptons and overall it was my first pregnancy and i was fine, all test were normal my last u/s was at 18 weeks which it was normal so i don't understand what happened. what got me to the hospital is that i did not feel my daughter move but when i got there she did not have a heartbeat and the was the worst day of my live. the pain is like no other i have to live with it and it just soo hard. my life just flip around in seconds. i had a csection and my dr said the blood was behind the placenta. n im reading all this stories and placenta abruptions are common i means it happens to more than 1%. i think about her every second of every day wishing she was here this month on the 27th is going to be 6 months but it feels like yesterday. Now im 13 weeks pregnant again and scared!   My prayers are with you guys!

[ridikas]

So sorry for your loss. I lost my son two weeks ago. he was 24 weeks. the autopsy shows that I might have had placental abruption since there was a blood clot. I had no symptoms that something was wrong, I was not in a risk group, my blood work came back fine. It is just unexplainable how this could have happened. This loss killed me, I ma a broken person.

[Sue3520]

I'm so sorry for all your loses.  I lost baby Bianca on the 19 Sep 09 one day after her due date to placenta abruption.  I was being prepared for a planed c-section (due to my high blood pressure and three failed attempts of inducing).  They were monitoring Bianca's heart rate all was fine one second the it dropped to 20 then nothing I thought she had moved but they could not find it.  Our Doctor wheeled us into theater it was to late.
We were able to have a few days with her that time I will treasure and I am so grateful for this time with her.
It has been so hard I just want to hold my little girl, some days I don't no how I can go on.  
I am scared of another pregnancy but desperately want to have another baby.

[alison666666]

hi im so sorrry to hear about all your loses i lost our beutiful baby daughter scarlett march 1st 2009 i find it hard to talk about but please email me on msn me at ***@**** i wish you all the strengh in the world xxxx