QuestionI am 35 years old and have been blessed with 11 precious children, the oldest being 12. My last 3 births were c-sections (first being due to placenta abruptio during labor and the others because they consider me too high risk for v-bac).
I'm almost 19 weeks along with baby 12 :) At 11 weeks into the pregnancy, I began to bleed...like a very heavy period. We thought we were losing the baby, but the next day, I saw the doctor who did and u/s and said baby was fine, but the placenta tore away a bit. He told me to just rest and a week later he checked and said it looked good.
Then, on the morning of week 17, I woke up soaked in blood...sheets, pjs, legs. Back to the doctor who said another placenta tear and said something about placenta previa.
A week later (18 weeks 3 days) , I was still bleeding (still am...like a regular cycle even though I've been on bedrest) so we saw a different doctor at a good hospital (we live in a small village in Mexico...we are missionaries...so we went to the capitol city).
This doctor told me that I have complete placenta previa. He said the placenta stretches out about equally on both sides of the os. He said the pregnancy is now very risky and there is no chance of the placenta moving.
I got back home and did lots of studying online on pp. My questions:
*Is it possible for the placenta to move?
*Isn't it pretty early to have had bleeds already?
*What are my chances of bleeding more? And will those bleeds be worse?
*We don't live near a hospital that can give blood or care for preemies...it is a very basic clinic in this town. Do we need to think about getting me somewhere where there is better care and if so, by what stage of the pregnancy?
I was very thankful that the baby looks good (a boy). We just are praying and seeking advice.
Thank you,
Jaynee
AnswerJaynee,
You have quite a history. It is very possible that as the uterus grows, the placenta will migrate up as well. I do think it is really early at 11wks to be bleeding already. I think given your history of basically being pregnant for the last 13 yrs, I am sure you don't have the firmest cervix to support another pregnancy. Your body has not had much of a chance to heal itself between pregnancies.
In my opinion, I really think you need to find a high risk hospital that is capable of taking care of you and your baby if you bleed out. You most likely will bleed again. Usually by the third bleed, our OB's will recommend delivery. You are not even viable (meaning a baby that can survive outside utero) yet, so I don't know how much more bleeding you can have and still be able to deliver a healthy baby and mom. I think you should move to a place now before your next bleed. Even though the baby is not viable yet, you have a risk of hemorraging and dying.
Also, most OB doctors will recommend no more babies after 3 c-sections. You run a much higher risk of uterine rupture where the uterus opens at the old scar site.
I wish you luck.
Suzette
