I had an unfortunate incident last week that resulted in a late night ambulance ride and a couple of nights at the local hospital. We found out at the 20 week scan I had a low laying placenta, so although we knew that was the likely cause of a rather large bleed it was still freakin terrifying at the time. Now, I'm not saying all hospitals are evil places, but my experience at this one – my only hospital visit ever – was unfortunately not a positive one. Despite everything being okay I was consistently bullied into transferring my care from my private midwife to their hospital clinic (not a chance) and repeatedly told that my delivery is now an 80% of being a c-section (bullshit) and the need to have ultrasounds once a month (also, bullshit) and threats that after the third bleed (um, if it even happens) I would have to stay in hospital until delivery... and on... and on. Shortly after being admitted a scan showed a healthy baby no longer sitting breech, when I showed a bit of excitement at this – because at my 20 week scan the little bugger was upside down – I was quick to be told not to expect it to stay like that "they move so much early on, you'll probably find it's breech again by the morning". Yup, Nice one, arsehole! Way to make the lady with the bloody pyjamas feel good.
It will come as no surprise that once we (PB, my private midwife and I) felt confident it was safe to leave I discharged myself and hightailed it out of there. Tubes in arm and all.
So I'm taking it a bit easier now and we're all hoping that by 35 weeks the placenta would have moved enough to have a crack at natural birth. Apparently the odds are in my favour!
Oh I hate bad hospital experience, hopefully everything works out & you can have your natural birth, good luck.
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So glad you and bub are okay. Just wanted to chime in and say that my brothers partner just delivered a beautiful healthy boy naturally after being told her whole pregnancy that she would have a scheduled c section because of a low lying placenta. It didn't move until the last couple of weeks - she was booked in for the surgery and everything! There's definitely hope! x
ReplyDeleteOh no! Hope things are better now...i'm sorry that your hospital experience wasn't good but it always goes to trust yourself.
ReplyDeleteOh Anna. This sounds a bit like my pregnancy with Elke. I was told during a scan at 17 weeks that I had a haematoma and my baby would most likely suffocate. I was then told to stay in hospital for 2 days (1000 euros later!) and after the 2nd day they did another scan and realised that this was actually not true. I just had Placenta Praevia! My placenta ended up moving sometime after 32 weeks. But Elke was also lying transverse. She eventually moved at 38 weeks during which time they were mentally preparing me for a c-section. Thankfully it was a natural delivery and all went well...until they realised I had a retained placenta...ah crap. Sorry, my two-cents worth was probably all a bit much for a Wednesday morning!
ReplyDeleteThe bleeding would have been terrifying for you all but I'm glad you and bub are ok. And you're right. The odds are most definitely in your favour. Rest up and take care. xx
Loved your spirit Mama Bear, name speaks for itself :) You know your body better than any of these med care stuff. Good luck with the rest of the journey, I am sure things will go great. Love, Ozge
ReplyDeletePS. There is a German book called "Die Hebamme Sprechstunde" (Midwife Consultation) I wish they would translate it in English. It's such a calming book and changes your perspective for the whole pregnancy and birth. -Which I think very similar to yours..
Thinking of you and wishing you well! I'm crossing my fingers for a natural delivery for you!
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I'd say the odds are definitely in your favor - that's what my doctor (and then midwife when I switched) told me when they found out I had a low lying placenta as well. Both of them said most of the time the placenta will move enough, so it's crummy that the doctors you ran into were so negative and had horrible bedside manners. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you and keep on--I admire your strength and trust in your body, and know you will have a great birth experience. x
ReplyDeleteWhat a yucky hospital experience. Sorry you had to be there. But good for you for sticking to your guns and doing what's best for you and your lil babe. What a strong mama!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your terrible experience at the hospital. I hope everything will be well for you and your little one : )
ReplyDeleteWow, what an experience. I tend to think/feel the same way you do, and am sure everything will be fine with the baby! Have a great summer! xx
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Well done Anna. And isnt it wonderful how constructive anger can be. Take the power back. Yes.
ReplyDeleteThought you might like this. "Confessions of an Obstetrician" Love them OB/GYN whistle blowers. http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?p=844
So glad to hear you and BB no.2 are ok Anna. Take it easy, sending lots of positive energy to you and your belly. x
ReplyDeleteOh Anna, sorry you had such a negative experience. Low lying placenta is so common and in most cases it moves. There are a few yoga positions you can do to encourage it to move, email me if you're interested. Happy to hear you have a wise and nurturing midwife to support you x
ReplyDeletemy baby was posterior and i meditated with him, talked to him about turning, envisioned the birth the way i wanted it to happen. he did turn and i did birth him exactly as i envisioned. sit with your body and your baby...make it happen just as you wish it to be. x
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to write for a while to say congratulations! And I think we're pretty close together - I'm 20 weeks pregnant now :)
ReplyDeleteSorry you had a crap week. Were you at royal north shore by any chance?
x
Oh dear. Blood is the last thing you want to see. . . and as for a hospital and the paid paranoid, you don't want to see them much either. Still plenty of time for things to change and move and for your body to do what it has to. not nice to have those negative seeds of doubt planted though.
ReplyDeletewe must be due about the same time. late april / early may. I'm trying not to get to fixated on a date!
rachel xo
You poor thing. I'm so glad everything is ok.
ReplyDeleteI had a bleed with my first born at about 10 weeks & was told to present at the hospital for an ultrasound to see if I had miscarried. After waiting for HOURS, the guy who did it was a complete arse. He barely talked to me, pressed the ultrsound thing down on my tummy so hard it hurt and swore under his breath the whole time. He really needed a good telling off, but I was feeling far too emotionally vulnerable at the time to do it.
Wishing you a safe and happy pregnancy. Claire
Never fear Anna, I bled almost daily (ultimately never diagnosed!)from before 12 weeks with both of my boys and fought to stay with the midwife care until the end. Was scary with the first, no big ting with the second. Both arrived, one prem and one 37 weeks, no longer in the birth centre but natural and drug free. I heard all worst case scenarios any time I stepped in the hospital, low lying placenta, cervical stitch, c-section .. it was a battle but worth fighting for and almost easy when you feel strongly. And remember you can have an empowering successful birth with mid-wives in the hospital too. Maybe not the home birth you enjoyed with Rosie but your special journey to embrace nonetheless. Good luck xx
ReplyDeleteThinking of you lady, I have very good faith all will be good. Lots of love, xxx
ReplyDeleteit sounds like a terrible experience...the bullying and the stress you had. At 18 weeks, when a low lying placenta is diagnosed the chances are 90% that you will outgrow it. By 30 weeks, if the placenta remains near the cervix it is about a 20% chance. If the placenta is < 1.2-1.8 cm near the cervix near term, then a C/S is usually recc'd because delivering through the placenta is very risky (due to the huge blood loss). Before C/S woman would die from this.
ReplyDeleteI had placenta previa and unfortunately had a C/S as it did not resolve. It sucked but in the end I am just glad to be here and have had a healthy baby to term the way I did. I bled twice, at 29 weeks and 34 weeks...it is scary and especially at 29 weeks they take it serious. I think you should remain optimistic but you should also get maybe one scan around 27-29 weeks to see if the placenta has moved. By then you will have a good idea. I don't know how low lying your placenta is, but if it is complete or marginal then they also do not recc'd sexual activity as this can cause bleeding.
I hope this was helpful...not trying to scare you but as a health care professional myself I have seen many complications...the uterus is very vascular and when things go wrong they go wrong very fast.
I just wanted to add one more comment. It always breaks my heart when people have bad medical experiences, and then all the doctor bashing that goes on. Yes there are a lot of unprofessional professionals out there, but there is also a lot of caring docs. One thing that I have come to realize is that as doctors on the whole, we are biased towards the negative because of our experiences. It's not like the TV shows where there are happy endings... we see terrible crap. I did too. I have seen a woman almost die after giving birth because her midwife did not appreciate the blood loss she had. It wasn't until I had friends who were healthy and saw how normal it is to deliver at home and carry twins to term etc that I could step away from that. Anyways, hang in there Anna, wishing you all the best health.
ReplyDeleteHi from the US! Just wanted to add I also had a low lying placenta with my second pregnancy and outgrew it by the 28 week scan. My doctor told me in all her many years only one woman hasn't, so that helped calm my fears. Think positively about it and Im sure you'll be fine xx
ReplyDeleteI have read your blog for ages. Our daughters are very similar in age and I have loved seeing your little one grow up. I have also been very pro breastfeeding and co-sleeping etc.
ReplyDeleteWas amazed to hear your story of low-lying placenta. As I am now pregnant with number two and due end Feb, but have grade 4 placenta previa. I have always wanted a natural waterbirth, but first baby was frank breech and so had c=section and now with this one there is no chance. I hear lots of stories of the placenta moving. Unfortunately too late for me as 33 weeks and it is complete, but you still have lots of time.
Take care...x
Hey Anna, I've only just read this post now. (I can't believe I missed it at the time!) It's really shitty, shitty news. I've nothing helpful to offer, just focus on the baby I suppose. It'll bring so much love, whichever way it comes into the world. Lots of love xxxx
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