Re: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta
Hi, Not sure how 'they' can tell how long a baby is??!! Anyway...for a little hope, I have a friend, my daughters dance teacher, that was diagnosed with 3rd degree placenta previa. She had to stop all activity and be on bed rest for whatever reason at about 30 weeks. I said to her to not give up hope as anything is possible and to visualise the placenta moving etc. She was pretty upset and said, no no, they have told me it can't move I was so worried about her as they booked her in for a c-scetion at 38 weeks, just incase she ruptured. That was last year and I hadn't seen her for a while. Here is the best part..I saw her a couple of months ago, both of us with babes in slings, and I asked how it went?? She said that she chose to have an ultrasound just before the csection, placenta had moved and a week later she had a wonderful 2 hour birth at home!!! So, 'they' are not always right, nor willing to be wrong..and things can change, even at the last minute. Love Abby Kelly @ BellyBelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Can anyone offer any words of wisdom for this lovely lady in my forum? I would have thought if it's 2cms away from the cervix it would be okay? So I thought I better ask to be sure before I reply: Hi girls As I've discussed with a couple of you, I've had the same issue and unlike most placentas (my ob says he hasn't seen one move far enough in almost a decade) mine didn't get a wriggle on at all and is barely over 2 cm away from the cervix. It's hardly moved since it was diagnosed at 12 wks. Given that the uterus has grown by oodles seems unfair that the placenta couldn't manage another cm, but there you have it... I asked him a few questions like does that mean it's more 'embedded' into the uterus, which means other complications, etc, but he told me he doesn't think so. Part of my problem might be my uterus hasn't been stretched as much 'cause neither I nor the baby are very big, it's posterior, rather than anterior and they are less likely to move and it's also 'long', whatever that means in medical speak. Really, there's no explanation and I'm just odd. So I'm booked in for a c/s next Friday 10 March. There's no way my ob thinks the 10 cm dilation of the cervix could happen without tearing away a longish portion of the placenta from the wall of the uterus and Lucy's head isn't down further than the placenta either so it would probably be coming out first = emergency c/s. If someone medical is around or someone who has some more info, how have you seen other cases like this handled? Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, http://www.bellybelly.com.au/ BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support BellyBelly Birth Support - Click Here -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta
The gentlebirth archives have great info on PP from it's overdiagnosis to grading. J - Original Message - From: Kelly @ BellyBelly To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 9:56 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta Can anyone offer any words of wisdom for this lovely lady in my forum? I would have thought if its 2cms away from the cervix it would be okay? So I thought I better ask to be sure before I reply: Hi girls As I've discussed with a couple of you, I've had the same issue and unlike most placentas (my ob says he hasn't seen one move far enough in almost a decade) mine didn't get a wriggle on at all and is barely over 2 cm away from the cervix. It's hardly moved since it was diagnosed at 12 wks. Given that the uterus has grown by oodles seems unfair that the placenta couldn't manage another cm, but there you have it... I asked him a few questions like does that mean it's more 'embedded' into the uterus, which means other complications, etc, but he told me he doesn't think so. Part of my problem might be my uterus hasn't been stretched as much 'cause neither I nor the baby are very big, it's posterior, rather than anterior and they are less likely to move and it's also 'long', whatever that means in medical speak. Really, there's no explanation and I'm just odd. So I'm booked in for a c/s next Friday 10 March. There's no way my ob thinks the 10 cm dilation of the cervix could happen without tearing away a longish portion of the placenta from the wall of the uterus and Lucy's head isn't down further than the placenta either so it would probably be coming out first = emergency c/s. If someone medical is around or someone who has some more info, how have you seen other cases like this handled? Best Regards,Kelly ZanteyCreator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to ParenthoodBellyBelly Birth Support - Click Here
RE: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta
Thanks for this Helen, I might check out the site for third tri shes 38 weeks I think so they have left it as late as possible. She also said this: Thanks for the support, and I will certainly look up the website. I had a scan on Monday (left it as late as possible) that showed the placenta had barely moved at all in a month, probably not surprising since it has budged about 1.5 cm for half of the pregnancy. Very unusual, apparently. Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - Click Here From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Helen and Graham Sent: Thursday, 2 March 2006 12:34 PM To: ozmidwifery Subject: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta http://www.gynob.com/previa.htm I did a quick search on this topic to update myself and found this reference - can't say how reliable it is. Helen Placenta previa in the 2nd Trimester I'm in my second trimester and I have a partial placenta previa. Will this problem go away? Will I need a C-section? The placenta is the vascular part of the pregnancy that is adhered to the inside of the uterus (womb), this contact allowing nutrients and oxygen to pass through the maternal side to the fetal side, then on through the umbilical arteries to the baby. (See FETAL CIRCULATION.) Not only is it important for this structure to remain adhered for the purpose of supplying the baby, but it is equally important that it not separate before the baby delivers, which would drain much of the baby's blood as well as create a hemorrhagic emergency for the mother (this separation called placental abruption). An important consideration is where the placenta attaches. If it's low in the uterus, there are two problems. First of all, if it covers the way out for the baby (the os or cervix), it effectively creates a road block for the baby, guaranteeing disaster should labor and delivery proceed. Secondly, the attachment down low is on thinner tissue of the uterus than the thicker, muscular layer higher up. Since the attachment is very vascular, after delivery when it separates the lower uterine lining doesn't have enough muscle to contract and pinch off the bleeding openings that are left on the maternal side. This hemorrhage can be life threatening and could even result in an emergency hysterectomy. When the placenta covers the entire cervix, it is called a total previa. When only partially impinging on the area it is called a partial previa. Thankfully, total previas are rare, and most previas (previae) only encroach upon the edge of the cervical os. Your question brings up another point. In early pregnancy, partial previas are common, because there just isn't a lot of surface area to the inside of the uterus, so any structure occupying the real estate there can commonly be positioned as a partial previa, or more likely, a low-lying placenta. (See above.) As the uterus grows, the upper part of the uterus enlarges faster than the lower uterine segment, so a placenta lying over both areas will tend to grow away from the cervical os. We call this placental migration, but this is a misnomer. The placenta doesn't actually move, but the tissue upon which it is embedded expands and it only appears to move up and away from the cervix. The resulting more safely positioned placenta is the same, though, no matter what the method. When a low-lying placenta is seen in early or mid pregnancy, chances are that it will be well out of the way by the time of the third trimester, essentially making it a non-issue. If a placenta is low-lying, even at the edge of the cervix, one can still deliver vaginally, the baby's head pressing against any part of the placenta that might want to bleed. (Although you can imagine the heightened sense of vigilance needed in such a labor.) When the previa is total, C-section is mandatory. The biggest risk to a previa is abruption (separation of the placenta before delivery). The mechanical jostling from the baby and the thinning of the attached lower uterine segment cause this complication. (Abruption can also happen unrelated to previa, as in cocaine or cigarette use, diabetes, multiple gestation, hypertension, previous history of abruption, and having had many babies.) Another consideration is microscopic bleeding from a previa which may consume all of your clotting factors in a very sneaky way, such that when really obvious bleeding begins, you don't have any clotting ability, adding to the hemorrhage problem. I know all of these things sound terrifying, but it's actually pretty rare, and most low-lying placentas never cause a problem. So in answer to your question, you probably have a placenta that will migrate and therefore won't need a C-section. However, serial and frequent ultrasounds are recommended until
Re: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta
Has she had any bleeding? What number baby is this? Any history of prior uterine surgery? I'd definately be seeking a second opinion from an unbiased obstetrician if it was a member of my family. Gloria Lemay, Vancouver, BC Kelly @ BellyBelly wrote: Can anyone offer any words of wisdom for this lovely lady in my forum? I would have thought if its 2cms away from the cervix it would be okay? So I thought I better ask to be sure before I reply: Hi girls As I've discussed with a couple of you, I've had the same issue and unlike most placentas (my ob says he hasn't seen one move far enough in almost a decade) mine didn't get a wriggle on at all and is barely over 2 cm away from the cervix. It's hardly moved since it was diagnosed at 12 wks. Given that the uterus has grown by oodles seems unfair that the placenta couldn't manage another cm, but there you have it... I asked him a few questions like does that mean it's more 'embedded' into the uterus, which means other complications, etc, but he told me he doesn't think so. Part of my problem might be my uterus hasn't been stretched as much 'cause neither I nor the baby are very big, it's posterior, rather than anterior and they are less likely to move and it's also 'long', whatever that means in medical speak. Really, there's no explanation and I'm just odd. So I'm booked in for a c/s next Friday 10 March. There's no way my ob thinks the 10 cm dilation of the cervix could happen without tearing away a longish portion of the placenta from the wall of the uterus and Lucy's head isn't down further than the placenta either so it would probably be coming out first = emergency c/s. If someone medical is around or someone who has some more info, how have you seen other cases like this handled? Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - Click Here
RE: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta
She replied with: No (bleeding), first baby and no (prior uterine surgery). Which is why it's so bizarre! I do feel confident my ob and I have gone over all options and originally he was going to let me trial natural labour if it had moved a bit further. 3 mm just wasn't enough in a month! Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - Click Here From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Gloria Lemay Sent: Thursday, 2 March 2006 1:05 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Low lying placenta Has she had any bleeding? What number baby is this? Any history of prior uterine surgery? I'd definately be seeking a second opinion from an unbiased obstetrician if it was a member of my family. Gloria Lemay, Vancouver, BC Kelly @ BellyBelly wrote: Can anyone offer any words of wisdom for this lovely lady in my forum? I would have thought if its 2cms away from the cervix it would be okay? So I thought I better ask to be sure before I reply: Hi girls As I've discussed with a couple of you, I've had the same issue and unlike most placentas (my ob says he hasn't seen one move far enough in almost a decade) mine didn't get a wriggle on at all and is barely over 2 cm away from the cervix. It's hardly moved since it was diagnosed at 12 wks. Given that the uterus has grown by oodles seems unfair that the placenta couldn't manage another cm, but there you have it... I asked him a few questions like does that mean it's more 'embedded' into the uterus, which means other complications, etc, but he told me he doesn't think so. Part of my problem might be my uterus hasn't been stretched as much 'cause neither I nor the baby are very big, it's posterior, rather than anterior and they are less likely to move and it's also 'long', whatever that means in medical speak. Really, there's no explanation and I'm just odd. So I'm booked in for a c/s next Friday 10 March. There's no way my ob thinks the 10 cm dilation of the cervix could happen without tearing away a longish portion of the placenta from the wall of the uterus and Lucy's head isn't down further than the placenta either so it would probably be coming out first = emergency c/s. If someone medical is around or someone who has some more info, how have you seen other cases like this handled? Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - Click Here
