Placenta Previa: My Story

Placenta Previa: My Story
Placenta Previa: My Story

My doctor told me in my second trimester, as a first-time mom, that I had placenta previa.  Unfortunately at the time, I didn’t have a good doctor who fully explained what it was and rushed me out the door. Which if you haven’t read “Changing Doctors Halfway Through My Pregnancy”, you should definitely check it out. So, when I got in my car I immediately googled what placenta previa was.

So what exactly is placenta previa? According to the website Mayo Clinic, “Placenta previa occurs when a baby’s placenta partially or totally covers the mother’s cervix — the outlet for the uterus. It can also cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and delivery.”  It was scary reading that I would have to have a C-section if it did not resolve itself before three weeks before my due date, or that I could bleed throughout my entire pregnancy.  I was freaking out until I was able to speak to my doctor and get more information about what I could and could not do. 

Now while every woman’s experience is different, they may also be given different restrictions based on their own individual circumstances.  These were the main things I went through that I will never forget.

I Was Placed on Modified Bed Rest

This was by far the most horrible aspect of having placenta previa. It started at my 20-week ultrasound and lasted until I went in for my 33-week ultrasound.  The doctor ordered a modified bed rest.  In other words, that meant I could not drive, walk, or even sit for more than an hour.  I had to be laying down as much as possible to keep pressure off of my pelvis.  Being a real estate agent, this was very hard to do when I had to leave the house.  Trying to get anywhere in Orlando is about an hour drive, maybe more depending on how bad traffic is.  The only exercises I was able to do were the ones I was able to do while laying down in my bed.  By the end of my pregnancy, I noticed my legs had lost a lot of muscle and were very weak.   

Doctor Said No Sexual Penetration of Any Kind

This was the second hardest thing to deal with. The doctor said I couldn’t have any sexual penetration of any kind.  It could lead to serious complications if I was to have penetration of any kind.  Wanting to be intimate but not being able to was difficult. Having needs and not being able to have them fulfilled because it could risk serious complications with your baby is a horrible way to spend months.

Did I Bleed?

Luckily, I only had a few instances of bleeding. It did scare me, but at least I knew what was causing it. I did go to the ER every time though just to make sure my baby was okay.  They would do a vaginal ultrasound each time to check the placement of the placenta and to make sure it was okay.  They would also do a vaginal exam to make sure the bleeding had stopped, etc. 

In the End

My placenta previa at my 33-week ultrasound did move up, and I was able to have my baby naturally. When the doctor tells you most cases of placenta previa resolve itself, believe them and have hope that yours will too. It is stressful to think about, but the stress is not good for your baby. Take a deep breath and relax!

Did you have placenta previa? Leave a comment about how it affected you. I would love to know how others were affected!

References:
“Placenta Previa.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Mar. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/placenta-previa/symptoms-causes/syc-20352768.

7 Comments
  1. 13 weeks! Same diagnosis! Same thing with my dr rushing me out the door. Husband wants me to consider another dr but I spent SO long finding this one. Dr did not give me any info or tell me I should restrict movement. She only told me to refrain from penetration.

    1. I understand completely. I had another doctor and I switched. It was the best thing I did! I hope your placenta moves up! If you have any questions please feel free to message me! Prayers your way for a safe pregnancy and delivery. 🙂

  2. Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!

    1. Thank you so much for commenting. Changing doctors did not help me with my anxiety for those few weeks.

  3. I am glad it did end up resolving for you! I don’t have personal experience with this, but didn’t realize people with this had to go on bed rest. That doesn’t sound fun at all.

    1. Thank you so much for that. No, bed rest in any form is not a pleasant experience. Thank you so much for commenting!

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