On Bedrest

I got up yesterday. It was like any other day. Uneventful. Boring. Sunday. I laid on the couch with Evyn for a few hours and watched a show or two on HGTV and then finally mustered the motivation and drive to go up and finish painting Nolan's room. I showered and then headed in to start and finish my project. I primed one wall and was moving on to the next and had to go to the bathroom. The painting was done. Drops of blood in the toilet, blood on the tissue when I wiped. O dear god, what the hell is this all about??! SO I panic and jump on the phone and call my Dr. He says, "Get off and stay off your feet, stay hydrated and I'll see you in the morning. If you're really going nuts you can go to the ER, but you're going to wait 6-8 hours, and lose your patience, so just be comfortable at home, unless you start severely cramping, or hemmorhaging." Okay. I can do that. My anxiety wasn't calmed but there wasn't much I, or anybody else was going to do. This morning Adam and I headed into my Dr's office, had a pelvic and an ultrasound. I have placenta previa. GRRRREEEEAAAATTTT! So I'm off my feet for two weeks. I'm not about ready to take two weeks off work at this moment, knowing that if this continues to progress that later on in the pregnancy I could be off again. What this means to my company is I have 12 weeks for maternity leave. If something happens and I need to be on bedrest again, and god forbid it's before the baby is born, I am exhausting that time in which I am FMLA protected. Not excited at all about being in this position. Sometimes corporate America can be really tough on a prego. My boss, who is also a good friend is willing to let me come into the office and do some work sitting down, and my position offers some ability to work from home also, which is in my favor since my body wants to act up so early in the game. So I'm taking a few days vacation to let my uterus rest, and hopefully my little baby's nutrient and oxygen source will grow upward, rather than continue a downward descent and cover my entire cervix. I've seen a c-section...and I've seen the aftermath, and I'm in no way shape or form excited about experiencing that mess. So for all of you wondering what the heck placenta previa is and what it means for a prego and a baby, I took the liberty of grabbing some info about it from Mayo.




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Placenta previa


In most pregnancies, the placenta is located at the top or side of the uterus. In placenta previa, the placenta is located low in the uterus. It may partly or completely cover the cervix, as shown here.

Placenta previa
Placenta previa is an uncommon pregnancy complication that can cause excessive bleeding before or during delivery.
Soon after conception, the placenta begins to form. This oval, flat organ provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby and removes waste products from your baby's blood. It attaches to the wall of your uterus, and your baby's umbilical cord arises from it, forming a vital connection between you and your baby.
Placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower part of your uterine wall, partially or totally covering your cervix. When the cervix starts to open in preparation for labor, the placenta is detached, which can trigger severe vaginal bleeding. Thankfully, placenta previa is nearly always detected before a woman or her baby is in significant danger.

Placenta previa symptoms
Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy is the main sign of placenta previa.
Although some women have light bleeding or spotting during the first trimester or early second trimester, bleeding associated with placenta previa usually occurs near the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third. The amount of bleeding may range from light to heavy. And it usually stops, but it nearly always recurs days or weeks later. Some women who have placenta previa experience contractions with the bleeding.
Types of placenta previa
There are three specific types of placenta previa:
*Total placenta previa. In total placenta previa, the placenta completely covers the cervix.
*Partial placenta previa. In partial placenta previa, the placenta partly covers the cervix.
*Marginal placenta previa. In marginal placenta previa, the placenta approaches the edge of the cervix. (Right now I'm more of a marginal)
Low-lying placenta is a term used to describe a placenta that lies low in the uterus but isn't quite close enough to the cervix to qualify as marginal placenta previa. This condition usually doesn't cause signs or symptoms during pregnancy, but it may cause bleeding after delivery.

When to see a doctor
If you're pregnant, seek regular prenatal care. If you experience any vaginal bleeding during your second or third trimester, call your health care provider right away. Your health care provider will likely do an ultrasound to determine the source of the bleeding.
If you've been diagnosed with placenta previa, make sure that any health care provider you see during pregnancy is aware of the condition. Examining the cervix can lead to heavy bleeding. Sex is also off-limits for the rest of the pregnancy. (Yippeeee! Adam will be thrilled!)


Causes
Early in pregnancy, the placenta may implant in the lower part of the uterus. As the uterus grows, the placenta usually moves up and away from the opening of the uterus (cervix). If it doesn't, the cervix may be blocked. This is placenta previa.
Placenta previa is associated with:
Scars in the lining of the uterus (endometrium)
A large placenta, such as with a multiple pregnancy
An abnormally shaped uterus (this would be my problem, my uterus tilts backward)

Risk factors
Placenta previa is more common among women who:
Have already delivered at least one baby (check)
Had a previous C-section
Had placenta previa with a previous pregnancy
Are age 35 or older
Are Asian
Smoke
Are carrying twins, triplets or other multiples
Have had a previous uterine surgery, such as myomectomy to remove uterine fibroids or dilation and curettage (D and C) to scrape the uterine lining (check)


Complications
If you have placenta previa, your health care provider will monitor you and your baby carefully to reduce the risk of these serious complications:
*Bleeding. One of the biggest concerns with placenta previa is the risk of severe vaginal bleeding (hemorrhage) during labor, delivery or the first few hours after delivery. The bleeding can be heavy enough to cause maternal shock or even death.
*Premature birth. Severe bleeding may prompt an emergency C-section before your baby is full term.
*Placenta accreta. If the placenta implants too deeply and firmly into the uterine wall, the placenta may not spontaneously detach from the uterus after delivery — an uncommon condition known as placenta accreta. This can result in severe bleeding and, often, the need for surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).


Tests and diagnosis
Placenta previa is diagnosed through ultrasound, either during a routine prenatal appointment or after an episode of vaginal bleeding. Placenta previa is nearly always detected before a woman or her baby is in significant danger.


Diagnosis before 20 weeks of pregnancy
It's not unusual to detect a low-lying placenta or to see the placenta covering the cervix during a routine midpregnancy ultrasound. Most of these cases resolve on their own before delivery, as the uterus grows and the placenta migrates away from the cervix. You may need additional ultrasounds to track the position of your placenta. The longer placenta previa persists, the more likely it will be present at delivery. ( this is our scenario)


Diagnosis after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Your health care provider may detect placenta previa later in pregnancy during an ultrasound for an unrelated reason. At this stage of pregnancy, however, vaginal bleeding is usually the tip-off.
If you experience vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester, call your health care provider right away. You'll likely need to go to your doctor's office or the hospital to determine the cause of the bleeding. In most cases, your health care provider can use an abdominal ultrasound to quickly confirm or rule out placenta previa.
A definitive diagnosis may require a combination of abdominal ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound, which is done through a wand-like device (transducer) placed inside your vagina. Your health care provider will closely monitor the location of the transducer in your vagina to prevent any bleeding. Rarely, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to diagnose placenta previa.
If your health care provider suspects that you may have placenta previa, he or she will avoid routine vaginal exams to reduce the risk of heavy bleeding. You may need additional ultrasounds or, rarely, an MRI to determine the exact location of your placenta before delivery. Your baby's heartbeat may be tracked as well.

Related conditions
Two uncommon conditions are often grouped with placenta previa because they can cause vaginal bleeding in the late second or third trimester. If you have vaginal bleeding late in your pregnancy, your health care provider will also consider these conditions before making a diagnosis:
*Placental abruption. Rarely, the placenta separates from the uterus before birth. This can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding that may be dangerous for both mother and baby.
*Vasa previa. The umbilical cord usually develops in the center of the placenta. If the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta in an unusual way, a portion of the blood vessels normally inside the umbilical cord may be left unprotected. If these unprotected blood vessels cross the cervix, it's known as vasa previa. If these blood vessels rupture, the baby faces life-threatening bleeding.


Treatments and drugs
Treatment for placenta previa depends on various factors, including:
The amount of vaginal bleeding
Whether the bleeding has stopped
Your baby's gestational age
Your health
Your baby's health
The position of the placenta and the baby
*For little or no bleeding
If you have marginal placenta previa or another form of placenta previa but little or no bleeding, your health care provider may recommend bed rest at home. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to lie in bed most of the time —sitting and standing only when necessary. You'll need to avoid sex and vaginal exams, which can trigger bleeding. Exercise is usually off-limits, too. Discuss the do's and don'ts with your health care provider — and be prepared to seek emergency medical care if you begin to bleed.
If your placenta doesn't cover your cervix, you may be allowed to attempt a vaginal delivery. If you begin to bleed heavily, you may need an emergency C-section.
For heavy bleeding
If you're bleeding, you may need bed rest in the hospital. If the bleeding is severe, you may need a blood transfusion to replace lost blood. You may also benefit from medications to prevent premature labor.
Your health care provider will likely plan a C-section as soon as the baby can be safely delivered, ideally after 36 weeks of pregnancy. If it's not possible to wait, you will need an earlier C-section. In this case, you may be given corticosteroids to speed your baby's lung development. In as little as 48 hours, these potent medications can help your baby's lungs prepare for life outside the uterus.
For bleeding that won't stop
If your bleeding can't be controlled or your baby is in distress, you may need an emergency C-section — even if the baby is premature
Coping and support
Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of awe and anticipation. If you're diagnosed with placenta previa, you're sure to be worried about how your condition will affect your baby. Some of these strategies may help:
Learn about placenta previa. Gathering information about your condition may help you feel less scared. Talk to your health care provider, do some research on your own and connect with other women who've had placenta previa.
Prepare for a C-section. Placenta previa may prevent you from delivering your baby vaginally. Ask your health care provider every C-section question that comes to mind. If you're disappointed that you may not have a vaginal birth, remind yourself that your baby's health and your health are more important than the method of delivery.
Make the best of bed rest. If your health care provider recommends bed rest, fill your days by planning for your baby's arrival. Read about newborn care or purchase newborn necessities, either online or from catalogs. Or use the time to balance your checkbook, organize old photo albums or catch up on thank-you notes.
Take care of yourself. Surround yourself with things that bring you comfort, such as a good book or a favorite pair of pajamas. Give your partner, friends and loved ones concrete suggestions for ways to help, such as bringing a favorite food or simply stopping by for a visit.
A condition that could cause excessive bleeding before or during delivery isn't part of any mother's vision of the perfect pregnancy. Yet most women who have placenta previa go on to deliver a healthy baby — which is far better than a perfect pregnancy.