Concerns About Placenta Previa
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I have placenta previa. I also have to take Prometreum because I do not produce enough progesterone. I am approximately 22 weeks and am about to go in for my second ultrasound.
I am scared to death of what is going to happen if the placenta doesn't move up. I know that I will have a C-section if it does not. But I am still worried about bleeding a lot and healing times. I was wondering if you could help put my mind at ease.
Thanks,
Brittany
ANSWER
The good news is that many previas resolve as the pregnancy progresses--the placenta just moves up the side of the uterus as the uterus grows. So there is still hope for a vaginal delivery. The other good news is that if it doesn't resolve, everyone will know it in advance and be prepared to take care of any complications that might arise.
You are very fortunate to be living in this time and this place, as there is no way to put the minds of most women on the planet with this diagnosis at ease. In your case, there is an excellent chance that you and the baby will be just fine in any event. And worrying only makes stress hormones, which is not what you or the baby want. Best to give the baby lots of "happy" hormones so it will be strong in case it needs to be!
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
