Hospital stay for three months due to a low Placenta

[Jay]

I'm not sure where to post my question, I'm asking it here and at 25 weeks just in case anyone can help.

My wife is 25 weeks + 5 days pregnant. Today she was at work and started to bleed, then there was a mixture of blood and water. An ambulance picked her up from work and took her to the hospital. They did a scan, the baby was fine, wriggling and kicking away. But the blood continued coming.

The midwife explained that the placenta was a 4 covering the cervix and that when the baby was ready my wife would have to have a Caesarean Section.

My wife has been told that she may well have to stay in the hospital for 10 weeks until the due date.

She (like me) is totally depressed at the prospect.

Has anyone had the same thing happen, and if so is there any chance she could come home when the bleeding stops.

Thank you

Jay
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Jay

 

[rhian85]

hi i cant give u any advice but im going to put a link to this in the "ask a mum " section as thats for questions regarding pregnancey and birth. hopefully somebody will be able to help u. as not many people check this board. hope this gets u the help u need and i hope all goes okay for u and ur wife

 

[Sabrina]

I haven't got any personal advice but I had a friend with Placenta Praevia whom I met during my first pregnancy. She, like your wife, was in hospital at 25 weeks due to the bleeding and risks of the condition.

I know it must be a really daunting prospect to be admitted for what seems such a long time so I really feel for your wife (especially as I was in for 6 weeks myself with my first!). It could be that if her condition stabilises she may be let home for an overnight stay at the weekends etc. That is what happened to my friend.

Looking on the brighter side, if your wife is in hospital for a while before the baby arrives, she will at least get the option to make some really good friends. The ladies in the AN wards are all in the same situation and it can really bond life long friendships. That's what happened to me and it made the hard experience that much easier having some good mates there (and consequently a few laughs with them along the way).

It seems for the moment it's only a possibility your wife will have to go in. Try to get an honest opinion from the hospital/MW/Consultant about the risks involved if your wife stays on strict bed rest AT HOME instead. This could be a good alternative if they allow it.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help... but give your wife a hug from me. Pregnancy can be a hard slog at times but it's really so worth it in the end. My LO is only 2 1/2 weeks old now but I've totally forgotten all the bad times I went through having him (including a c-section at the end).

 

[tracyM]

I went through this with our second. I had my first big bleed at 22 weeks and ended up staying in hospital until at 36 weeks I had huge bleed and Callum was delivered by emergency section.

I had more or less weekly bleeds in between 22 and 36 weeks, even on strict bed rest in hospital, but they were only small. It's horrible being stuck in there for so long, but it really is the best thing. Had I not been in hospital when I had the big bleed at 36 weeks, we'd both be gone in 30 minutes - not enough time for an ambulance. Even if the bleeding stops, there's a high chance it will start again. During pregnancy, the volume of blood increases, so there's more of it to lose.

You get to know the staff and you will probably get a private room. I ended up asking to go in a shared room with another long termer to relieve the boredom though. I had to stay in for 3 weeks after giving birth, over Christmas, and I was so much a part of the furniture, they let me put the Christmas tree up. I was allowed occasional 'home leave' but always ended up going back in an ambulance because I couldn't 'do nothing'

It's horrible when you're going through it, but its really not that bad when you look back on it. 10 weeks is nothing when you have a lifetime with your little bundle ahead of you.