Can anyone who has had major placenta previa share their caesarian experience? I am interested to know whether you had an epidural or a general anaesthetic and what your thoughts on the two are.
Sorry i can't help you with any experience, just wanted to say best of luck. If i was having a c/s due to placenta previa i would prefer an epidural over a general. I would want to be awake when my baby was born. But i guess other people feel differently. Best of luck.
I haven't had placenta previa myself but I have attended a few c/s for women who have had previa. In all three cases the woman has had a general anaesthetic so that is there were any complications/haemorrages an emergency intubation wasn't required. The drs had more control over the situation - does that make sense?
Wishing you all the best.
Why are you more like to hemorrhage with PP Liviam? Is it because of where the incision is or something else? (Just curious, sorry to hijack your thread soul!)
You are more likely to heamorrage with a PP as where the placenta lies sometimes its neccessary to cut into a part of it to get the baby out. This obviously needs to be done super quick. It is rare for this to happen. Also as the lower segment of the uterus is not the area that is designed to contract the blood vessels in the uterus that have being feeding the placenta do not get constricted as well as they would be if the placenta wasn't in the lower segment of the uterus. The fundus (top) is the area that contracts the best and is most efficent in reducing the size of the blood vessels from the placental site.
Most PP that are grade 3 or 4 are done under general anethetic I guess more for prevention then anything else if something was to arise during the procedure. To my knowledge the worst PP where the placenta completely covers the whole cervix often deliver in the late/early third trimester. I have only seen one deliver at 36weeks the rest around the 26-30weeks.
So from what i understand, a general anaesthetic is probably the way to go - safer for bubs and me?
I'm still trying to come to terms with not being awake though when bubs is born.... Does anyone know whether DP will be allowed in theatre during the procedure?
Also, does having a general mean that I'll be able to be up and about that night, if everything goes to plan?
No definately emergency c/s. Mind you that is when they have completely covered the entire cervix. Of them which aren't common I have only seen one go to 36.5weeks (bub was fine came out screaming) they have all being because of APH (Antepartum haemorrage) and fetal distress due to part of the placenta coming away. Very few are that severe and most are uncomplicated at around the 38weeks.
soulful that is great you haven't had any bleeding or spotting. The nasty ones I have seen have had some minor spotting really early on (like before the morhology scan) not long to go now and I am sure you will be fine. If your placenta doesn't cover the anterior side of your uterus where the incision to get bubs out is then they might still recommend an epidural. It all depends on where exactly the placenta is located and if its done in an emergency (because if APH say) or booked in in a more predictable environment IYKWIM.
If its under the general ana then your DP/DH doesn't come in to the actual theatre site. They will take bub out to him as soon as he/she is out and tidyed up (bunny rug, cord clamp etc). If you have an epidural/spinal then he can be in there. You can tell the midwife instructions if you do need to be asleep if you like. EG no one to hold bub till your back but your DH, no one to know the gender if you don't already know. I have even put a nappy on bub and given two cot cards (both girl and boy) and the DH not know till his wife had woken up and they see together. There are lots of things you can choose if in the event you do have a GA.
Last edited by Mildez; October 22nd, 2009 at 09:20 PM.
I had partial placenta praevia with DS and my c/s was done under a spinal epidural. My placenta was posterior and just covering the cervix. I had minor spotting a couple of times in the first trimester and then nothing at all for the rest of the pregnancy. I was told the risks were of maternal heamorraging and cord prolapse especially as I dilated. I actually had SPROM and went into labour on my own at 36+6 so it was then an emergency c/s.
You're probably best to chat to your OB about it. If you can get away with a spinal epidural then go for it. As for your partner being there if it's a general, you'd have to check with the hospital. A lot of them don't allow anyone else in.
I don't see why you wouldn't be up and about that night if it all goes well. You'll probably be feeling rather sore and sorry but it's actually good to get up and move around at your own pace if you feel up to it. I had my appendix out under a general when I was 17 weeks preg with DS and was up and moving about the same night.
Many thanks for all the info ladies. I will be seeing my ob next week, so will clarify the position of my placenta etc. Really hoping for epidural/spinal as opposed to the general anaesthetic.
Hi Soulful,
Havnt seen you in the buddies group for ages so wanting to wish you all the best of luck with your upcoming birth. Im sure everything will go fine - cant wait to read your BA.
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Major placenta previa
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