What is Placenta Previa?

Since being admitted I have been asked by several family members and friends what placenta previa is, so I thought I would provide a little education about what it is and what it means for the rest of my pregnancy.

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta partially or totally covers the opening of the cervix. In layman’s terms, my placenta has blocked Baby A’s exit route. To complicate matters, and likely one of the reasons my placenta attached where it attached, is a massive uterine fibroid which a co-worker loving named Tom. Tom has blocked a complete view of how extensive my placenta has blocked my cervix, but the diagnosis we are working with is a complete placenta previa (CPP). 

So cool, Baby A can’t get out the natural exit route, just have a C-section, no biggie right? Right, except the placenta is well vascularized in order to provide oxygen and nutrients to Baby A as well as remove waste products from her blood. The amount of blood flowing through the placenta means that as I get closer to delivery and my cervix starts to thin out and dilate I start to randomly bleed. I have no warnings, triggers or pain with this bleeding which is fairly typical of this condition. A lot of people have told me to take it easy and stay off my feet. This is partially good advice as limiting any physical exertion or downward pressure in my abdomen will help but since my bleeding usually occurs when I am sleeping my physical exertion has very little to do with it.

The OB’s are a little puzzled as to why my placenta attached here as it is usually associated with:

-         - scars in the lining of the uterus (usually from previous surgeries)

-         -  a large placenta (typical with a multiple pregnancy)

-         -  being 35+

-    - having previous pregnancies
      
     I don’t check off any of these boxes so I assume this useful but evil little placenta decided this was the only place to attach due to my massive uterine fibroid.

In addition to this random painless bleeding, I also have a higher risk for bleeding during delivery and the first few hours after delivery. There is also the risk of pre-term birth. This risk of bleeding plus pre-term birth is why I have been confined to the antenatal unit. My OB team is concerned that if I am too far away from a large hospital there is a great potential for a massive life-threatening hemorrhage and losing our little girl. There rule is 3 bleeds and you’re in until delivery. Since I am at 6 or 7, there is no chance in going home until Baby A is born. I am very thankful to be in such a wonderful facility with some of the best OB’s in Canada and know myself and Baby A are in the best hands possible. 

I still hope to at least see the placenta post-surgically so I can lay eyes on the cause of this painless, annoying bleeding, and maybe show it what I think of it.