Monday, February 22, 2010

The mysterious case of the low-lying placenta

I had my first pregnancy scare at the weekend as I experienced slight spotting (or bleeding). Apparently bleeding during pregnancy is not as rare as you might think and can be caused by any number of things, although miscarriage is naturally the first thing which springs to an anxious mother-to-be's mind! In any case, the general advice is to ring the hospital straight away - and when I did, I was told to come in immediately.

Fortunately a quick check and a scan put my mind at rest. The ultrasound showed that I have what is known as a low-lying placenta. This happens when the placenta is near (or covering) the cervix, with the result that as everything grows and moves about, bits of the placenta break off and cause bleeding. Apparently this condition usually resolves itself as the pregnancy progresses. As the uterus grows, the placenta literally moves up with it. Meanwhile the best thing to do is take it easy.

If you're one of the unlucky few whose placenta doesn't play ball, in later pregnancy the condition becomes known as Placenta Praevia, an altogether more serious diagnosis due to the increased risk of haemorrhage. This usually means that a caesarean section is on the cards. So if my placenta is listening, onwards and upwards I say!

2 comments:

  1. Will educate u on "confinement" rule. This is the first month after birth. Lots of no no.. for starter, no shower, no washing of hair, no cold drinks.... a long long list. Will tell you when i next see u, maybe over a wine for me and a non alcoholic beer for you :p
    PS: I am a naughty Chinese mum cos I never abide by it ;p

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  2. there is a documentary on Channel News Asia coming up about 1 in 4 pregnant women in Singapore has fabriods...its on this thurs, 4 mar at 1.30pm. this is the link of the tv guide:
    http://www.channelnewsasia.com/tvshows/tvguide.htm

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