Complete Placenta Previa.. Then Nothing!

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Strangest thing happened to my SIL this past week. March 8th (she was 16.5 wks pregnant), she had a routine u/s where she learned she had complete placenta previa. Two days later, she says she started brown spotting with clots. It continued sporadically for 5 more days until she let out a "gush" of blood and was admitted to the hospital. They kept her for 4 days before doing an u/s. When they finally got around to it, she no longer had placenta previa (not partial, not complete, nothing). The placenta was right where it should've been and they discharged her the following day. She says she's still spotting.

Basically, it was 12 days from the time she was diagnosed with complete placenta previa to the time of the ultrasound that showed absolutely nothing wrong.

Ever heard of something like this happening?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I have definately heard of the placenta "migrating" away from the cervical os as pregnancy progresses and the uterus growns, pulling it up and away.... (particularly in 1st trimester-diagnosed cases), but this seems MIGHTY fast to me....very odd indeed. I sure hope they watch this closely and take serial u/s of the placenta. It almost reminds me more of a partial abruption than anything else. Something to watch closely...

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Thanks for your reply. I spoke to her today and she hasn't had any bleeding. I'm starting to wonder if maybe she's just not telling the whole story because she told me that she was able to return to normal life and just be on pelvic rest for a few days. Now today, she wanted me to care for her 9 month old son because supposedly she's not allowed to lift him up. Otherwise, she seems to be doing fine.

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Specializes in ER (My favorite), NICU, Hospice.
Strangest thing happened to my SIL this past week. March 8th (she was 16.5 wks pregnant), she had a routine u/s where she learned she had complete placenta previa. Two days later, she says she started brown spotting with clots. It continued sporadically for 5 more days until she let out a "gush" of blood and was admitted to the hospital. They kept her for 4 days before doing an u/s. When they finally got around to it, she no longer had placenta previa (not partial, not complete, nothing). The placenta was right where it should've been and they discharged her the following day. She says she's still spotting.

Basically, it was 12 days from the time she was diagnosed with complete placenta previa to the time of the ultrasound that showed absolutely nothing wrong.

Ever heard of something like this happening?

I know nothing about OB except the extension to call when we have an OB pt we need help with. LOL. But I wish your SIL the best. Keep us updated.

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Specializes in MedSurg-1yr, MotherBaby-6yrs NICU 4/07.
I know nothing about OB except the extension to call when we have an OB pt we need help with. LOL. But I wish your SIL the best. Keep us updated.

First - Hi Michelle- See ya May 10th!:balloons:

Secondly, like posted before, the placenta can and does migrate, but to my knowledge not that fast. That is something that is diagnosed and followed throughout pregnancy. If it resolves lady partsl delivery is possible, if not, well then C/S must be performed. Our providers scan frequently just in case the pt. preterms they will know where the placenta is and how to deliver. I think that there is more to the story than what she understood or wants to tell.

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Transabdominal U/Ss for previa determination don't carry as great an accuracy as do translady partsl U/Ss (98-99% accurate). It's possible she was misdiagnosed, either due to an inexperienced tech or not-so-great equipment which threw a shadow on the monitor.

However, miracles do happen. I had my own previa issue 6 months ago. Two different techs determined a complete, one of them via translady partsl U/S. Six weeks later at 24 wks, it had moved 4.5 cms -- which just doesn't happen in that short a time frame.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
Transabdominal U/Ss for previa determination don't carry as great an accuracy as do translady partsl U/Ss (98-99% accurate). It's possible she was misdiagnosed, either due to an inexperienced tech or not-so-great equipment which threw a shadow on the monitor.

However, miracles do happen. I had my own previa issue 6 months ago. Two different techs determined a complete, one of them via translady partsl U/S. Six weeks later at 24 wks, it had moved 4.5 cms -- which just doesn't happen in that short a time frame.

I agree, most early diagnosed placenta previa will move by aprox 34 weeks, obviously. Some never move of course.

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