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They said the spotting could be normal spotting that some women experience. Without doing an ultrasound or anything other than a sonogram (listening for the heart) they put me on pelvic rest just in case. Three weeks after the hospital visit, I was back at my doctor's office with more spotting and severe cramping. I was told at this point that the previa was most likely the cause of the bleeding and that with bleeding came cramping. They said I was at higher risk for the condition because I have given birth previously and had a c-section. I was told that "most likely" the placenta had attached itself to the scar tissue of my previous c-section. However, they still wouldn't do an ultrasound or any kind of exam to confirm the placenta previa. I was just told to take it easy.
I have been bleeding on and off for two weeks with horrible cramping. At my doctors appointment last thursday (Oct 20), the doctor still refused to do any exam other than a sonogram but told me no high impact activity including sex and running. Though she said it was fine to pick up my 40lbs. 3.5 year old. I had to pry any information out of her about what I needed to do, what might help, anything. She told me there was nothing I could do one way or the other. When pressed she also told me repeatedly that if something were to happen, they wouldn't concern themselves with trying to save the baby and would only try to save me, as the baby is not far enough along. These were her exact words. They wouldn't try to save the baby unless it was at least 23 weeks. This, of course freaked me out. It was as if the doctor had pretty much wrote off my chances of carrying the baby to 23 weeks, much less full term. It was like she was saying, if you make it to 23 weeks, then we'll concern ourselves, but until then, we won't even check.
They refuse to do any ultrasounds to confirm if there even is a placenta previa until I am twenty weeks even though at 11 weeks appointment (two days before the hospital visit) they did an ultrasound and told my husband and me that they would be doing one to find out the baby's sex at the next appointment at 15 weeks. They keep telling me well, it's not a simple procedure to check for placenta previa. This is funny because the hospital not equipped for pre-natal seemed to be able to see the placenta previa via simple ultrasound pretty easily. I am scared to death. Is this normal procedure for someone diagnosed early with placenta previa? Do they really just wait it out and not even try to check if the bleeding and cramping are symptoms of that or something else? I'm confused and I think I need a new doctor. Any suggestions?
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