High Risk Pregnancy In Need
Donation protected
My name is Lauren and I am currently 33 weeks pregnant. I have a condition called placenta previa, where the placenta is close to or completely covering the cervix. In 90% of cases of placenta previa the condition resolves by itself prior to delivery. There are 3 types of previa though and mine is called complete previa. It is the 10% of cases that has no chance of it resolving on its own and means my placenta is completely covering my cervix. With complete previa an automatic cesarean is usually performed around 36-37 weeks gestation, I can not be allowed to go into labor. Additionally my placenta is doing something unusual with its placement that my doctor has never seen before making the previa a more complicated condition and more risky surgery. Because of my complete placenta previa I am at high risk of hemorrhage prior to delivery that could result in a much earlier delivery. The hemorrhage can happen at any time with no warning putting me in the hospital until the time of delivery, if I’m not immediately delivered then. This makes things very complicated for my family and puts baby and I at risk. I also have a condition that happens in only about 5-10% of previa cases called placenta accreta, which is potentially life threatening. This is where the placenta grows too deeply into the uterus and possibly through it and into other organs such as the bladder. This condition means an even earlier delivery, as early as 34 weeks and it also means there is a very high chance of a hysterectomy along with the cesarean. The accreta is something that is more difficult to see on an ultrasound so the doctors won’t even know the extent of the condition until they begin surgery. These are of course major surgeries with many possible complications, including fatality. Placenta previa with accreta happens only in about 1 and every 12,000 pregnancies. In most cases the women who do have this pregnancy complication end up in the ICU with a baby in the NICU being born premature, sometimes as early as 22 weeks. I’ve also struggled with many digestive issues making it difficult for me to maintain food and liquid supply. I have lost weight rather than gained and I have to go to an infusion center 2-3 times a week to receive fluids to keep me hydrated. I am also now anemic and my doctor is putting me on iron infusions. So far though, our baby girl is developing normally and appears to be healthy, and we feel blessed that she is. Pregnancy has been hard and painful and is only getting worse and more risky as time goes on. During the remainder of my pregnancy I need to take it easy to help prevent any further complications and hemorrhage. I have had to stop working and I know I could end up in the hospital on bed rest at any point due to a hemorrhage. It is a constant uncertain worry and all we can do is just wait and see what happens. My husband is doing all he can but we can not financially survive on one income and need to plan for about 6 months of me being unable to work, for the remainder of my pregnancy and for recovery time from major surgeries. My husband is going to need time off work to help take care of our son and myself during any hospitalization and during my recovery from surgery. While his time off is allowed, it is unpaid. We do not want to be concerned about where our rent, car payment, utilities, etc is going to come from while also dealing with medical complications and having a premature baby and our son to take care of. We are asking for help so we can rest a little easier those 6 months so we can spend the time taking care of our physical needs and our babies.
Organizer
Lauren Decker
Organizer
Kansas City, MO