Hi Julia,

I am so sorry about giving you the figure 30% and a fright, you
are so right it is around 10%, I had the 30% figure in my head
because that is if you have had two, such as myself, sorry.
I don't tend to worry so much about age, I've been 32 and 35 and
now I'm 37.(yikes) This will also be my third c-section.
I personnely believe it is to do with blood supply to the placenta
in alot of cases. After my second abruption they took my placenta
away to examine, it was thin and showed weak areas and small clots
aswell as the main rupture. I had alot of blood tests done and they
found I had Factor V, which increases your risk of clotting.
You said you had thrombocytopenia, I know it is not uncommen during
pregnancy but as far as I understand it is to do with low platlets,
which is part of the clotting system. It does seem to point in the
same direction!!
I think if they can find a possible physical reason, then that's
good because atleast they have an idea what to keep a check on and
what treatment could help.
I am 21wks so far and on LMWH and 150mg Asprin plus folic acid
which they say is important because of the clotting aswell as the
usual, are you taking it?
Jack was born at 30wks, he had an apgar score of 0 and it took
them along time to resuscitate him, he then spent some time having
to be on a ventilator and spent 3mnths on special care but during
that time he got stronger and stronger. We are so lucky considering
the lack of oxygen and ventilation because he hasn't any long term
problems at all.
Barney was born at 36wks, he wasn't as lucky and was born asleep.
It seems so wrong that one line can sum it up.(going on some more
would just mean more tears anyway)
It sounds so negative me telling you about my two abruptions but
please remember that they were before my Factor V was diagnosed and
without any medical treatment.
As you know it is so hard to diagnose, scans might not pick it up
etc plus it can happen suddenly.
You don't alway spot or see blood because sometimes the bleed pools
behind the placenta.
AFP levels have been found to be high in women at risk of abruption,
I am back at the hospital on Monday so I will ask about this and
let you know.
Hopefully in 3wks you will have some answers and know how they are
going to support you, then you might be able to relax abit.
I am sorry to hear about your second child having PVL, I hope it
isn't very bad and that they are both doing well.
Congatulations on your third, relax and think possitive.

Take care,
Annie.

PS Remember all those %'s and negative figures are without any
treatment and they have learnt so much in the last few years, so try
not to worry.


--- In placentaabruption@yahoogroups.com, "jcrarndt" <arndt@s...>
wrote:
> Hi Ann,
>
> I'm so glad you replied! I'm a little discouraged by the 30%
number
> (I read numbers on the Internet that varied, but most said about
> 10% -- but, hey, you can't believe everything you read, right?).
I'm
> also 35, so that's an added risk, as well.
>
> Congrats on your pregnancy. How far along are you? Are you
taking
> LMWH and Asprin? What other things are you doing to try to
minimize
> the risk of another abruption? I hope that your babies survied
the
> prior trauma to your placentas. How are they doing?
>
> My ob/gyn referred me to a perinatologist, so I'm hoping that they
> can help me understand what might have caused the prior chronic
> abruption. Unfortunately, I can't see him for another few weeks
> because they need to see the first ultrasound, which I can't have
> until the 14th, as I'm not far enough along in the pregnancy right
> now to see anything. The ob with my last pregnancy didn't
> investigate at all and never discussed it with me, and the new ob
I
> saw today thought there might be some link between my gestational
> thrombocytopenia and the abruption. However, she deferred to the
> perinatologist. So....another 3 weeks at least until I hopefully
> can get some answers. I will talk to him about what you
mentioned -
> doppler, u/s, aspirin, LMWH.
>
> Did you ever get an answer as to what caused your abruptions?
>
> Thanks again for your reply and good luck!!
>
> -julia
>
> --- In placentaabruption@yahoogroups.com, "Ann" <annbastain@b...>
> wrote:
> > Hello Julia,
> > I am so sorry for what you have been through, I know how scared
> you
> > must be feeling now.
> > There is an increased risk after one abruption they say it
> increses
> > your risk by about 30%, hay but thats not 100%.
> > I have spent alot of hours on Pubmed and Medline and trials are
> very
> > possitive about treatment with LMWH and Asprin to help prevent
> > clotting and keep the placenta healthy.
> > I am pregnant with my third child, I have had two severe
> abruptions
> > and if I didn't think there was hope I wouldn't be taking the
risk.
> > (still a scaredy pants though)
> > Ultra sound scans can sometimes pick up a tear or bleed but not
> > always.
> > Having a doppler done also checks the blood flow through the
> > placenta.
> > Checking the babies progress too because nearly all seem to be
low
> > birth weight, the hope is if they are growing well with good
> weight
> > the placenta is healthy and feeding them well.
> > This will be my third c-section too but they said that was not a
> > prob.
> > Do they have an idea what caused your abruption have they done
any
> > tests?
> > All in all just relax (yeh right, easy!)it does not mean it will
> > necessary hapen again. I hope someone wiil email you with their
> good
> > experience and reassure you.
> >
> > Take care,
> > Annie.
> >
> > --- In placentaabruption@yahoogroups.com, "jcrarndt"
<arndt@s...>
> > wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > It looks like the activity on this board is low, but there are
> > over
> > > a hundred of you out there, so hopefully you're reading this
and
> > can
> > > respond!! : )
> > >
> > > I just found out yesterday that I am pregnant (unexpectedly)
> with
> > my
> > > 3rd. I have a mixture of emotions about this, the most
prevalent
> > of
> > > which is fear. You see, my 2nd was born with periventricular
> > > leukomalacia (PVL), a brain damage that in her case the
doctors
> > > believe was due to a chronic placental abruption. I never bled
a
> > > single drop during my pregnancy, and thought that everything
was
> > > going very well. However, I bled a lot when I first started
> going
> > > into labor at 38 weeks and during delivery they found old
blood
> on
> > > the placenta. I delivered both children via c-section, so
this
> > will
> > > be my 3rd c-section, as well.
> > >
> > > Has anyone out there given birth successfully after having a
> > > previous abruption? Any advice you can give? Do prior c-
> sections
> > > also increase the risk? Are there any diagnostics that a
doctor
> > can
> > > do to monitor if I'm having an abruption? I don't think that
> > > bleeding is the only symptom, since I never bled with my last
> > > pregnancy.
> > >
> > > Any help or words of advice or encouragement is greatly
> > > appreciated. I am really nervous.
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > >
> > > Julia