This week, I am excited to share an interview with a mom from South Africa who had placenta previa at 20 weeks. She gave birth to her daughter at 31 weeks pregnant. Jacyln submitted her story on my website and wanted to share so other women going through similar don’t feel as alone as she did. If you are interested in sharing your story, click here.
In the past, I have interviewed a preeclampsia survivor from the UK and her husband as well as a postpartum preeclampsia survivor. I also interviewed a preeclampsia survivor who started her own Instagram page to bring awareness to NICU babies. I am in awe of these strong women who have taken something so traumatic and horrible into something that helps others.
I am a preeclampsia survivor, and if you would like to read my premature birth story and journey with preeclampsia, click here
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Placenta Previa at 20 Weeks: Jaclyn’s Story
About Me:
My name is Jaclyn. I’m a first-time mom to Allegra, who was born at 31 weeks and is now 13 months old. I live in Cape Town, South Africa.
Tell me about your pregnancy:
My pregnancy was very difficult. I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) and was extremely ill from 6 weeks until 6 months.
Tell me about when you were diagnosed with placenta previa at 20 weeks.
I was diagnosed at the 20-week fetal assessment scan. They told me it wasn’t serious but that I would need to have a c-section because natural birth quo’s be too dangerous.
What was it like the day your baby was born?
It was the scariest day of my life. I had to have an emergency c-section. Since it was unexpected, my husband did not have time for a negative Covid test so he could not be present for the birth.
When did you know something was wrong?
The day before the birth I experienced bleeding and was admitted to the hospital overnight for monitoring and to try to prevent early labor. I was given steroids but they did not have enough time to take effect.
Tell me about the NICU stay.
The NICU stay was very challenging, especially because the restrictions under Covid meant that my husband and I could only visit our baby for 1 hour a day and never at the same time. Even when I was still in hospital, on the same floor, I could only see her for 1 hour. I wasn’t allowed any visitors and had to listen to and see healthy newborn babies with their moms in the maternity ward all day and night. I checked myself out earlier than they recommended because I was so miserable and lonely.
I felt like I had lost a limb without my baby in my stomach or by my side. I knew she was in the best hands but I worried about her constantly.
Every time my phone rang I almost had a heart attack thinking something was wrong. Often it would just be a nurse asking me to bring more diapers or milk. I felt incredibly helpless. I was told to express milk every 2-3 hours. Luckily I borrowed an electric breast pump from my sister and I was able to express milk from the day after birth. I knew nothing about expressing milk or breastfeeding but this was the one thing I felt I could do. It wasn’t easy. Especially setting my alarm every 3 hours through the night to express.
Cleaning and sterilizing all the parts every time and storing the milk correctly. It was incredibly overwhelming at first but I kept it up for a year. Now, 13 months I am still breastfeeding but have stopped expressing and do not miss it at all.
What advice do you have for parents of other 31 weekers?
Join an online support group and connect with other moms who have been on a similar journey. They will be happy to share advice and encouragement. It all seems so overwhelming at first but the time goes quickly and it does get a lot better and easier with time. Trust the doctors and nurses, they know what they are doing.
Express milk as much as you can and be consistent. The more you pump the more supply you will have. Look at a photo or visualize your baby when expressing if you can’t be with them. Store your milk for future use.
Premature babies grow faster and are often stronger and more resilient than full-term babies. This will serve them for the rest of their life. Sing to your baby and tell them you love them. They will not remember the trauma of their NICU stay but they will always remember your love. Remember to also take care of yourself accept help from friends and family and reach out for help from professionals as well if you are not coping.
Did you struggle with any emotions of failure/upset that placenta previa at 20 weeks happened to you?
Yes, I did and I still do at times. I felt guilty that I had somehow caused the premature birth and that my body had failed me and my baby. I felt robbed of the birth experience I had always imagined. I was also diagnosed with Postpartum Depression when my daughter was 3 months old, which I believe was partly caused by being separated from my baby while she was in the NICU, only being able to visit her for 1 hour a day. I’m scared to have another child.
What makes you so scared to have another baby after placenta previa at 20 weeks?
There’s a high chance of having it again. It doesn’t necessarily mean you will give birth prematurely but there’s always a risk.
Did you know placenta previa could happen before it happened to you?
I first heard of it when I was pregnant and a friend of mine was diagnosed with it. I knew nothing about it before. She was admitted to the hospital in her third trimester but delivered at 38 weeks.
I’m so grateful for Jaclyn vulnerably shared her story of having placenta previa at 20 weeks and giving birth to her baby at 31 weeks. I am in awe of women like Jaclyn who are willing to share hard things that they went through during pregnancy and birth to help other women going through the same thing.
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If you are a preeclampsia survivor or HELLP syndrome survivor and would like to share your story, please click here to submit a short summary of your story to be shared either on Instagram and/or blog post. I would love to share your birth story and keep spreading awareness. I am trying to gather as many preeclampsia survivors’ birth stories as possible to spread awareness.
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Great post!