Low lying placenta and sex

[ClaireSunflower]

Hi, I am 22 weeks pregnant and had my scan last Friday. All was thankfully fine, apart from that I have a low lying anterior placenta. They told me that I would need to come back in at 32 weeks to get rescanned but not to worry because the majority of placentas move up. I wasn't given any other advice or restrictions.

Having looked online, lots of people with low lying placentas have said they were told not to have sex because of the risk of bleeding so I am not sure if this is something I would need to be careful of? Surely i would have been told at the scan of this was the case but I don't want to risk harming the baby or bleeding. Has anyone else experienced this?

[MoonlightMojitos]

I was told the same at your scan last week and like you I Googled as soon as leaving! We've just dtd lol so will let you know if anything happens :/ BUT from what I read I think the sex restriction is only if it still hasn't moved after the next scan. I wasn't told any restrictions so am going to carry on as normal for now :).

[MoonlightMojitos]

Also I think it depends on it it is actually covering the cervix or just close which ours are? I guess if it's covering it then sex could irritate it whereas if it's close its fine, but as the cervix dilates during labour that's when it could open up to meet the placenta if that makes sense?

[MissMooMoo]

Hi Op.
I also was told I have a low lying placenta at my 20 week scan, I am being rescanned at 33 weeks to check if it has moved.
DH and I have had sex a few times since the scan and all has been well, we weren't told not to!
They said if I have any spotting or bleeding to come in but other than that no restrictions.

[badg3r]

In other countries the advice is to not have sex if you have a low lying placenta.

[Spam88]

I was told at my booking in appointment that sex throughout pregnancy was fine unless I was told I had a low lying placenta at the 20 week scan. Maybe give your midwife a call to check?

[Tonytonymacaroni]

I had low lying placenta and it was also anterior so it covered both cervix and where a c section cut would be- it HAD to move! I tried to put it out of my mind until 33 week scan and it did turn out to move up. I was told 9 out of 10 times it moves up as the baby grows. I wasn't told not to have sex, just got the same warning as others about the risk of spotting/bleeding. Try not to worry! likelihood is it will all be fine x

[123bananas]

Depends where the placenta is. With dc2 low lying anterior not covering sex ok, placenta moved. Dc3 full praevia anterior to posterior sex a no no, placenta didn't move.

[GrowingAPea]

I was told if sex triggered bleeding, too avoid it and to avoid strenuous activity/ exercise. I have bled a lot tho, so maybe if you haven't bled yet it's ok. I'd ring your midwife and ask!

[Firsttimemama2017]

I have a low lying placenta diagnosed at 20 week scan and was advised no sex or heavy lifting. I would check with you midwife as the advice may depend on ho lo lying you placenta is (mine was covering the cervix completely).

[SeashellHoarder]

I had a low placenta and I was told no sex when it was discovered at 20 weeks.

They don't tell you at the scan though, it's not the sonographer's job to give advice like that. Your midwife or doctor will advise.

If in doubt ask the midwife.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

I was told ideally no sex. Or try and if bleed then stop

But df and I don't want to risk it as bubs is ivf and taken Many years and attempts

Can't remember when we last had sex ......

Didnt have it to get preg 😂😂

[Joceshe]

Even though my placenta was not covering or touching cervix (1.7cm away instead of 2cm) i was still given the advice of no sex as a precaution. So annoying as i know advice differs it appears from trust to trust and i have had no bleeds fron sex up to the 20 week scan. Im paying for a private scan in about 6/7 weeks to see if its moved up though cause im not being rescanned til 36 weeks and would rather know earlier if its moved up for reassurance.

[MoonlightMojitos]

Hmm funny how the advice has varied. I'm going to carry on as usual unless I do bleed as I wasn't told otherwise and had no bleeding so far. Not seeing the midwife for another 5 weeks so it seems strange to say the sonographer wouldn't tell you as it's not their job? If it wasn't your first then that could be 28 weeks til you see them and you can have a hell of a lot of sex in 5-8 weeks 😂! Mine is anterior too so hopefully it will move.

[Joceshe]

To be fair, The sonographer didnt give me any advice. She sent me up to the day assessment unit with my scan report and it was there that i was given a booklet on low lying placentas and midwife outlined the advice to me directly. If it wasnt for that, i would have nothing outlined to me. Still find it odd myself how advice differs all over though. Wish it hadnt been explicitly said to me cause im very much frustrated atm lol.

[MissMooMoo]

My sono also didn't say anything except that it was low.
I don't see my midwife until 25+6 so it seems silly that I would wait nearly 6 weeks before getting advice about it!

[ClaireSunflower]

I know, it does seem strange that the sonographer wouldn't offer any advice about it. I've got my next midwife appointment in 3 weeks so will ask her then but will carry on as normal, if maybe a little carefully for now. I've thankfully not had any bleeding so far but still a bit worried!

[Sunshinegirl82]

I had a low lying placenta and did have some bleeding at about 22 weeks. Stayed in hospital overnight on one occasion. It was very scary but ultimately all was well and ds was born at 39+5. I think generally they don't advise you to refrain from sex unless you have bleeding. I was under the consultant and after the bleed she advised no sex, no lifting, nothing strenuous at all and signed me off work for 8 weeks!

If you don't have any bleeding then I think you're fine to carry on as normal.