Anterior Placenta - Anyone Else? What Does it Mean?

[BabyQuin2020]

Afternoon Ladies,

On a recent scan, the Sonographer picked up that I have an Anterior Placenta.

Awaiting my next appointment with my Midwife, but in the meantime, has anyone had any experience of this?. If so, can they shed any light? What does it mean? Does it cause any issues?.

TIA
xxx

[Dec19baby]

All it means is that your placenta is at the front of your stomach. Doesn't mean anything for the baby or the delivery. However you may not feel any movements for a while in the beginning. I have one and I didn't feel anything until well into my 20 weeks, more like 24 weeks.

[Jesskir89]

I also have one and felt odd flutters but nothing much until 21 weeks. Then last week as I reached 25 week my dh felt him for the first time and can see movement now too. Its completely normal don't worry

[Serabi]

Absolutely nothing to worry about! I just left kicks a bit later than most people and felt them more round my sides. Old wives tales probably point towards a girl too if you buy into the nonsense!

[Jesskir89]

Pp I'm having a boy lol

[BabyQuin2020]

Thanks all - I feel abit better now! Was worried there for a sec.

So far I've had a couple of 'belly somersaults', but don't know if that is baby or indigestion!.

Will be 19 weeks tomorrow and @Jesskir89, p.s/ we are having a boy too!

[Em020497]

I've got an anterior placenta, this is my first baby so didn't expect to feel kicks until later on. However I started feeling flutters around 18 weeks, then could feel definite kicks from the outside by 21 weeks xx

[Jesskir89]

Op congratulations :) I was worried too and felt I would never feel him properly but now I can not only feel him constantly but so can others and I can see my belly move at times :) give it a few more weeks x

[BabyQuin2020]

@Jesskir89 Thank you!! Will report back when I feel his first kicks

[Jesskir89]

Op please do :)

[Pip231018]

I'm much in the same boat. I'm 22 weeks and can't feel a thing. At 19 weeks I went to triage for reduced movement (I did feel quivers and fluttering). They said that the baby had moved up. and since then nothing. Had my 20 week scan last week and all was fine.
I just worry as I don't look pregnant really, I can still fit in to some of my jeans and I can't feel anything.

At my scan I asked the Sonographer where my placenta was and she said the front, when I asked if that is why I didn't always feel her she said 'not really, some people say that' - which wasn't very reassuring.

I try to tell myself she is just sat at the back of my body and movement will come. Whenever I go to a scan she is always wriggling but just sad I can't feel it. X

[BabyQuin2020]

@Pip231018 That's the exact same thing I worry about to honest. I've felt little movements like swishing but dont know if it's indigestion as this is my first and I have nothing to compare the 'movements' to. It's good to hear that shes always wiggling around when you see her We have our 20 week scan tomorrow so praying everything will be ok. We had a private scan the other week as we couldn't wait to find out what we was having and that's when the sonogpraher said I have an Anterior Placenta. Hopefully the movement comes for us both soon xx

[Dec19baby]

@Pip231018 that sonographer doesn't sound very nice at all, and she's wrong. It is very much why so much of us with anterior placenta don't feel movement compared to others. The baby is still very small at 20 weeks and having a placenta cushion them means you will struggle at times to feel them. So don't worry. Once they're bigger you definitely will, but I was also told that women with anterior placentas will be seen more in triage for reduced movements compared to others.

[HappyHarlot]

It also means an increased risk of bleeding if you have a caesarean section as it may cover the area where they cut into the uterus. They may have to cut through placenta.

[Monstermoomin]

I had one in my pregnancy (baby nearly 6 months now) I felt flutters from around 16 weeks but I had a lot of anxiety with movements from about 26+ weeks as I couldn't figure out a pattern etc due to placenta placements. I took reassurance with cold drinks and something sugary and a lie down to help focus on movements if I was worried and had a few checks with triage.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! ☺

[Pip231018]

Thank you for the replies. As a first time Mum, you don't know what to expect or what is normal. I know everyone has a different normal but I just wish I felt something or looked pregnant as I could take reassurance for it. Ive tried shining a torch on my stomach to see if it triggers a reaction but if I feel something I can't tell if you want a because I'm looking out or if it's genuine.

That Sonographer was a dream compared to the one at my 12 week scan, she needed to go on a course for how to interact with the general public.

I'm trying not to worry too much, hoping that I begin to feel something soon. I try and tell myself I'm lucky that I'm not showing too much yet as it's good for my skin and bank balance. But, I can't help but feel a bit of a fraud. My parents are coming over for Christmas (they live abroad) and my Mum can be quite tactless (she doesn't mean to be) and will probably put it down to my body type.

Really hoping your scan goes well @BabyQuin2020 and I hope you feel your baby move soon. Xx

[BabyQuin2020]

@HappyHarlot I have read that too which worried me just in case i end up having to have a C Section. I have also had spotting aswell from about 8 weeks up until 17 weeks which has been checked and is all ok, but I did wonder if any of it was connected.

@Monstermoomin I'm sure at some point I will end up going to Triage for the movements, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. Especially as my first, I don't really know what they feel like anyway!. My Midwife isn't concerned so that reassures me and every scan we have, he is VERY active ha!

@Pip231018 I totally agree with you. As a first time mummy myself, I don't know if it's indigestion , wind or baby! ha. I felt the exact same up until about 16 weeks and then literally overnight, my bump just appears out of nowhere. I am fast approaching 20 weeks now and you can certainly tell. I was at that in between ''is she fat? or ''is she pregnant?'' for ages and felt so fraudulent so keep positive, your little bump will soon appear.

We had a private scan the other week (couldn't wait to find out the sex!) which picked up the Anterior Placenta and were pretty disappointed in the service we received. She also didn't me any details about what the Anterior Placenta was, just ''Speak to your Midwife'' And that was paying for the scan. We felt really rushed and our pics were terrible quality. So sad as we had used that Clinic before and had a totally different experience and lovely pictures, even early on on the pregnancy.

We have our 20 week scan so praying everything goes ok!. Google is terrible for reassurance I find.

Fingers crossed you feel your little one soon, same as me.

Keep us posted on how you get one xxx

[Monstermoomin]

I wouldn't over worry about the c section thing. I had an emergency c section and they just delivered the placenta first, they are very skilled surgeons after all!

[Jesskir89]

@pip231108 baby doesn't open their eyes until week 26 that's when they react to light etc. Try not to worry ladies, I know it's hard as I was the same but I feel him daily now. It will happen :)

[BabyQuin2020]

Morning Ladies @Monstermoomin @Jesskir89 @pip231108

We had our 20 week scan yesterday and pleased to say, all went well!. Our boy is growing as he should and the Sonographer didn't find any anomalies, what a relief!. I got so worked up about it before we got there.

He's got long legs, big lips and is a little wriggler!. He kept moving every time she tried to look at his face. I wish i had felt something other than the probe on my belly though, but she did say my Placenta is Anterior Fundal. At the top and on the side apparently. Can Placentas move? or perhaps the Fundal wasn't picked up on our private scan?. She said as long as it's not laying at the bottom of my cervix, then there's not much to worry about.

So relieved to see he is ok even though I can't feel him....yet.


xxx

[Jesskir89]

Op so please all went well for you hopefully you can relax now :)

[HappyHarlot]

I wouldn't over worry about the c section thing. I had an emergency c section and they just delivered the placenta first, they are very skilled surgeons after all!


As an obstetric scrub nurse, it's not quite like that. They do all they can to minimise risk, but the risks are there and greater than a posterior placenta. Especially if the placenta remains low.

OP, try not to worry too much, they'll keep an eye on you.

[Pip231018]

@BabyQuin2020 Ah I'm really pleased. Come on with the movement - Anytime would be good. Fingers crossed it happens soon. I'm still none the wiser. If it wasn't for my giant boobs and looking 8 months pregnant by the end of the day (the bloating is real) then I wouldn't know I was pregnant. X

[BabyQuin2020]

@Jesskir89 Thank you. I feel so much better now. Just wish the movements would hurry up. I know he's there but would be nice for him to make himself know. All in good time eh!?.

@HappyHarlot I guess risks are risks at the end of the day aren't they. I'm sure they wouldn't do anything that wasn't needed and likewise, as you said, they should keep an eye on me.

@Pip231018 Thank you!! I know, anytime would be fantastic. As I said above, I know he is there, would be nice to make himself known. Finger's crossed it will be soon. Oh don't, I look like that anytime I eat something, the evenings more so. Trying to get comfortable sleeping is starting to be come abit of a chore though. Think I need to invest in a pregnancy pillow now. xx