Low lying placenta

[teabagfreak]

Hi

I had 20wk scan yesterday and everything great with baby ☺️ and got the most amazing scan pics.

I’ve to get another scan in January as I have a low lying placenta. Just wondering who else had this and did it sort itself out? Ultra-sounder didn’t seem worried at all however after reading the leaflet she gave me away it can cause quite a lot of problems if it doesn’t move...

[MadeForThis]

I think in most cases it moves upwards as the baby grows. I wouldn't worry too much yet. They will monitor you and if it stays low I believe they will do a planned c section. But it only happens in an incredibly low percentage of people.

[bulldogmum]

I had this with DC1, we had the 32 week scan and the placenta had moved so no need for a c section.
Currently 26wks pregnant with DC2 and again I have a low lying placenta. We have our scan at the beginning of Dec to check if it’s shifted.
It’s quite common and the placenta usually moves, if not they plan a c section.
On a slightly diff tangent we consider it quite lucky as we get an extra scan to see our baby at 32 weeks that most don’t get!

[teabagfreak]

@bulldogmum I know I said this to my OH as I was disappointed when I heard we only got two scans (This is my first pregnancy) and when she said we get another scan at 32wks I was excited.

I am not worried just now and the good thing is that it will be monitored 👍 I have no particular preference yet as to how I give birth just as long as baby gets here safely ☺️

[whattobeexpected]

I have/had this too, at my 20 week scan they mentioned a low lying placenta and booked me a 28th week scan, but I had one yesterday at 24 weeks (for something different) and they mentioned it had moved already, I think in most cases it does move eventually!

[Oldschool41]

I found out I had a low lying placenta at 12 week scan, I had extra monitoring and by 28 week scan it had moved: so fingers crossed for you 😀

[Needadvicetoleave]

I had low lying placenta at 20 weeks, rescanned at 34weeks and it was fine.

[PandaCat]

I've been given another scan in January too for the same reason! I think most cases it moves, so hoping I am one of those cases!

[Binglesplodge]

Glad to hear so many saying they got the all-clear after low-lying at 20 weeks! I have a 28 week scan next week because of a low-lying anterior placenta picked up at the 20 week scan. I think they're concerned about accreta as well as previa because my DS was born by emcs so there will be scar tissue there too. I'm really hoping the 28 week scan will show movement...

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

I have an extra scan in January for this too. Apparently in 9 out of 10 cases the placenta moves upwards - a reassuring statistic!

[Binglesplodge]

Yes, I've read that too: very good odds! I've read elsewhere that the odds aren't so good if you've had a previous section though so I'm torn between looking on the bright side and googling worst case scenarios.

[HbH]

Hello!

Mine low at 20w scan & still low at 32w scan.... they like it to be 2 or more cm from the exit, mine 1.4cm... being rescanned on Monday (36w) to see if has moved and will go from there!

Have had conflicting MW opinions on whether it’s likely to have moved sufficiently in 4 weeks! Also, no one said whether 0.6cm is a lot to move or a little!!

Seems like lots of peoples have moved in general though between 20 & 32 (I wasn’t worried about it at all & was quite surprised mine hadnt!! 🙄)

[KadabrasSpoon]

If it's posterior about 90% move up. If it's anterior it's a bit more complicated as previous c section scar can make it difficult for it to move up.

If it remains low then get a bag packed and go straight in if any bleeding. And do take it easy - pelvic rest!

Mine was unusual in that it moved up a bit and was almost at the required 2cm at 32 weeks but then moved down again or perhaps it had a 'tail'. Anyway DS delivered by EMCS at 35 weeks due to a bleed. He's 3 now so even if you bleed they will look after you both.

The consultant did say it's unpredictable and they can't guess whose will move up. Good luck!

[IllBeAtTheBarIfYouNeedMe]

I had a low lying placenta with my1st dc. It hadn’t moved up to quite the ideal distance by 36w but my consultant decided to ‘risk’ a natural delivery. Not the words you want to hear and made for an extremely anixious labour but dd was fine and is now 15.

[Binglesplodge]

Just updating my anecdote on this thread - 28 week rescan showed the placenta was now above the uterovesical fold. All is well so I'm another example of a problem at 20 weeks that resolved by 28.

[TheVoiceOfTreason]

I have this too, also got an extra scan booked in as a result (21 Dec). Sonographer did not seem worried - apparently it corrects itself in 90% of cases, and even if not, worst case scenario you have a C section. Anecdotally, I know loads of people who've had it where it corrected itself. Husband and I both said that if this is the worst complication or health issue we have to deal with throughout the pregnancy, we will take that as a win!

Fingers crossed they end up where they are supposed to be!

[KadabrasSpoon]

Voice sorry but that's not the worse case scenario. Bleeds can be very serious depending on size and how early baby has to be delivered.
DS is fine but still has some minor health problems. Keep notes with you and a big bleed means go straight in.

[KadabrasSpoon]

Sorry don't mean to worry anyone. Just wish someone had told me. I might've packed my bag!

[Anatidae]

I had this.

Most cases clear the OS - the placenta doesn’t move so much as grow up as the uterus expands. The bottom segment of the uterus kind of unfolds at a certain point so it’s common to have a low lying placenta that clears eventually.

Some don’t clear. Mine didn’t and I had to have a c section. They also picked up some unusual vessel placement over the OS so that was my main worry. I was told to take it easy, and any bleeding at all to go straight to hospital. For the last month or so I wasn’t allowed to be anywhere too far from hospital.

I was lucky - no bleeds after an initial one, a slightly complex cs where a few complications appeared but dealt with by the surgical team. Ds fine and healthy, easy enough recovery despite a bigger scar than usual.

If you bleed at all, you need to be seen immediately - other than that just go with it.

[teabagfreak]

Thanks for your replies, so is it worth having notes on me at all times and a bag packed even when I’m only 22wks pregnant and it may move? Or should I wait till get scan in January 22nd when I’m 32wks if it hasn’t moved.... 🤔 I have read a lot about the complications it can have and sometimes life threatening but I thought nothing to worry about at this stage?

[Anatidae]

no harm in packing a bag in case you need to go in for a few days of observations but it’s not a necessity. Most placentas that are low at 20weeks resolve just fine - roughly 90% do.

At this stage there’s not much you can do. If you do have a bleed, go in immediately but the chances are you will have a normal delivery and no issues.

[Rebekah120517]

I found out at my 20 weeks scan that I had a low lying placenta. At 25 weeks I had a bleed and was hospitalised. They then found a blood clot and said the placenta was still low. At 26 weeks I had another bleed. I’m now 27 weeks and have been told to rest up. I’m not sure if they are worried more about the clot than the placenta because I have heard it usually moves up. Being scanned at 30 and 32 weeks. Hopefully yours moves up. X

[Anatidae]

Useful link

placentaprevia.wordpress.com

[KadabrasSpoon]

No harm in packing a small bag if you want. DH brought me the most useless collection of stuff when I was in on bed rest. Clothes that didn't fit, small white knickers...

[SammyL100]

My sister had her 20 week scan and eas diagnosed with complete previa. She is absolutely terrified as she has been told risk if bleeding and haemorrhage and pre term labour is much higher.

Does anyone know what the likelihood of their being complications are?

[Anatidae]

It varies greatly sammy but a scam showing a low placenta at 20 weeks isn’t by itself a reason to panic.

She should talk to her midwife/doc about her specific circumstances and what their recommendations are for her.

90% of previa found at 20 weeks move. Between 50 and 60% of women with a previa will have some bleeding and the majority of these are not life threatening bleeds.

If she has any bleeding at all she needs to be seen immediately. Otherwise the best thing to do is just watch and wait. If she does any strenuous physical activity normally she should talk to her midwife to see if it’s ok she carries on.

If it doesn’t move, the. She will likely have a c section. She may lose a little more blood than normal but it should all be managed ok if there are no other complications.

Best thing to do is step away from dr google and talk to her MW.