To be confused about low lying placenta?

[Pregnancywhat]

Had my 20 week scan yesterday and everyone looked good, so was feeling so happy.

just as we were leaving, the doctor runs out and says oh by the way you have a low placenta so you’ll need to come back at 32 weeks and if it hasn’t moved then we will ‘clear it out’. But 9 out of 10 times, it will move.

Obviously I have googled and have seen warnings about big bleeds, bed rest, no sex etc but can’t see anything about what ‘clearing it out’ might mean?!

i am going to try and speak to someone over the phone but any ideas please?

Hey midwife here! You cannot clear out a placenta whilst pregnant. Also the placenta itself doesn't move, the uterus grows and stretches and the part of the uterus it is implanted into moves up away from the cervix. If your placenta is too close/covering the cervix then they'll offer you a LSCS. Possibly misheard him?

@USaYwHatNow thank you!

I didn’t mishear but English wasn’t his first language and although I’m living in an English speaking country, I’m outside of the UK so possibly I misunderstood a local phrase / colloquialism.

Hopefully my OBGYN can clear it up and let me know exactly how low it is etc.

Thanks all!

The OBGYN didn’t know what clear out meant.

Its 1.7cm away so not covering the exit but too close for their liking. She had advised lighter exercise and no sex which is rubbish.