Anterior placenta 12mm from internal os... what does this mean?

[katiegolightly]

Hi everyone,

I'm 29w and starting to think about the birth. I've just been digesting my notes from my 20w scan which state "The leading edge of the anterior placenta is approx 12mm away from the internal OS." At the time the sonographer just rebooked a scan for 36 weeks and said, "could need a CS, could move - let's wait and see."

I didn't really take it in at the time but now I'm fretting a bit and would like to understand more about the likelihood of it moving, whether the 'leading edge' makes a difference etc. Does anyone else have any similar experiences?

I think I'm equally scared of all birth options... and although I'll obviously take the advice I'm given as and when, don't know whether I should be pushing for a CS if there is a chance they'll be quite happy to give me one given this.

The 2 things that worry me most about a CS is weirdly whether this will remove the magic and cause me to be disappointed not to have gone through a VB, and secondly the thought of being incapacitated for weeks longer than a VB - I'm desperate to get up and walking around the block asap, the thought of being housebound and laid up makes me very very tense! Did anyone else feel like this?

(I'll admit there is a vanity reason here too... would quite like to be active as quickly as possible in order to fit into the wedding dress 4 months after the birth!!)

katie

The internal os is the opening of the cervix within the uterus (external os is at the top of the vagina.

If you half blew up a balloon and drew a spot on it near the neck of the balloon, this would roughly represent where the placenta was at 20w. If you then continued to inflate the balloon, you would see the spot stretch away from the neck of the balloon which is how the placenta moves away from the cervix.

At 36w you'll be told if the placenta has stayed too close to the cervix, if it is close or touching / covering the cervix then you'll be advised to have a c/section. The biggest risks are bleeding and placental abruption. The likelyhood is that it will move up and all will be well, but you won't know until you are scanned again. The waiting and not knowing is so frustrating, and I'm sure you'll worry about it, but try not to (easier said than done, I know!)

Suzy x

Thank you Suzy, that's a really helpful explanation! x