Anterior placenta

[Dozeyland]

Is this good or bad?

I thought it was good, but some people have mentioned it in a negative way :s

DD had anterior placenta, and was back to back at like 34weeks, but then She came out fine, normal Ceph?

Sorry forgot to add this one is anterior placenta too, 26+4

DD ad an anterior placenta - just means its attached to the front of your womb rather than the back. Can make it a bit harder to feel movment early on or to find heartbeat but shouldn't be a problem. Think posterior is more common though.

Oh, I felt movements really early on, & HB was found at 7 weeks at scan!
Ok, just thought i'd ask, does it have any effect on labour?

The two main differences with an anterior placenta are that it can cushion movements and you are marginally more likely to have a back to back baby as they like to face the placenta. This isn't a problem and you're still more likely to have a baby who is in the anterior position but a back to back baby is slightly more likely to be seen with an anterior than a posterior placenta.

It's neither good nor bad. It's just where the placenta is. Posterior probably more common but as long as it's not low down or covering the cervix then it's just one of those things.

I felt movements v early with dc1 (anterior placenta). Lots of big kicks and movements all the way through. It wasn't until I had dc2 (posterior placenta) that I realised how much the placenta cushioned things first time round.

Doesn't affect scans.

I've got one, it did mean early out that I didn't feel kicks as strongly, but now at 38+4 they are as strong as with my first child whose placenta was posterior. This baby is still head down and back towards the front so no difference there, not sure about labour as haven't got there yet, but wouldn't think it would make any difference at all.

I have one - was freakng out at 18 weeks due to movements being so faint and infrequent but then found out placenta position at 20 week scan. Am 22 weeks now and get some quite strong kicks but all low down or to one side. Didn't know I was more likely to have a back to back delivery - bloody great!

I just made sure that I wasnt slouching, MW said upright positions or completely flat, or on left side are good as baby isnt encouraged to swing round. when your slouched, your tummy relaxes and is like a "hammock" for them apparently

dd3 and ds (dc#4) were both anterior placentas, both normal cephalic deliveries. I felt movement much later and movements were very reduced compared to dd1&2 who were posterior.

wasabi you are NOT more likely to have a back to back delivery. Back to back is slightly more common with an anterior placenta than a posterior but you are still far more likely to have a front to back baby. For example (I am making up these figures entirely), you could have a 3% chance of a back to back baby with an anterior placenta but a 2% chance with a posterior placenta. It's just slightly more likely but not the norm iyswim.

Sorry, I am shineoncubicwhatsit, just changed my name back. I'm not explaining it very well.

I had an anterior placenta and dd would NOT move from back to back however.

Ah I see Showofhands - thanks for clarification!

How else can you encourage back to back baby?

I felt movements loads with both (having Ant placenta) And movements are very strong too..

What are the causes for anterior/posterior? just the way your body is made i guess?

It's just the way it is. As you have more and more pregnancies the placenta attaches in a different place each time (avoiding the previous place as it's weaker). I guess the first baby implants wherever it implants and the placenta forms correspondingly.

Like I said, I couldn't shift my op baby whatever I did. But sitting up, leaning forward, on a ball, hands and knees etc all help. Spinning babies website is good.

I had loads and loads of movement with dd. My bump rippled and moved, she woke me up etc. Then I had ds and a posterior placenta and it was another league entirely. I had not idea that movements could be stronger than they were with dd. Also depends where the placenta is because it can be at the front but high up or off to the right or left and then it depends where the baby is in relation to it.

Bottom line is that an anterior placenta isn't a problem.

Dozeyland, placenta location is presumably due to where that magic bundle happens to implant itself after conception. Pure chance I think. I've had 2 posterior placenta and this one is anterior - just how they land! As for encouraging good position for labour all you can do is follow advice for optimum foetal positioning - sit up straight, no slouching, get on all 4's etc!