Low Lying Placenta @ 21 weeks

[Zaneta]

Right i'm terrrified , went for my scan and the scan shows a low lying placenta, have to go back for scan at 28 weeks told not to lift anything heavy and not have sex, my mum had the same problem with her first child (me) but she was told that her placenta was too "old" and she had to delivered when she was 8 months pregnant.... how did others get on with this condition? and what should i expect thanks

Had the same problem at my scan. However, was told that 95% of the time the problem rectifies itself and just don't over-exert myself in the meantime. Had another scan at 36 weeks and it's now moved over to the left and there's no problems. I think your sonographer is probably just being over cautious. I know it's tricky, but try not to worry. Chances are all will be fine and it'll sort itself out over the coming months.

Low lying placenta is quite common early on but usually by 30 weeks as everything has grown placenta is then up and out of the way

At 20 weeks the uterus has a lot more growing to do. Later on, the bottom third, near the cervix, develops much more.

For the majority of women, this causes the cervix to grow away from the placenta.

Placentas do not move but wombs do grow!

I had grade 4 placenta praevia (as bad as it can be) with both DC2 and then with DC3. I suffer with unstable pp which meant bouts of bleeding, from 33.5 weeks with DD1 and from 24 weeks with DD2.

Have you been warned not to fly? I was also told not to push a shopping trolley.

Current advice for low lying placenta is CS at 39 weeks. I had DD1 at 37.5 weeks, at that time the recommendation was 38 weeks, but that was my birthday and I was already admitted so I negotiated! With DD2 recommendations were then 39 weeks, but with my history of 6 admissions from 24 weeks they agreed to a planned CS at 37 weeks, but we ended up with an emergency one at 36+1.

Make sure you carry your hospital notes and phone numbers with you. If it is more than "drops" of blood, call an ambulance.

Oh bloody hell I've just started a similar thread. Zaneta I'm terrified too. Hold hands? [Thanks]

I was given no more advice than to come back at 32 weeks for another scan. Now I've Googled it and the risks look terrible. I know, I know, step away from Dr.Google but still...

I'm really scared :(

Sick, I know (in RL) 3 other people who have had PP, they all went on to have planned CS with no complications whatsoever. Unstable PP is less common, I was just unfortunate.

Based on probabilities, your placenta will no longer be low once your uterus grows in the later stages of your pregnancy.

Any questions, feel free to ask me. I was given no advice with DD1, so happy to help if I can.

I had Grade 4 PP with DD1. Had a bleed at 31 weeks and then again at 36 weeks and DD was delivered by CS. I'll admit it was a tad scary, but my care throughout was brilliant.

Happy to answer any specific Q's but in the meantime, the fact that 95% move and you can take reasonable precautions - lifting, sex, flying, hovering etc please do try not to worry

Don't be scared. It's very common and more often than not it will be fine by the time you have your later scan. I had a low lying placenta with both DCs but it had sorted itself out by the time I had my follow up scan.

My friend had a grade 3 low lying placenta. It was still low lying when she had her scan and she was booked in for a CS. They prepped her for theatre and then decided to do one further scan before operating - it was in the right position! They didn't go ahead with the op and she had her daughter naturally two weeks later.

"Low lying placenta" means just that - it's lower than average.

As the womb grows the placenta gets kind of 'pulled up' by the changing shape/size of the muscular wall of your uterus, so many a low lying placenta ends up not being a problem at all .

So, try not to be scared day to day. Go for your scan at 28 weeks and see.
If you have a persistently low placenta, depending on severity if will be called placenta praevia, you may need to be delivered by CS.

Fwiw, I bled when I was 25+6 pregnant with DS2, was told I had a low-lying placenta. Bled much, much more the following day by which time it was declared a Grade 4 PP (apparently by definition it cannot be called PP before 26 weeks and the doc I saw must've been a bit of a jobs worth ), I was admitted, bled several times and DS2 was eventually born by emCS at 31+3. It was scary and worrying, but he is now almost 10 yo and absolutely fine. I too had brilliant care and never felt not well looked after.

Here's hoping your low lying placenta will move a bit for you