Low Lying Placenta - 36 Weeks

[lolabanola]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of having a low lying placenta or if anyone knows anything about them?

I am 36 weeks and have just come back from having a scan where I was told that the placenta is low lying, I have to wait now until Friday to see a doctor to see what my options are. The midwife said that they may wait for me to go into labour naturally and then see how much I bleed ... I would much rather have a Caesarean though as I don't want to take any risks. Would be great if anyone has any info as I know i'll be worried now until I see the doctor on Friday! I was worried about the labour anyway as this is my first baby but now that has increased drastically as I am now completely unsure as to what is going on!

This info may help:
www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/complications/placentapraevia/

Is the placenta actually praevia (covering the cervix)? If so, elcs seems to be the only real option. If it's low but not that low I guess they/you could wait and see, but it may well mean an emcs rather than elcs.

Are you all set-up to go to hospital for a c-section? Bag packed, etc?

Thanks for the reply and the link. Bag partly packed but will be finishing it off today!

The diagnosis was 'Low placenta, leading edge does not cover, but within 2 cm of internal os'

The baby is 6lb 11, does this seem big? I still have another 4 weeks left!

bump

Mine was noticed at 28wks "2cm from os"

It gradually moved away though & at 36 weeks it was no longer "low lying"

I was told if it didn´t move I would need a cs due to the risk of bleeding & loss of life to both baby & myself.

Firstly don't panic.

I don't think it will move at 36 weeks (they don't actually physically move, rather as the uterus stretches the placenta moves away from the cerrvix - described to me as if you put a cross near the neck of a defalted baloon and then inflate it the cross "moves" in relation to the neck)

At this stage there is little more stretching for the uterus to do so the likelihood is that the position wont change.

The guidelines are usually if you are less than 2cm from cervix the a c-section will be recommended. I would imagine that is what your consultant will want to do.

One other thing if you get any bleeding please go straight to hospital they will want to see you.

Also take scan sizes with a pinch of salt - I was scanned during labour and DD was measured as 7lb 2" - she came out several hours later at 6lb 1"!

hi, i had this and had to stay in hospital from about 36 weeks, i did have a couple of bleeds but that's why i was kept in.

did go into labour naturally but had to have a c-section, was really ok so don't worry too much! just bit boring having to stay in hosptial but at least it makes you rest

You have time now to prepare mentally/practically for a CS, but I wouldn't insist on one if there's a chance you can deliver as normal.

My placenta position was fine at my 20 week scan so bleeding in labour was the first sign of a problem. DS's heart rate dropped to 40bpm after an hour of being 'stuck' at 9cm. My EMCS took place 6 minutes later after a trolley sprint to theatre

It turned out that I had partial placenta praevia and each contraction was pulling my placenta away from the wall of my uterus hence the 600ml blood loss. They decided against a transfusion but I looked like Casper for a few weeks until my iron levels improved

Mine was low at 36 wks so was rebooked to 37.2 weeks and it had moved, but only just enough to allow a vb! The sonographer spent ages scanning me and then got the doctors approval.