Posterior Low Lying Placenta. Do I need to worry.

[McPhee]

On Wednesday I had my 20 week scan, and the sonographer found my placenta was really low. I've got to go back and have a repeat scan in a few months to recheck. But has anyone else had this because I'm trying to not let it cloud my head, and over worry about it. Did yours move, and if not what happens?

Hi McPhee,

I had the same with two pregnancies, and both times it moved by the time I had the next scan. Usually (my midwife said about 95% of the time), the placenta will move as the womb expands.
If it doesn't move and blocks the entrance to the womb, they will strongly suggest a c-section, as they don't want to risk the baby getting stuck during labour or the placenta being delivered first.
In the meantime, the only thing to watch for is any bright red blood, in which case you'd call midwife and go immediately to hospital as it could indicate the placenta is peeling away from the uterus. This usually only happens with placenta previa, so is unlikely to be a problem for you.

Mine moved out of the way fine. MW also told me is about 95% chance it will shift up as you get bigger so do try not to worry too much! The odds are good.

I had it too. Was hospitalised 2x with spotting at 32 and 39 weeks all was fine though and dc was born naturally on due date. Most move as your bump grows but mine waited until the last minute! :) just be aware & go to labour ward if unsure or any bleeding.

It's silly but what I'm more worried about is if it turns out I can't have a vaginal delivery It's my first baby, and I really wanted it all to be textbook. Reality has been a bit different though, so far. I've had bleeding before, so I'm always on the look out for a repeat of that. Is it normal to have become an avid knicker checker

Off to look up placenta previa.

both mine were very normal, fab births- the placenta is very likely to move, so in your position, I would keep planning a vaginal delivery. Knicker checking is completely normal :)

Please don't worry too much about placenta previa- they would have told you if you had it- low lying placenta is much less of a worry.

Yep you're right, I officially hate google. Wish I'd not checked

I've got an appointment this morning to discuss my antenatal choices, whatever that means. This baby growing lark is a minefield isn't it

I did the google thing too- bloody awful isn't it?
You don't need to make any choices yet, it's still early days. Ask loads of questions if you have them and hold off on deciding about the birth until after your final scan- there is a huge amount of time for that placenta to shift. :)

Hello - I was told the same thing at my 20 week scan. I had a scan with a consultant (there were a couple of measurements they wanted to check too) and she also said that it was very likely it would move out of the way. I had another scan a few weeks later and found that the placenta seemed to have moved the wrong way and was now 'covering the exit route' as my consultant explained, so I would be having a CSection. I had another scan yesterday and booked in for the date (also found the baby was extended breech, so really doesn't want to come out the traditional way!).

When I was first told I would have to have a C section I was shocked and gutted. I think I was most shocked because everybody seemed certain that the placenta would move, so I hadn't expected it not to. With DS1 I had a very positive birth and was actually looking forward to doing it again. I also hate the idea of not really doing anything this time, but having it done to me. However, if I was to try and go through labour it would be incredibly dangerous for me and the baby, so I really don't have any choice. Last time I had to be induced and I was pretty gutted about that too, but in the end it was fine, so I'm trying to take a 'what will be will be' approach and not get stressed about it.

I was told the same thing on Tuesday and am being rescanned at 32 weeks. The sonographer said most people's moves as you get bigger (think of it as putting an x on a balloon then blowing the balloon up). If it doesn't move it means a c-section or a very carefully managed VB. Which is fine except I also have low platelets and if they drop below a certain level I'm not allowed to have a spinal block and I have to have a managed 3rd stage (last bit is fine by me, its what I had last time and I don't want another hour or so of delivery once dd arrives just for the placenta!). Here's hoping the platelets rise a bit and the placenta moves or the nice calm water birth I'm aiming for won't happen.
If you do have to have a c-section, you can still think about the kind of birth you want, whether you want your dp to cut the cord, who tells you the sex, how skin on skin can work etc to make it as good a birth as you can.
Good luck, hope it moves!

McPhee- it's totally normal! It was my first too and I hated google but odds are it will move & if it doesn't then they will do what is safest for you both. Keep knicker checking & stop googling ! (hard I know!) plan for a vaginal & wait and see. If low still on 32 then they will rescan at 36. Plenty of time yet.

I do need to stop stressing over everything, I know that. My god I'm not normally this irrational It's weird really how much you seem to change as a person even before the baby comes. Well I met my consultant today, and he wasn't unduly concerned which was good. I don't need to see him again until after the scan to check the placenta. So I'll carry on fumbling my way through pregnancy until then

I had the same thing said at my 20 week scan. I had to go back about 2 1/2 weeks later for another scan for unrelated reasons [DS had been awkward so they hadn't got all the measurements they wanted] and it had already moved by then.

Had the same with DS2, he was breach too, night before 38w scan he turned and kicked the placenta out of the way. Good boy! :)

I had this at 20w scan. Rescanned at 31w and had him five days later by emergency section at 5lb4 and home in three weeks. Placenta hadn't moved, but I'd had a previous c section which I know can have an effect. Am sure it'll all work out.