Low lying placenta at 20 weeks. Reassurance needed please!

[abigboydidit]

So, this is why me + Google = bad idea!

Had my 20 week scan today and was told I had a low lying placenta and would need a scan at 30 weeks then possibly again at 32 weeks. I shrugged it off, assuming it was nothing (too busy oohing and aaahing at my scan photos..) but just googled and discovered that it is a placenta praevia (I always wondered what that was!).

Am getting all uptight now (I have a tendency towards panic!) but trying to step awaaaaay from Google! I had an emergency CS with DS but had hoped for a normal delivery this time around. Now am in a flap that am going to end up on bed rest! Has anyone else had this and then found it moved by the next scan? Is is more normal than my catastrophic thinking is leading me to believe? I'd love to hear some real life experiences rather than the horror stories the internet has shown me.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, me.

With ds, (first child) it was low at first scan and moved.

I ended up having a CS (with both) - but for wholly unrelated reasons.

It was all a very long time ago now but I think I did have some bleeding throughout the pregnancy with ds, in fact, I know I did, but I didn't get put on bed rest (presumably it had moved, or whatever, by the time bed-rest might have been considered).

Chin up, my dear! Congratulations, congratulations on your (second) pregnancy!

(I saw a gorgeous baby/toddler on the tube today and was soooo jealous of her mother!)

RCOG info for you

50/50 chance I think

Did they say if the placenta is covering the os (cervix) at the moment? If it isn't, that's good!

I had this; it never moved upwards and I had a CS which went smoothly after a very uneventful pregnancy.

I googled and scared myself to death; step away from the computer!

I am currently 28 weeks and at my 21 week can they identified that I had a low lying placenta. At this stage they do not usually refer to it as placenta previa, until it is later on in pg and a cs needs to be planned - so my sonographer told me! Anyway, I have a scan planned for 32 wks but what I did want to share was that apparently 90% of them move so a good chance it will and we won't need a cs!

Good luck x

I'm 29 weeks and waiting till 32 wks for next scan. Most do move but if it's very low and covering cervix the chance is less. My baby is breech position too and I think breech position can be caused by low placenta! I'm nervous about the next scan too.

Thanks everyone. My placenta is also anterior, which Googling ( I know, I know..) suggests is really unlikely to shift out of the way. I can accept another CS but it's the bleeding/bed rest stuff that is terrifying me! Good to hear people don't always have that!

..oh and thanks for the link Bertha. Seems 50/50 it moving after previous CS so not 90% for me Magicrabbit

Mine was low lying at 20 weeks and I got re-scanned a few days ago, at 36 weeks. It was 11 bloody cm away! I was told it would need to be more than 1-2cm away to consider a vaginal delivery.

The odds of it moving depend rather on how close it is (covering the os it's less likely to move, merely near to and it's very very likely to move). A previous section would make it less likely to move also but still, most move.

I have had no bleeding at all at any point and to date have had a completely trouble-free pregnancy. The internet does unfortunately usually highlight the rarer more problematic cases for everything.

Good luck. Most move.

Hi, mine didn't move unfortunately but I only found it debilitating (post section) for a matter of days...only having the one child I don't know how this compares to a 'normal' cesarean, however my placenta started to bleed and I suffered a massive post partum haemorrhage (not what you want to hear, I know).

I didn't really need much bed rest though, I'll be honest, first couple of days were very uncomfortable but within the week I was recovering well.

How was the recovery after your first section?

I think placenta previa actually refers to when the placenta covers the cervix rather than it just being low lying or near to it. Someone may correct me on this though.
I was told that my placenta was low lying at the 20 week scan. Apparently it needs to be 2 cm clear of the cervix for it not to be a problem. Mine was borderline so I went back at 36 weeks and it had moved right up.
It might be worth looking at your notes to see if it states exactly where the placenta is. It's my understanding that low lying placentas are very likely to move whilst full previas are much less likely to do so. The sonographer told me that something like 95 percent of low lying placentas move in time so try not to worry.
Finally keep away from google. My placenta was also anterior and I convinced my self that I was going to bleed to death or end up with a hysterectomy following a cs for placenta previa ...... All courtesy of horror stories on the net!
Good luck!

Just has my 32 week scan as my 21 week scan indicated I had a low lying placenta too. This latest scan showed it had moved so I am on track for a vaginal birth as I hoped for. Good luck, hope the same goes for you but I'd told myself to look on the silver lining side of c-sections so that if the news had gone the other way I could focus on the positive, ie knowing in advance the day our lovely little DD2 will be joining us.

My comment is the same as (zookeeper). I managed to go on the sick from work at 6mths, and spent my time at starbucks reading the paper and chilling'. My dd was born a healthy 8lb 2oz much bigger than ds at. 6lb. The whole second pregnancy experience, in hindsight, was very relaxing. Hence the higher birth rate I think! Just do as your told and relax and take things easy . The last thing I wanted was to be confined to bed rest do I made sure I chilled and all was ok.

I was told to carry on as normal as if I was going to bleed I would whatever I did. at missing out on Starbucks sofa sessions

Have you actually been told its placenta previa? Or is it simply a low lying placenta?

Most placentas move, mine did. They only have to move 2-3cms away from the cervix.

There's no point wigging out over PP unless you've actually got it.

Hi I had low-lying placenta with partial coverage of my cervix with both my last pregnancies. In the second pregnancy I also had quite a lot of bleeding as this was the partial covered cervix and my placenta kept coming up at that end. Gross sounding I know. However the good news is that both times it moved and I had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. I have my 20week scan next week for dc3 so will see where it is this time! Good luck and try not to worry.

Thanks everyone. Badgerina - if only my brain was wired that way! Give me something to that might happen and I'll fast forward to the worst possible scenario in my brain! It just means a lot to me to avoid a CS as I live in the sticks and DS will be 20 months old so being trapped in the house recovering from surgery would not be good. If it has to happen then I will accept it, obviously but I don't want to get my hopes up if there is no chance. Last time was an emergency section and it didn't go well (lots of of blood lost, had to get an extra wide scar..). Also we can barely afford mat leave as it is and my employers start your mat leave early if you're signed off sick so that's another scenario I want to avoid.

See..am a worrier!

bigboy I do know what you mean! Having said "there's no point wigging out", of course there isn't any point even saying "there's no point wigging out" because we all bloody do it don't we! It goes hand in hand with being a mum really.

I was told I had low-lying placenta with DS1 and was very keen to avoid a CS. Mine moved and I bet yours will too. The way the uterus grows over the 9 months, means that in all likelihood it will

Another perspective ... Mine didn't move. I had a scan at 32 weeks, and they said, nope, not moved, come back at 36 weeks and we'll discuss options. OK. 2 weeks later I had a bleed in the middle of the night, went to hospital. I kept having little bleeds, nothing major, all very boring. And then contractions, so I had a cs.

Ds1 went to NICU which you'd think would be scary but actually meant I got to sleep all night and cuddle him all day, which is a good way to get over a cs. We were both in for 2 weeks so dh took his paternity leave then (to look after dd). And by the time we came home I was able to look after them both and dh went back to work. Prem newborns sleep all the time, which helps.

I know this is isn't really what you wanted to hear, but I'm trying to say that the disastrous scenario doesn't have to be that bad, either!

Oh blimey! Poor you Bertha! But thanks, I know what you mean. My birth with DS was pretty horrific but it's funny how quickly you can shrug it off providing everyone comes out the other side healthy!

I was told i had low lying placenta at 20 weeks, completely covering cervix. I've also had a previous c-section and was given very little hope that it would move. I was rescanned at 34 weeks and it had moved, but not by enough. Scanned again at 36 weeks and all clear so worth keeping positive. No point worrying about something you can't control (easier said than done, i know!)

I got told at 20 weeks of my pregnancy I had placenta previa. They made me come back at 28 weeks to see if I still had it come to find out that I did so I started to worry. I decide to do som research on it and i got scared, now am 32 weeks and i have a low lying placenta its not covering my cervix completly but now I have to worry if am getting a c-section. I will find out on thursday and am still scared. I never had this with my other babies

Oh I totally understand your nerves genie and there doesn't seem to be much information/support offered, does there? Good luck with your scan. I have to go back at 30 weeks and 32 weeks which seems a bit confusing!

I'm in the same position. I'm 21+5 and the placenta is completely covering the os. Have been offered a scan at 36 weeks but it's worrying me as others seem to be getting scans far earlier.