Low lying placenta - Have been given no advice at all

[loopylouu]

I had my 20 week scan yesterday and was told again that I have a low lying placenta (posterior).

Anyway, she explained nothing to me, despite me asking her. This is what my notes say:"The placenta is posterior and and low reaches/covers the OS".

I have had bleeds and pain at 11 and 17 weeks and each time told that my placenta was probably the cause.

So, yesterday the sonographer gave me no info at all. She said they would re scan me at 36 week, but seeing as I went into labour with my ds at 36 weeks, I said could they do it earlier please, just incase. After much umming and ahhring she said ok, make an appointment for 32 weeks.

She gave me no info, didn't answer any of my questions, I asked if I would see a consultant, she laughed and said "well, they are busy so I don't think so!" and I was sent on my way.

One concern have is that I had ds by c section and I am worried that the placenta has adhered to the scar.

My mother and two sisters all had placenta accreta with their second babies (none of them had had sections perviously) and my mum and one sister had hysterectomies as a result. They all had natural birthd and a horrendous time of it, my mother was ill with infections for months after I was born.

I am scared that it will happen to me now too. I actually want another section, I have already been told by the midwife I will have a fight on my hands for a repeat section seeing as my ds was born 11 years ago, and I want one even more now with this worry (that would be a fight with the magical, mystical consultant that they won't even tell me the name of, let alone let me see (hmm))

Any advice would be great.

I have booked to see a private consultant for a scan at 24 weeks, I need some kind of reassurance or some advice and to talk about the possibility of checking if the placenta has adhered to my scar. I am pissed off I have had to do this just to try and get some answers/reassurance.

Hi LoopyLou

Just wanted to say Hi, and say I understand how you are feeling.
Like you I was told at my 20 week scan that I had a low lying placenta except mine is anterior. They hardly told me anything, didn't give me an idea of how far away it was or anything, merely sent me on my way with a scary worksheet and a follow up scan at 32 weeks.

At my 32 week scan I was told it was still low (still don't know how low!), and was sent down to see the doctor who scared the life out of me telling me not to do anything strenuous, don't have sex etc and that a section seemed likely. A scan and consultant apt was booked for 34 weeks.

At 33 weeks I had a bad bleed and was admitted. They said it was down to the placenta and kept me in for a few days, gave me steriod injections and said if I bled again like that it would be an EMCS

I had my 34 week scan on Monday, and was finally told that the placenta was not covering but was touching edge of cervix. Sonographer said consultant would 'definitely' book me in for a section when I saw him on Wednesday.

Wednesday came, and consultant said there was still time for it to move so has booked me in for an internal scan and another apt at 36 weeks!

I guess where I am going with this, is that at 20 weeks there is still a good chance that things will sort themselves out and so they will not make any decisions with what should be done until much further on (36 weeks in my case!)

In my trust the placenta needs to be at least 2cm away to attempt a natural birth, and they will always encourage you to wait as long as possible before opting for the surgical route.

I'm sorry to not be of more help, but I hope that you at least feel less alone in all of this. You still have a bit of growing to do etc.
If your placenta is still low at 32 weeks then I would request to see a consultant if they do not already suggest it.

Low placentas are common and do mostly sort themselves out, so my Fingers are crossed for you that yours does rectify itself.

:)

Thankyou.

Like I said, I want another section, so that's not the problem, I am just worried that the placenta has attached to my scar.

I have also read that posterior placentas are less likley to move.

I am just so pissed off that there was no information at all.

I am 20 weeks, scan is on Tuesday. I got told at my 12 week scan that I have a low lying posterior placenta, but not to worry as it will probably move. I have had two sections before and as my boss pointed out (she's a consultant anaesthetist) its an anterior low lying placenta that's tricky with sections.

Carhpip - I was also thinking that as it's posterior, that means it's away from my section scar, right?

God, see this is why I want to see a consultant, just to ask a simple question like that.

I don't have any experience, but I read this earlier and popped back to see if anyone had replied.
I was going to say what the others have said, placentas move, and yours it at the back, so away from your scar. Everyone says try not to worry, but at 20 weeks, that's pretty much all you can do.
If no other appointments are forthcoming in later weeks, then be loud, and tell every medic you see, until someone reassures you, but as it is in your records now, I would hope that this will be flagged up repeatedly. Nobody can safely give birth with a placenta blocking the birth canal so they can't ignore this. BUT, there is half a PG ahead of you, and your uterus has a hell of a lot of growing to do. They just need to keep an eye for now.

I hope it will be flagged up!

It would just have been nice to have things explained, she was terrible, she totally ignored me, talked over me and fobbed me off.

So far I have had to tell everyone everything all over again at each appointment.

They only checked my ovarian cysts as I reminded them they were there, seemed to have no idea I'd had a past section at 36 weeks (even though she had my notes in her hand), didn't link the bleeding at 11 and 17 weeks to the placenta until I told them that at each of those scans they had mentioned a low lying placenta.

They are a bit useless tbh. I had such a bad experience with ds, he had a lot of complications and almost died due to no one listening, not asking the right questions and not looking at notes, I am more scared than ever now.

Can you transfer to another hospital?

I had a posterior low lying placenta with my first child (5 years old now). I didn't know until I started having contractions at 30 weeks. I was admitted, and the consultant (who was the head of the dept) was actually there waiting for us when we arrived on a SUNDAY! he did a normal scan, and hooked me to some steriods to boost the lungs of my baby. I was also signed off work because he said the placenta was completely lying over the OS - no hope of it moving and even if it did it wouldn't move far away enough for it not to block.

They were worried about bleeding. I thankfully never had any bleeding but then spent the rest of the 9 weeks checking knickers.

I had a c-section at 39 weeks. DS was born at 8pounds 1. all very smoothly.

good luck. I would think with a couple of bleeds already, you need to be seen by the consultant especially with the low-lying placenta...!!

It's complicated as I am transferring to private care at 36 weeks (I had a terrible birth and postnatal experience with ds, so I am not taking any chances this time).

I could transfer to the NHS side of the hospital I am going to deliver privately at I guess, but they are sister hospitals and I have been to both (the other one is close to me, so that's where I got a taxi to when I had a bleed and I was seen at their EPU at 11 and 17 weeks).

I am at the hospital I am at now as thats where the consultant I am going to transfer privately with at the other hospital does her NHS work - she was going to try and have me under her care on the NHS, but she was told she wasn't allowed to in the end as it would be a conflict of interests as I am paying her from 36 weeks.

So it's all a bit of a mess.

The midwives wouldn't even tell me the team consultants name

I would transfer to the other hospital. Yours sounds awful.
I would also try not to panic. Im assuming that if you transfer to private, they will give you a good once over when you do. They will know what to do.

Thinking about it, one thing you do have in your favour, is that you know that your placenta is low lying. Care plan aside, you are fore armed with the knowledge and will be able to react instantly to occurrences that others might overlook.

I know, but it's sad that I have to keep asking them about things really, isn't it? What if English wasn't my first language, or I was very young and vulnerable?

If all goes well I will only be at the hospital twice more before I transfer to private - for the 27 week GTT and for the re scan at 37 weeks.

I know. I was under my GP for antenatal care with my first 2. I was early 20s. I might as well not have bothered! I look back to those deliveries and I realise that I had no idea what was going on! I had a sweep at one point and Im damned sure I didn't consent to it! And I was induced both times. There was no support for hanging on or waiting it out, I just did what I was told!
You will be out of there before long, all you can do is just keep vigilant and stay on the ball. Crap as that is!

I would suggest contacting AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services) for support. Your midwife absolutely should have helped you to be referred to a consultant, and if you want a planned CS then you'll need to see one anyway, so better to get this arranged as soon as possible. AIMS will be able to give you some ideas of who to talk to, where to go, and be a very strong advocate for you for anything you need.

www.aims.org.uk/

Helpline: 0300 365 0663 or email [email protected]

I was also told I had a very low posterior placenta at my 20 week scan. I have been told there is nothing I can do to prevent a bleed and to contact hospital straight away if I notice any bleeding or spotting. I am booked or rescan at 32 weeks. Apparently the placenta grows significantly between 28-32 weeks so in 90% of women it will no longer be a problem. They will rescan again at 36 weeks if 32 week scan doesn't put me in the clear. Worth discussing with your consultant what they would do, I know you are going for a planned c-section but royal college of gynae guidelines suggest that if you have had a bleed or placenta position is graded 3 or 4 at 32 weeks, they look to bring you into hospital for bed rest at 34 weeks or suggest you have a constant companion from that point if you remain at home. Either option would take a bit of planning, so worth checking if either of these would be an option for you as finding out at 32 weeks doesn't give much time to sort out other childcare etc. good luck, will have my fingers crossed that we are both in the 90%.

agree with littone - I was graded a 4 at 30 weeks. so was signed off work. and for a few weeks at least, I had someone with me all the time or rather, didn't venture away from the home!!! I was told if I had a bleed I was to call 999, not to just drive myself or even wait for DH to come home to drive me....

organiccarrotcake I didn't actually see a midwife, I just had the scan.

When I saw the midwife at 16 weeks, I asked about seeing a consultant as I want another section, that's when I was told that there was no point, they would never agree to it anyway after an 11 year gap since my last section.

They won't even tell me the name of the team consultant.

I am going to go private within the hospital anyway from 36 weeks. The consultant I have chosen works there under the NHS too, when I spoke to her she said how unfair it is, that I would have to fight so hard for a section on the NHS there, but with her, she'll go through the pros and cons and if I want her to do a repeat section, then it's m body, my choice.

However, if I do need a section if my placenta doesn't move then that might be a different story. But, due to the problems with ds birth, I will probably still go private, there are certain things they will do privately as a precaution that they won't do on the NHS (without a fight) to try and ensure the same problems don't incur again.

(Btw, I am not going private for the birth on a whim, one of the reasons for the 11 year age gap was the trauma I went though and the fact that I wanted to save up to pay for better treatment this time, emotionally and physically. The treatment I have had so far with the NHS really hasn't done anything but reinforce my decision to have a private birth, i just wish I could afford for private anti natal care too).

I am not clear about what you are panicking about tbh.
You have been told the placenta is low and will be rescanned to check later on which is correct procedure.
You have a posterior placenta and your scar from your previous CS is hardly going to be around the back of the uterus is it? I just don't know what your NHS hospital has done wrong here.

I'm not panicking, I am just frustrated at the lack of information given, and the fact that I had to ask for a scan earlier than 36 weeks as I'd had my ds by then, is I'd like to know earlier this time incase I go into labour early this time. There was nothing at all and no option to talk to anyone about it.

It's the constant rudeness as well and getting the brush off, first from the midwife, then from the sonograher.

Rosh how about not offering any support to an expectant mother who has obviously been through a traumatic experience in the past and who has current concerns which a few answers would resolve for starters!?
It doesn't take a minute to say "we can see this potential problem, but there is a long way to go yet and things often change. Try not to worry, we will take another look in a couple of months and work from there."
There are midwives on screening units who can speak to you about your fears. Being dismissed like you are an idiot for asking is just not on.

It mainly pissed me off that I was so worried about scar adhesion yesterday. She didn't tell me my placenta was posterior. I asked her and told her that I was worried about accreta, but she ignored me the first two times. DH asked again and she said that it was complicated and not to worry myself about where the placenta was. Why couldn't she just have told me?

It was only when I read my notes that I say posterior and I had to google and reassure myself (again and again) that it was away from the scar.

My ds almost died at birth and had a rocky first few weeks in SCBU partly due to his problems not being picked up at birth due to negligence, so this time round I am a lot more pro active and crap treatment is making my blood boil.

I shouldn't have to look things up myself to be reassured, and I certainly shouldn't have to keep repeating that I went into labour at 36 weeks previously and that it would be a good idea to learn where I stand before then just incase the same happens. FWIW, when she said they would rescan at 36 weeks, she said standard was then to discuss a C/S with a consultant at 38 weeks. If it's anything like last time, that will be too late.

All I expect medical professionals to do is to quickly and efficiently tell me the facts or refer me to someone else who will, not just brush me off.

I think your concerns are valid - if at least the brusque communication that you've been subjected to. I would suggest you speak to the head midwife or OB/gyn team. I would put your last few posts in a letter and address it to them.

Hi, just came on here to ask the same sort of question and saw your thread. i had my 20 week scan today and also have a low placenta, lying over my cervix. This is my first baby but last year I had a missed miscarriage which required 3 surgeries to remove all the retained tissue - so I am also worrying about placenta accreta now. The lack of information is rubbish isn't it? I am being rescanned at 32 weeks again by somographer but am seriously considering booking privately somewhere for an expert opinion just to be safe. Not given any advice about lifting/excercise etc.

Considering your c-section and fam history I think I'd be demanding to see the cinsultant and make a plan if it's low at 32 weeks. Good luck fingers crossed it moves up.

I suffered placenta praevia with DC2&3.

With DC2, I expected to go on as normal until a planned section at 38 weeks, the same as 3 friends had. I was given no advice, other than to call the labour ward if i bled. At 33.5 weeks I had a big bleed and was admitted. Released 2 days later i managed 24 hours at home before being readmitted. Bled on and off until planned section at 37.5 weeks.

With DC3, I asked at 13 week scan if they coud see the placement of the placenta, the sonographer said not, so it was either top or bottom. A second PP was confirmed at 21 weeks. It was very different from the previous time.

I was rushed to the EPU to see a consultant, although none was available so I was booked into clinic the following week. I did see midwife the same day and was advised of the following:
No sex,
No flying
No lifting
No pushing shopping trolleys
No exercise

I had my first bleed at 24 weeks, then 26 weeks, 3 times at 31 weeks then after another at 33 weeks I was in for the duration. At 24 weeks I was told I couldn't work, I said that was ridiculous, I was told 2 weeks off then back to work. Unfortunately 2 hours after going back to work I had to go back to the hospital. We agreed I could work reduced hours from home, later I worked from the hospital.

I had a planned section booked for 37 weeks, although now (and then) the recommendation is 39 weeks. After a partial abruption at 36 weeks, DC3 was born at 36+1, although that required a very large hissy fit together with a very clear statement hat I would be holding them responsible if they did not do the section.

If you have any questions, I can tell you what happened to me.