Low lying placenta -any experience?

[spritesoright]

I was told at my 34 week scan that the placenta is still a bit low (although apparently babies' head is descended beyond it, I don't quite understand the logistics). But apparently it needs to be 1-2cm higher in order for me to avoid a c-section.
They are scanning it again in 2 weeks and then I will speak to a consultant about it.
Has anyone had experience of this? I'm just wondering how flexible they will be if it hasn't moved. I really don't want a c-section.

I had a low lying placenta but luckily it had moved before I gave birth, It is very common for people to have it and 9 times out of 10 they move. There are some exercises you can do to help it along, like sitting on a medicine ball instead of a chair (I think it pushes your pelvis forward) or lots of stuff on your hand and knees if I remember correctly (it was a while ago!). Perhaps try googling for the exercises.

I was told at my 20 week scan my placenta is low. I'm 26 weeks now and have a scan at 36 week to see if it has moved up. I'm feeling a bit unsure about it as she didn't give me much info on it

Thanks. I did some further reading on it and it seems it is more likely to move up between 20 and 34 weeks than afterwards, IYSWIM.

So sweet pea you are probably in with a good chance of it moving.
thought the risk was just baby being stuck but apparently it's linked to bleeding.
Excellent advice re the medicine ball, I've been looking for an excuse to get mine out anyways.
I know I need to prepare for the possibility of a c-section but the idea brought me to tears today.
Fingers crossed.

I had a low lying placenta with dd2 that moved up. The lower uterine segment expands a lot in the later third trimester, it may still move. They can scan before delivery even if still low in two weeks just to check to give it the best possible chance to move up. It is more likely to move up if it is anterior.

Hi, I had placenta praevia with both DC 2&3. It was classed as grade 4 both times which is as severe as it can be.

With DC2 I had a scan booked for 34 weeks to see if it had moved, but at 33.5 weeks I was admitted with bleeding. I had to have a CS.

After the birth, I asked if there was a risk of it happening again and was assured it wouldn't!

With DC3, at my 13 week scan I asked the person doing the scan if they could see where the placenta was (even though this us checked at 20 weeks) she said she couldn't see the placenta which meant it was either at the top or the bottom. We guessed then that it would be PP again.

I was admitted with bleeding at 24 weeks, 26 weeks, three times at 31 weeks before being kept in at 33 weeks. I ended up with an emergency CS at 36+1.

If you have any questions, ask away.

I had pp, grade 3 major, 4 huge bleeds and emergency section. Mine was there from 20 weeks, never moved at all. And i have been told it is more likely to happen again, this was baby number 5 so won't be risking it again :)

Sprite I am in a very similar situ to you. I have another scan at 36 weeks (next week for me) to see if placenta has moved, but consultant thinks it is unlikely. I will therefore have a planned section at 39 weeks. Very sad but the planned nature of DC's arrival is starting to appeal to me. Have my FX that it does move though! Good luck to you too.

I had the added complications of a prosterior placenta and transverse baby :( a very skilled consultant had to cut through my placenta and turn baby to get him out !

I was also told I had a low lying placenta at 20 week scan. Am booked for another at 32 weeks, sonographer said of still low will be scanned again at 36 weeks. According o the info from my hospital 90% of those detected at 20 week scan will resolve themselves. Have also read posterior joined placenta (which mine is) is less likely to move. I am now 30 weeks and thankfully no bleeding experienced so far. Have my fingers crossed it will move, this is DC3 and having managed two natural deliveries haven't yet got my head around having a c-section!

Be careful littone, i first bled at 32 weeks, if it does happen sit down and call 999, hopefully it won't but it can be life threatening if you do xx I had 2 rides in ambulance with blue lights !

Right, so I have to prepare for the worst but hope for the best? I haven't had any bleeds yet so that seems positive. I think mine is posterior but isn't that normal?
Mikii sounds like you had an awful time of it both pregnancies.

Ruey, hope your scan goes well. Mine is next week too.

I had GD with first pregnancy and was so thrilled I didn't get it this time, and now this... Ah well, we'll see.

I just found this useful information from the RCOG as well.

www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/low-lying-placenta-after-20-weeks-placenta-praevia

I had a low lying placenta at my 20 week scan so was booked in for a rescan at 32 weeks. I assumed that the placenta a would have moved as it does in 90% of cases. It hadn't, and is unfortunately touching the os, and right down below the baby's head. I have a rescan next week at 36 weeks to see what the situation is about giving birth, but the consultant thought it likely that it will be a c section .

Placentas can still move enough at this stage though, otherwise they wouldn't bother rescanning you. There was a lady on here recently who was booked for a section due to PP, but was scanned on the day of her ELCS and it was found the that the placenta had moved enough to try a vaginal delivery.

After my scan at 32 weeks I was put on "pelvic rest" (no sex, no internal exams etc) but apart from that have carried on as normal. Both the consultant and midwife have said I'm very lucky to have had no bleeding so far, but I may be admitted to hospital next week as a precaution It feel a bit like I'm waiting for a bleed, and every day without is a bonus! Do let me know how you get on and what happens as I'd be really interested, and I will update next week after I've had my scan and know more.

I have a low lying posterior placenta, which has moved downwards since my 12 week scan and is now touching the os, I am 27 weeks and have not had any bleeding yet and am booked for a rescan at 35 weeks. This will be my third section, only worry I have is that I'm prone to big babies. First was 9lb second was 10.9lbs, have had a gtt which was normal but am measuring large again! Here's hoping everything runs smoothly till my section date :)

Comfyonesie, that's good to know they can rescan on the day of the section! Wow. Yes, do update next week and I will try to do the same.

I would love some pelvic rest (does this involve lying in bed and watching box sets?)- not really feeling up to sex at the moment anyways.

Awful to be constantly anticipating a bleed.

I didn't realise placentas could also move down, hadn't thought of that!

Pelvic rest just involves no sex and no internal exams, but I like the idea of the box sets!!!! I don't know how pelvic rest helps, as the baby is still stomping all over the placenta from the inside!

I was on bed rest from 32 weeks :( then hospital bedrest from 35 weeks after the 3rd bleed ! It depends on the grade if it might move a grade 4, or grade 3 major is very unlikely to move, mine was literally peeled off my cervix during the section !

I'll try and update too, after my scan next week. Will be interesting to see what the outcomes are. Praying for a growth spurt taking placenta up and over, so to speak!

With DD1 (DC2) I was fine until 33.5 weeks. She was transverse, but managed to turn herself at about 36 weeks. Unfortunately she got herself wedged and the consultant had to use forceps to get her out in a CS! He said it was the first time in 25 years he'd needed forceps in a CS.

most people who have PP, are completely stable. Tinker belle and I are rare exceptions, we are special

My friend had an almost identical situation to you OP. Still low at 34 BUT hers moved by 36 weeks when they rescanned. So don't give up hope.

Thanks tinker belle, I had a pph with DC1 5 days after birth and had the blue light run to hospital, so if the worst does happen I will calling an ambulance with my legs elevated. I am now 30 weeks, baby head down. My iron count is in normal range too which I am pleased about, hopefully making a quicker recovery if I do have a bleed. Aiming to get all baby stuff out and washed before scan incase bed rest is recommended. Wil reopen back after scan at 32 weeks. Fingers crossed for you all ladies!

Well I had my 36 week scan today. Completely unexpectedly my placenta moved from touching the os at 32 weeks to well up and out of the way today. The sonographer got the consultant himself in to check and re-scan me, and there is no doubt about it - all clear for a natural birth I'm so, so relieved and happy! It also means I don't have to keep worrying about potentially having a bleed. Apparently the odds of this happening are pretty low, so I am very very lucky!

Hope everyone else who is waiting for a scan gets good news too, and looking forward to your updates.

Delighted for you comfy! Good luck!

I had low placenta with DS, had a CS, it was brilliant. Nothing to be scared of. Mine wasn't covering the cervix but still too low for consultant's liking, plus it was anterior so I lost a lot of blood because the surgeon had to cut through it to get DS out. But the whole procedure was very calm, quick and the hospital took excellent care of us afterwards. So please don't let the possibility of a CS upset you - it may move but if it doesn't, a planned section is a very different prospect to an emergency one :)

Comfyonesie that's fantastic news, congrats. Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I lost the thread in my TIO.

My scan is tomorrow so I'm holding my breath. Good to hear about your positive CS experience though, Hubba. I need to stop freaking myself out about it.