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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anterior placenta

22 replies

freelancegirl · 30/08/2014 22:25

Anyone else have/had an anterior placenta? I know I will probably get less movement than I did with my DS - am now almost 22 weeks and only feel kicks very low down - but I also feel a lot larger than with him and much more uncomfortable. My bump feels uncomfortably big towards the top and my lungs have felt squashed far earlier than with DS.

Of course I could just be bigger as it's not my first pregnancy (recurrent miscarriage means 7 pregnancies, one child and hopefully this one on the way) but it feels more than that - like all this pressure is at the top and front where my placenta is.

Exhausting!

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ErmagerdANerknerm · 30/08/2014 22:51

I have one according to my 20 week scan notes.

I am 25 weeks now with my second. Didn't feel kicks really until around 20 weeks, but have been able to find a heartbeat with my doppler from 11 weeks.

Some days movements feel very cushioned and deep inside/low down, other days my belly is jumping everywhere, visible outside of my clothes!

My bump also isn't that huge, I thought it'd be a lot bigger for 6 months pregnant with number 2 but unless I wear certain clothing I just tend to look a bit rounder all over rather than pregnant. I don't think the position of the placenta really affects the size of the bump, it still takes up the same amount of space inside your womb regardless of it's position.

Congratulations by the way

Original poster

freelancegirl · 30/08/2014 22:56

Congratulations to you too! Ugh, I've been looking 6 months since about 6 weeks so I guess it can't all be down to the position of the placenta. It's just now I feel I can really feel it sitting there like a wall at the top of my bump. AND I've been nauseous a lot longer with this one too.

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Bellyrub1980 · 31/08/2014 05:50

Yep! 32 weeks with an anterior placenta. I feel kicks/punches pretty much everywhere but at the front of my tummy. Feeling them most at the sides at the moment (baby is breech). I can feel movement eg squirming and rolling about under the placenta though... Just not kicking as such. I didn't feel any movement until 20 weeks.

For a little while I could see movement and feel movement with my hand better than feeling it from the inside (if that makes sense).

haventgotaclue1 · 31/08/2014 06:18

Me too! 28+6 now and it wasn't until about week 22 that I felt anything consistently. Until then felt movement that I could only describe as like muscle twitches but now am definitely feeling kicks, punches and rolling
Also feel like my lungs are being squashed, but this could be normal? (I'm a FTM so don't know anything different!)

madasacatter · 31/08/2014 09:37

I was told yesterday that I have an anterior placenta, it's a shame that it will mean I won't feel as much as early.

But I'm interested in knowing more about bump size differences, were any of you ladies noticeably bigger or smaller than previous pregnancies or other ladies?

Annarose2014 · 31/08/2014 10:09

I think from reading around that anterior placentas are incredibly common, its just that a lot of people never knew they had one.

Mine meant that I didn't feel movement till about 21/22 weeks. I was so impatient! My doppler saved my sanity when I started to get paranoid!

But after that it was fine, moving away. There are certain parts of my belly I didn't feel much movement in - it was all at the sides or low down - but now baby is a fine big 3 pounder I pretty much feel something all over.

Its my first baby but I definately popped very early - at 16 weeks. And was very prominent to the front especially. That could always have happened though, with or without an AP.

Bellyrub1980 · 31/08/2014 10:59

I've measured small all along (and had comments to that effect "blimey aren't you small!" Etc etc). However, the bump appears to be catching up now. Feels massive to me but I think is just average sized. I'm not convinced an anterior placenta makes much difference. Your height, torso length, abdominal muscle tone and pelvis shape are more likely to effect bump size.

LBNM19 · 31/08/2014 11:22

I do to and didn't feel much movement till 22 weeks feel lots now at 32 weeks up very high and sides of my tummy xx

Cherryblossom200 · 31/08/2014 12:07

I have an anterior placenta and a first time mum, I've felt movement and 'tapping' from as early as 15 weeks. I'm nearly 17 weeks and feel it below and on the sides. I ignored it as first as thought it was maybe my insides doing funny things, but it's definitely my baby :) such a lovely feeling x

Original poster

freelancegirl · 31/08/2014 15:38

I have felt things internally from quite early, I reckon I was feeling popping around 10 weeks! You just never know though. I have a Doppler too and find it very reassuring. I rarely use it now I'm getting regular movements and they are getting more and more each day, like others the baby is also in breech position at the moment. My first child was and as a result I had a cs so will probably be having another one.

I think the main issue is I feel so uncomfortable! The scan did show that my placenta is reaching round both the front and the back so maybe that's why. Or maybe it's high as it feels like it's tucked under my chest. Haven't had my fundal height (or is it length?) checked yes this time so unsure as to whether my bump is actually big or just feels big. Baby is biggish - 75 centile - but not huge and measuring to date.

I'm a very average size person - not underweight or overweight. Prior to DS however I was a gym bunny with well toned abs! Maybe it's just the difference between that and now being a working mum to a toddler with no time for the gym anymore :)

Ugh it's so uncomfortable though - can't believe I still have 4 more months to grow.

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ohthegoats · 31/08/2014 16:02

I have an anterior placenta, and have felt loads of movements - to the point I'd quite like to have felt less of them. Particularly now, I'm pretty uncomfortable with being kicked under the ribs all the time. At the beginning it was mostly all bladder related, really low down.

dolicapax · 31/08/2014 16:05

I've had one with both this pregnancy and the last one.

It's normal to show earlier, and feel larger and more uncomfortable than you did with your first pregnancy. That's down to your stomach muscles, and basically everything inside you being looser this time round. I really enjoyed my first pregnancy. This one not so much. Have you tried a bump band to aid support?

haventgotaclue1 · 31/08/2014 16:17

freelance this is my 1st so can't compare bump size to anything before this, but I am measuring spot on so far . Because I'm tall (5'11"), I've been told by everyone who "knows" that it's very neat...I think that means it's just stretched out a bit

capecath · 31/08/2014 20:14

I had an anterior placenta with both my two boys and also didn't feel movement until after 20 weeks. I was starting to get a little stressed about it particularly with ds2 because they didn't suggest looking for heartbeat at 16 week check which I did have with ds1. I don't seem to get massive bumps, although boys were on 75th and 50th centiles so not sure how that works... I was far more uncomfortable with ds2 though, he was lying very low, had mega spd and heartburn. Anxious now 11+1 with no.3 :P

Sahkoora · 01/09/2014 08:47

I've had an anterior placenta two out of three pregnancies. DS1 (anterior) I felt at 21 weeks. DS2 (posterior) I felt at 14 weeks and DS3 (anterior, current pregnancy) I didn't feel until 23 weeks.

DS1 was transverse until 34 weeks and after he was born midwives commented on how huge placenta and cord were. he was 9lbs as well! DS2 was 8lb 5oz and everything was normal sized so I shall be intrigued to see what happens this time!

twiglet2 · 01/09/2014 09:17

I found out I have anterior placenta at my 20 week scan, though I started feeling movements at about 18 weeks. I'm now 28 weeks and have had no problems feeling movements since.

moggle · 01/09/2014 09:43

I have an anterior placenta but have been feeling movements from DC1 since 16 weeks. More rolling, thumping to start with but now also kicks and I suspect punches and headbutts too now (I'm 29 weeks)! Definitely enough for me!

liesal79 · 01/09/2014 09:56

I have an Anterior placenta, and only started feeling movements at 20 weeks - they still at 24 weeks feel like bubbles popping, or muscle twitches... I have a few days where I feel less but am looking forward to more definite kicks and movements! :)

Loobyloo893 · 02/09/2014 19:22

I had an anterior placenta with DS and have again this time. With DS1 I didn't feel anything until about 24 weeks and right up until the end i would only feel him if I lay on my side. This time I started feeling ds2 at 20 weeks and feel him kicking low down, mainly when I'm lying down but have felt him a bit when sitting/standing so hopefully will feel him a bit more.

atos35 · 02/09/2014 20:01

I have an anterior placenta, I am 25 weeks pregnant dc number 3. To be honest I haven't noticed any difference in the amount of kicks and movement I can feel compared with my other two which were both posterior placentas. I started feeling small movement and kicks around 18 weeks and now much stronger kicks all over, even at the front.

ElleDubloo · 02/09/2014 21:48

I'm 32 weeks with an anterior placenta.
Started feeling "flutters" at 17-18 weeks, but nothing convincing.
Started feeling proper kicks/movements at 21-22 weeks.
First saw my belly move with kicks at 24 weeks. OH and I sat in bed watching my bump for hours and it certainly kept us entertained.
Now it's kicking, squirming and hiccuping all over the place. Sometimes it gives short sudden kicks. Sometimes more protracted movements, almost like it's drawing a foot across the circumference of the bump. Sometimes regular gentle pops (hiccups) deep inside. Sometimes just a sense of urgency to use the loo, as it squeezes my bladder.
It's very exciting to feel the movements, but they're so frequent now that I'm finding them a little distracting (when I'm at work) lol :)

Original poster

freelancegirl · 03/09/2014 16:35

Thanks for the replies everyone! Seems a mixed experience in terms of being different to placentas in other places and movement. I am starting to get a lot more movement now at 22 weeks, kicking down the bottom of the bump where the baby is still breech and actually even feeling a bit less uncomfortable. I still can't believe I have four whole months left though, don't enjoy the physical aspects of pregnancy much. That's perhaps a whole other thread!

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