Placenta Praevia - did yours move?

[croon979]

I am 22 weeks pregnant and had a scan this week which confirmed that my placenta is low and anterior - Grade II (extending to cervix). The sonographer and midwife both told me not to worry and that in the vast majority of cases the placenta moves out of the way as the uterus expands (particularly for Grade I or II anterior praevia).

I am someone that likes to be prepared and am a bit of a nightmare for googling to try and research to be informed (well aware of the dangers of doing this but, hey, call it an affliction....).

I will not be devastated if I need a c-section, I would just rather know the score so I can mentally prepare for that possibility. I am due to be rescanned at 34 weeks to check positioning and baby growth then. Have been told in the meantime to refrain from sex and most forms of exercise.

I was just wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and was willing to share whether, in your case, the placenta moved (and in the right direction!) or whether it stayed put?

Any advice gratefully received.

Hi croon strange I did wave at you but my use of brackety things seems to have deleted it.

When is your scan to see if it moves? Mines not until 21/4. We are meant to be going to disneyland paris next month and have now scared myself by googling so not sure if we should go. I'm seeing consultant later today and plan to quiz her at length about placenta previa so can update later if you like.

similar - my scan isn't until 30/04 to see if it has moved, will be 35 weeks then which seems a long way away. My DH and I were going to have a little babymoon in Dubai but have decided that it is too far away given the placenta previa issue. Medical advice agreed with us. We are going to potentially just do a spa break in UK somewhere instead. I am sure Paris will be fine (no rides though...!).

Yes please for update, keen to hear any information on previa. Good luck with consultant.

Mine also moved by 32 week scan. By then he was breech so had to change all my googling... Got to have something on the go to worry about!
I can't remember grade, but think it was just touching cervix at 23week scan. I didn't get sex advice but lots of warnings about going straight in if any bleeding.

Right quick update- consultant didn't tell me much more. She confirmed posterior less like to move but for me is pleased it isn't anterior as more risk of embedding into my old c-section scar.

She said to refrain from sex. She said the longer you go without bleeding the better and more chance of it moving - I got the impression that those women who have lots of bleeds tend to bleed right from the start (though that doesn't seem to be the case necessarily with comments below).

Re travelling - no flying. Unlikely travel insurance would cover baby in event of early delivery so that's something to check.

She reiterated if more than a few drops of blood to get straight to nearest hospital ASAP (ambulance or car).

Most placentas do move by 32 weeks.

Sorry for terrible grammar am typing on iPhone on packed train

Thanks v much, that's really helpful. I have had no bleeding so far so that's a good sign. Obviously also made the right call re not going on foreign babymoon. Guess we'll just have a monitor things and keep fingers crossed

Yes, mine moved.

I have grade 2 anterior (DS3, currently 33+6) and it hasn't moved at all. Last scan 32 weeks. Had bleeds at 20 weeks, 27 weeks, 31 weeks, 32 weeks, getting bigger each time. Had steroids. Still spotting a little dark red but mostly brown so not panicking right now, although a little paranoid... Next scan booked for 36 weeks if I get that far! I do have a history of an abruption and premmie with DS1 though so that probably doesn't help!!

Watching with interest. I'm 23 weeks and they said mine was completely covering, was posterior and that it would be unlikely to move because of the total coverage, whereas if it had been partial it may well have moved. Another scan at 34 weeks. I didn't ask enough questions about when to stop travel etc or work so have carried on as normal for now but seeing the midwife tomorrow so will ask then what precautions to take and when.

OP those who had partial covering in my antenatal group at 20 weeks moved and were fine. Good luck.

Thanks guys. Guess will just have to sit tight, take it reasonably easy and hope it moves. Capecath, hope you hang on in there, you are doing well. Best of luck to you too Zippy - please do update when you know more.

Also watching with interest. I'm 32 weeks with partial placenta previa, had a bleed at 29 wks and last week. I've been signed off work and told to rest, no heavy lifting/housework etc. been given steroids and told to go to hospital at any other sign of bleeding but fingers crossed I've had no more since. Scan next week to see if placenta has moved so will update when I find out!

Mine didn't move even though everyone told me it would. Was admitted into hospital at 36 weeks. Had no bleeding at all until 37+5 when ds was delivered by emcs. Was all totally fine other than the hospital stay which wasn't that great.

Grade II posterior PP. Did not move. But I never bled, not a drop. Booked in for a CS at 39 weeks. Went into labour at 38+2 and DS delivered without any problems. Unlike many others, I had no hospital stay either during my pregnancy.

Ok so it definitely seems like the hospitals move quickly when there are bleeds. Best of luck Craicalack, looking forward to your update and will keep my fingers crossed for you. Agnesrose - do you mind sharing what grade you were and whether anterior or posterior?

Just had my scan today at 20+6 and told I have placenta previa major with it covering 14mm internal os. Google is not my friend so glad to see this thread on here. Has put me slightly more at ease.

Been told it's posterior so really hoping it does move. Have moved my consultant appt to this Friday as just need to know the facts asap.

Had no bleeds as yet. Just hoping for a positive outcome. Will feedback when I have more info xx

Best of luck loulou, wishing for a positive outcome for you. Would love to hear more feedback when you have met consultant xx

I feel very dim but I can't remember the medical terminology. My placenta was completely covering my cervix from 14 weeks and didn't move at all but no bleeding until nearly 38 weeks.

I think the stats are 20% make it to their csection without bleeding but that doesn't account for the different grades of previa. (Source UpToDate)

Sorry it's 20-30% (just checked)

And reoccurrence rate in subsequent pregnancies is 4-8% for anyone interested

With dd my placenta ( which completely covered the cervix) moved at 35 weeks and I had no bleeding . Good luck !!

In hospital after a scary bleed, stable but they are going to deliver him tomorrow. 34+1.

Capecath hope everything goes well tomorrow..Good you have already had the steroids. Hope your little one is home as soon as poss. 34 is a good gestation to get to with pp

Best of luck for tomorrow capecath, will be thinking of you. 34 weeks is a good gestation x

Thanks for the stats hideandsqueak and for the further info Agnesrose.

Thanks, yeah ds1 was born at 33+5 and had no long term affects even tho in neonatal for a few weeks. I am hoping this bubs will be similar if not out quicker... So bizarre how marginal pp can cause so many issues and yet some with full have no bleeding at all!! X

Good luck capecath will be thinking of you.

Have found this thread very informative.

I'm swaying towards cancelling our disneyland paris holiday. I wouldn't give it a second thought if it wasn't for more 3 year old DD who is desperate to go. However, the more I read the more it seems whether or not you bleed is totally random. I've got a private 4d scan booked for 7 march so will get them to check placenta then and make final decision from there.