Anterior placenta?

[Jelly101]

I have recently had a scan at 21 weeks. The sonographer told me that everything looked okay (this is my first scan) and asked if I had been feeling any movements. I replied that I hadn't felt anything yet. She then had another good look and told me that I had an anterior placenta, and that could be the reason why I haven't felt anything yet.

Anyway after googling this (I know I shouldn't!) it says that sometimes another scan is needed later on in pregnancy to check whether the placenta has moved. No one mentioned anything about another scan and I'm not seeing my midwife for a while. I can't find anything in my notes that indicates I might need another.

I still haven't felt any movements (this is my second baby, with my first I felt flutters from 16 weeks). My midwife is pretty rubbish tbf, she forgot to book my 12 week scan, went on holiday for three weeks and I couldn't contact her for 2. Is it worth mentioning at my next appointment or should I just leave it?

I had this with my DS, my first child, I honestly never felt him until the day before he was born and when he was born he was a real wriggler and had excellent muscle tone. [hmm} My DD, my second child moved like mad and I couldn't believe the difference, before that I thought people made it up when they said they felt the baby move.

I had a few scans with DS but not because of the anterior placenta. If you want another scan push for it.

I had my 20w scan this morning and my placenta is low lying. I've to go for another at 36w and if it hasn't moved they'll consider a CS. I'd assume they'll monitor your movement via MW appointments and if you still don't feel anything then they'll scan. That's a guess though! Xx

Thanks for the replies. I'll see whether my midwife mentions it at my next appointment, if not I'll mention it to see whether she says anything.

I think it's more a low lying placenta they need to scan for rather than an anterior. It's not a problem if you have an anterior placenta that's higher up.

Hi Jelly, I have an anterior placenta too, I did start feeling movement at around 21-22 weeks (now 25+5). The kicks I feel aren't very strong. Anterior just means your placenta is on the front wall of your womb. It is nothing to worry about unless it is also low lying - mine isn't so no extra scans required. A low lying placenta can be a concern but that can happen whether it's anterior or at the back.

Same here - anterior placenta, didn't feel movement until 24 weeks! Everything has been normal though, it needn't be a cause for concern :)

Like others have said an anterior does mean that a) movements may not be felt as early or as strong and b) no need automatically for further scans.
I had one in my first pg and reckon I couldn't feel anything till 24 weeks. I didn't have any extra scans... hope that helps put your mind at rest....

Hi jelly.

An anterior placenta just means it's at the front - you shouldn't need more scans and you shouldn't have any problems because of it. You may even feel your little one a lot - I did!

A further scan would only be needed if you had a low lying placenta or if there were issues with the placenta itself (an extra lobe or misplaced vessels for example.)

If it is low lying at 20 weeks, over 90% move up and out of the way. If you're one of the ten percent who don't (like me) then you may need a section. But you'd not have any issues with just an anterior placenta alone

I had an anterior placenta first time round and have this time too (3rd pregnancy). It won't move as anterior just means it's at the front compared to posterior. Anterior are more likely to be low lying at 20wk scan as they move up as baby grows. Mine was low first time and had moved by 32 weeks. This one its anterior high and never covered my cervix. Did they say yours was low lying too? I felt movements first time and this time but nothing compared to second pregnancy. But there should still be a normal range of movement for you iykwim. Think an anterior placenta can also increase chances of baby being back to back (as baby likes to face placenta) but again, not a biggy as they can move during labour into a better position.

You only need another scan if it's low lying and therefore close to cervix - when it covers the cervix it's known as placenta previa and needs to be monitored carefully as can cause certain issues.

Mine is anterior and less than 2cm from cervix, but only just - they are expecting it to move up, but as its within the 2cm I have to go for other scans just to be on the safe side. If they didn't mention another scan to you then I expect yours is nowhere near your cervix so doesn't need monitoring.

As mine is low lying, when I eventually did feel kicks they were high up, near my belly button. Yours will probably be felt low down :)

Oh I understand now. Thanks guys!

Definitely feel less movement with anterior placenta. My first 2 were anterior. My 3rd was posterior and the difference was incredible.