low-lying placenta

[pinguthepenguin]

Hi People

I'm new to mumsnet and I wonder if any of you could answer a question for me. I had my 20 week scan yesterday and was told that I had a 'low-lying placenta'. I took a quick look on the internet and it seems as though it's not entirely uncommon and that it may sort itself out in a few months. Based on this, I'm not overly worried, but what I'd like to know is, are there any ladies on here, who've been told the same thing, and the problem did correct itself? I understand that a c-section is required if it doesn't sort itself out. I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that....honestly.
I've had a textbook pregnancy so far, I feel really well, in fact better than before i was pregnant! I've recently started to feel baby moving, although not as much as some other girls seem to. Is this normal as well? When am I likely to feel a bit more, or is the position of the placenta the reason?
Oh I'm rambling now, thanks alot in advance!

pingu

Hi pingu, welcome to mumsnet

It is quite common, as you say, to have a low-lying placenta. I had one with ds, but it moved up in plenty of time for the delivery. They will probably want to scan you again to check it has moved up at some point.

Magnolia1, a regular poster on here, had a placenta that didn't move (placenta praevia) and had a c-section - but I have to say she's the only MNer I know of that had to have one, they generally move!

Re the momements thing, if your placenta is anterior (at the front) as mine was, then you probably won't feel any movements under where the placenta is (and the mw won't be able to pick up the heartbeat in that area either). Also, if this is your first pregnancy you won't necessarily feel movements as early or as strongly as in subsequent pregnancies.

Hope this helps!

i had pp and it didn't move, but from most of the posts on here know that the majority do move up

I had this, and had to have another scan at 32, and then again at 36 weeks. By 36 weeks it had move out of the way, but it gave me a chance to have extra piccies of ds, by 36 weeks they could only just about get his whole face in one picture - it was amazing seeing all his features!

Darn it, proved wrong already

miaou! welcome too pingu!

they can move right up until the end

had one
it moved

Parsimonious as per Cod

what's parsimonious!

Actually there are quite a lot of us on MN who had this and it didn't move. But you have an 80% chance that it will move clear.

Hello

I had placenta previa as Miaou said and I was pretty worried at 30 odd weeks when it was still there and I did have a c secion but it went really well and Ben is now 7 weeks old

Was yours just low lying or completely covering at the 20 weeks scan? Its more likely to move if only partly covering the cervix at this stage.

I'm new to Mumsnet too and I had this at 20 weeks and then had another scan at about 32 weeks (I think - ds2 is now 18 mths so it is a bit of a blur now) which showed it hadn't moved enough, so I was booked in for a cs. However, my doctors kept doing more scans and somehow by the very end it had moved enough for him to be born without cs. So it seems they can move right up to the last minute. Good luck anyway!

Thanks for the messages ladies, I really appreciate the help. I guess it is pretty common for it to move, although if it comes to it, i'll just have to have the cs. Magnolia- I don't really know if the placenta was just covering the cervix or not- the sonographer wasn't all that chatty! (Actually- I had the same one for my 12 week scan and I had to drag every syllabul out of her then too!) All I remember is that she said it was lying quite low. They have booked me in for another scan at 32 wk, so hopefully it'll have moved by then!
With regards to the movements, thanks for the info miaou- I have a doppler and seem to be able to hear the heartbeat most of the time, so I guess it's just a sleepy baby! heres hoping it's a good sleeper when it arrives too eh? hehe!