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Original poster

Low lying placenta at 18 weeks..Help

21 replies

Ttc321 · 01/08/2017 06:25

Hi all I went for my anomaly scan yesterday, the baby was fine but found out I have a low lying placenta (would explain my previous spotting of blood) the scanner said that i need to be very careful (no lifting, sex or sitting up fast) but he also told me not to worry as it's very common and lots of women discover this at there 20week scan, he also told me to stay away from google as it will scare me.
I have a follow up scan at 32 weeks to re scan and check it but was told any light bleeding is nothing to worry about but if it becomes heavy then to go to a&e.
I'm really worried about this and was wondering if any one knew if it is dangerous and what could happen with this?
Also I have a holiday abroad booked up next month 2hr45min flight .. can I still go ?? Or should I make a doc appointment before hand?

Thank u any advice is appreciated

OP posts:

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user1497480444 · 01/08/2017 06:27

you won't be insured for the holiday. silly to take unnecessary risk

butlerchauffer · 01/08/2017 06:43

Hi I had a low lying placenta at 20 weeks which had naturally moved by the time the follow up scan was done at 32 weeks It was my first baby and I was Very concerned , assuming Caesarians etc but it was all fine!

Re the holiday- I would check with your insurer, I flew a few times whilst pregnant with both mine, had no problems though I felt anxious at being abroad around 30 weeks. Do what feels right for you, if the holiday will relax you then yes check with doctor and insurer and heed any relevant travel advice for that country, make list of emergency / medical numbers and facilities and go! If you can't face it you've got a reason not to go.

Enjoy your pregnancy and best of luck

TheLegendOfBeans · 01/08/2017 06:47

Contact insurer and midwife before you travel. Explain the situation and FGS no shagging on your hols.

I've had low lying placenta twice; both times it's moved up by week 28.

It needs to be 1cm away from your cervix to be "ok" - anything less is cause for caution. Do you know how far away from your cervix it is?

Good luck - having a longed for trip cast into doubt because of something unexpected like this is crap.

Ps: user comments like that are unhelpful. Take your judgey pants and burn them.

DueNov · 01/08/2017 07:00

I had this at 12 weeks but completely over the cervix they said and it was highly unlikely it would move. 20 week scan came and it had moved on its own with the uterus growing.

My midwife said at 16 weeks that if this was 100 years ago I'd essentially bleed to death and baby be born brain damage or dead. But in he r words the times and medically everything has moved along.

She also said if it stayed where it was. Which at the time they said very likely as completely covering cervix. Then if I went into natural labour it would be an emergency and I'd have to call 999 for an ambulance and get there ASAP.

Highly unlikely you can go on holiday whilst having a diagnosis like that. My gp said I'd have no chance. (midwives can no longer give you a fit to fly note only gp) it's worth an ask to your GP but I don't think they'd recomend.

Good luck and I hope it moves x

Pommes · 01/08/2017 07:00

Your chances of it moving up are 90%, unless you have a csection scar in which probability changes to 50%. Like you, my placenta was low at my 20 week scan. I'm scanned frequently for other complications and it had moved within 2 weeks - even though I'm one of the csection 50%.

Greentorch · 01/08/2017 07:01

I had this and like other pp the placenta had also moved up by the later scan. Was told it would be a c section if placenta was still low. I wasnt told to avoid any of the things you were. But follow medical advice & I would check with medical professional re. your flight.

user1497480444 · 01/08/2017 07:04

user comments like that are unhelpful. Take your judgey pants and burn them.

that is your opinion. In my opinion the OP would feel terrible for the rest of her life if her baby died because she went on holiday.

seriously, what holiday is worth the risk?

Either way, the insurance will be sky high, or not available 9 as it should be)

Emeraude · 01/08/2017 07:19

I had a low-lying placenta at 22 weeks, very close to cervix. I went on holiday at 25 weeks without even thinking about it. Airlines aren't bothered if you are under 28 weeks and my insurance T&Cs didn't even mention it. I certainly wasn't told not to travel. It had moved well out of the way by 35 weeks with no complications, and at no point did medical professionals seem that bothered as the vast majority move.

redphonebox · 01/08/2017 07:34

user are you confusing the OPs condition with something else? Many women have low lying placenta at the 20 week scan and go on holiday, on aeroplanes etc. They are not told not to travel. The insurance is unlikely to be affected?

If the placenta is completely covering the cervix and there is frequent heavy bleeding and the woman is told to be on constant bed rest, that is different but that doesn't seem to be the OPs situation.

OP I also had this at 20 weeks, it took its time but by 36 weeks the placenta had moved far enough away and I had a natural birth.

I suggest you ask to speak to your midwife/consultant to get a better sense of your situation and your hospital policy. I found the sonographer a bit vague and it worried me unnecessarily!

user1497480444 · 01/08/2017 07:35

my insurance T&Cs didn't even mention it.

its up to you to tell them. You would not have been insured

TheLegendOfBeans · 01/08/2017 07:56

user

Comments like "silly" are what turns potentially consutructive advice into a ticking-off. Don't act innocent.

clarebear1983 · 01/08/2017 08:23

It's very very common to have a low lying placenta at your stage, as others have pointed out 9 times of of 10 it will have moved by the time you have your next scan. I think you should check the advice given by the sonographer with your midwife as I've had a few friends that also had this condition and were not told to modify their behaviour at all.

As long as your midwife says your pregnancy is still low risk I see absolutely no reason why you shouldn't go on holiday. Make sure you get good quality travel insurance, low risk pregnancies are not considered an 'illness'.

Original poster

Ttc321 · 01/08/2017 08:24

Thank you for all of your comments they have been very helpful. And user, i didn't know a flying with a low lying placenta could cause the baby to die that's VERY scary and excactly what I did not want to hear. I will need to see my doctors before hand

OP posts:

Emeraude · 01/08/2017 09:23

Unless you have been told that by an obstetrician rather than an anonymous poster on a message board, I would approach it calmly. By all means check with a doctor or your insurers and pay for all the certificates they offer, especially if you have had bleeding and it will make you feel better, but if you have not been told not to travel, I really wouldn't go cancelling anything prematurely.

ChocolateRaisin · 01/08/2017 09:46

Really scaremongering advice from User, how will going on holiday cause the baby to die?!

I had my 20 week scan last week and my placenta is low lying. I have to go back at 36 weeks for a scan to see if it has moved up, 90% chance that it will have done.

I'm going on holiday in September.

If you feel worried then of course check with your doctor or midwife, but please don't get worried about some random on the internet with no knowledge of you or your pregnancy.

GingerHanna · 01/08/2017 11:56

I found I have a low lying placenta at my 20 week scan. It's 1cm away from my cervix.

No mention of not travelling and the midwife knows that I will need a 'fit to fly' at 30 weeks for my wedding in the UK (I live in the Netherlands). I was not told not to lift anything heavy or have more bed rest. Just carry on as normal and have a scan at 32 weeks to see where it is then.

Scaremongering and threats of a baby dying are simply not constructive nor what is called for here. OP, please do not get yourself in a panic. Speak to your GP and keep off of Dr Google.

Sunshinegirl82 · 01/08/2017 12:29

I had a low lying placenta and had a couple of biggish bleeds at around 20/21 weeks. I was admitted overnight for observation and had to have 24 hours bleed free before they let me out. I was also advised no heavy lifting etc and consultant actually signed me off for 8 weeks and told me to take it easy.

I think the problem with a low lying placenta is that some people will have no issues whatsoever but if you are a bleeder (as I was) then you have to be a bit more careful as it's obviously dangerous if you suddenly lose a lot of blood.

I would speak to your midwife. Have you been referred to the consultant? If so, seek their advice. I think the key issue is the risk of a big bleed whilst travelling or whilst away and the availability of medical help if you need it.

Try not to panic. My DS was born safe and well at term and was never distressed during the bleeds but I'd check it all out with your midwife/consultant and take it from there.

Mynewballoon · 01/08/2017 13:59

I went on holiday with a low lying placenta. I didn't receive any advice from my midwife not to, although I hadn't had any bleeds. I advised my travel insurance so I was covered. Everything was fine, the placenta had moved by my 32 week scan.

Beachbaby2017 · 01/08/2017 15:20

Are ultrasound scanners technically allowed to comment on what they see and give advice like that? They aren't where I live. I'd make a mw appointment to review your scan before you decide how to proceed in terms of behaviour and travel.

runnerbean39 · 02/08/2017 08:30

I'm in exactly the same boat as you, was told the same at my scan last week (18 weeks) and I didn't know anything could be amiss with placentas before this!

Like other people have said, apparently 90% of patients find out the placenta moves by the 32 weeks scan, so I'm just trying to concentrate on that and not worry too much - there's nothing we can do about it at this stage other than be careful.

One thing I am considering doing is getting another private scan at 26 weeks, halfway between the 32 week, just thinking that it's a long way away and a long time to be worrying potentially about nothing if it's moved!!

Original poster

Ttc321 · 02/08/2017 09:47

Thanks all. I will be seeking advice from my Midwife before travelling, I only had one big bleed when I was 5 weeks pregnant and that was due to rough sex (sorry TMI) but no bleeds since then. They didn't discover it on the emergency scan I had x2 and they didn't notice it at my 12 week scan either.. but the man doing the scan at my 18wks scan said that that's what had caused the bleed at that point. Anyway thanks for all of your advice, I think I will be going on holiday if they say it is safe and I'm looking forward to a relaxing break! Also runnerbean, I think I will be doing the same tbh and get a private scan at that point to check on it.x

OP posts:

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