Anterior placenta praevia

[MollyoftheFolly]

I'm 34 weeks today and after being diagnosed with low lying anterior placenta at my 20 week scan, the consultant re scanned me at 32 + 2 and confirmed anterior praevia. I'm seeing him again for another scan at 36 + 2 weeks, with c section expected at 38/39 weeks.

I'd opted for c section any way due to previous delivery complications so that's not a concern, but I have (stupidly) googled and found lots of people have bleeds, are admitted for bed rest etc. I was just told to avoid sex, no mention of possible bleeds etc! He seemed pretty relaxed about it all and I wasn't aware of the condition at the time so didn't ask any questions! I'm about 45 mins from hospital (live in a tiny village) the midwife yesterday just said to have my bag packed now and call 999 if any bleeding at all. I've not had any bleeds yet so hopefully that's a good sign.

Anyone else in a similar situation or had similar? Advice or experiences would be very welcome! This is a rainbow pregnancy and the worry of this on top of everything else is horrible.

Anyone else had or has this or just me?! Eek...

I have a low front lying placenta and I have got to have another scan at 28 weeks to see if it has moved. I'm now 24 weeks and if placenta doesn't move or I have a bleed it's straight to A+E plus will need a planned c section.

I have this too. It was touching the cervix at 20 weeks and less than 2cm away at 28 weeks. I have a scan next week at 32+6 to check on it again, and the baby's growth. I've googled and read a lot of past threads on here where people say theirs moved even quite late on, and not everyone bleeds, although of course it's a worry - I'm always checking. But so far it's been plain sailing.

Hiya!
I had placenta praevia with my last pregnancy. Sounds like very similar to mine.
Absolutely no symptoms - no bleeding. Just a very intimate relationship with that probe!
I had a c section at 39 weeks and had (still have) a beautiful little girl! Sometimes they don't bleed. I just figured the placenta was just helping keep her in for me!!
Try not to worry too much, and all I can say is listen to your body.
Thankfully I didn't go into labour so it was all very straight forward and boring in the end! They did scare me by telling me there would potentially be horrendous blood loss during the birth, but even that didn't happen! The hospital had blood products and a cell saver in the room, which really did make me feel calmer - as they appeared prepared for the worst. In some ways I considered myself lucky to have all the expertise and kit on hand..
Hang in there. I hope it all goes well for you x

Thanks for the replies, it's good to know other are or have been in the same position. I'm counting down every day to my 36 week scan.....@Benati that's great you got to 39 weeks with no bleeding. @EveMoneypenny and @Oldschool41 hope things progress well for you.

Molly I'm not as far along as you. I had my 20w scan last week and my placenta is completely covering the os (I think this what is says in my notes) and anterior. They didn't say anything at the scan apart from we will book you in for a scan at 32 weeks and then gave me a scary leaflet taking about all the bad things that can happen! Spoke to my midwife who said it was common and carry on a normal. Fingers crossed that I have no bleeds and that my placenta moves. I have my fingers crossed for you as well

I'm 23 weeks and have complete placenta praevia - like everyone else, at my 20 week scan they just mentioned it in passing and booked me in for another at 32 weeks. They gave me no advice or leaflets etc. First pregnancy. Haven't had any bleeds.

I have been panicking myself looking up all the horror stories etc. as it seems advice varies quite a lot depending on circumstances and the doctor's approach.

Spoke to a friend who is an obstetrician and she sent me the official guidance on treating it and told me:

• Even though I haven't had bleeds, if she was me she wouldn't have intercourse until end of pregnancy (and seemed surprised my doctor hadn't said that as it is the guidance)

• There is a chance that placenta will move, but it is unlikely when previa is complete. C-section is very likely, but a lot of pregnancies end up in a c-section and at least this way I'll be prepared so it's not the end of the world

• Seemed ok with me flying next week (24 weeks, 8hrs each way) but said don't book any other flights/holidays once I've taken that one

It's quite daunting as I feel like there's very little guidance - I'm not naturally panicky but equally want to make sure that I'm doing everything right to safeguard my/baby's health. Trying to plan maternity leave at the moment (work is a 1hr commute each way and 1.5hrs from hospital I would be delivering in, and they would ideally like me to keep working to 37 weeks) and it's hard to know what do do when some people need to go on bedrest from 34 weeks...

I thought I'd come back and update this because I think I read every mumsnet thread ever on the subject of placenta previa, so it's always nice to see an update. At my 20 week scan my placenta was anterior and reaching but not overlapping the cervix. At 28 weeks it was less than 2cm away and at 32+6 (last Thursday) it was more than 3cm away but still considered marginal previa. I've had no bleeding or any other problems.

So the distance is increasing, which was good news, but as I've had a previous cs, I was booked in for a medical scan with a consultant to take a look in more detail for signs of placenta accreta as a precaution. I had this today and got the great and unexpected news that I am no longer considered to have placenta previa and they're quite happy with where my placenta is. My baby keeps switching from transverse to head down, and he was transverse at my 28 and 32 week scans. Apparently this can make it more difficult to gauge the placenta's position, and the consultant described this as almost creating an illusion of previa. Today he was head down and I had quite a full bladder (had an empty one at last scan which also didn't help). I didn't get told a distance but he wrote "anterior, not low" on my notes. I was more worried about accreta due to my scar than previa, but it seems it's all good now!

Good luck to everyone else. I hope you have trouble free pregnancies and your placentas move. I am fairly likely to end up with another c section anyway for other reasons, which doesn't bother me as my first one was absolutely fine.