Anterior placenta?

[EmJ94]

Hi! Advice wanted please.
I had my anomaly scan 3 weeks ago now and I've looked at my notes which say I have an anterior placenta. Nothing was mentioned to me about this but I've heard about how some women may experience back-to-back labour or even have to have a c-section due to this? I'm just a bit confused because nothing has been discussed with me about it.
Thanks x

It doesn't follow that either of those things will happen (though mine was back to back this was never suggested as the cause). I've never heard of it requiring c-section unless the placenta is very low anyway. You probably won't feel as much movement but I don't think it makes that much difference otherwise.

Anterior placenta here too, I noticed in my notes, wasn't mentioned to me either. As PP said you might feel movements a bit later, but that's all really.

I had a google (naughty!) and it seems your placenta can move it a more posterior position too - who knew?! If you're still concerned check with your midwife at your next appt

Anterior placenta here. No talk of back to back labour being more likely or a C section just told I’d find it harder to feel movement. Even at 36 weeks sometimes I struggle to feel it even tho I can see it!

I had back to back labour with my first who was posterior placenta

Anterior placenta in first pregnancy. Straightforward vaginal delivery with no interventions Only thing it affected was I felt movements later.

I had anterior placenta and a back to back labour - this is the first I’ve heard of them being connected though!

Hi, I noticed too that my notes said an anterior placenta so at my next scan I asked the sonographer who said whilst it’s true that some women can experience difficulties, most do not. When I asked if it’s possible for the placenta to move she said that it is common but that mine isn’t blocking the birth canal or area where they’d do a c-section as it’s higher up. If you’re concerned, speak to your midwife who’ll be able to find out for you or ask at your next scan x

I had anterior placenta in both pregnancies and completely straightforward deliveries. (Actually DS1 turned at the last minute and gave me a 3rd degree tear, but that was just one of those things...)

Thank you so much for everybody's responses. X

Had one 1st time and again this time. It’s annoying as it really dulled the movements for me, and I’m still feeling minimal at 25 weeks now. My 1st was back to back but they didn’t tell me until she had been born and it was a straightforward vaginal delivery, so not that bad (I guess I don’t have anything to compare with). I didnt realise that there could be a link between b2b and anterior p but It does kind of make sense.

I also had an anterior placenta. Baby was always facing OP (back to back). Which resulted in a back labour. All the way through my pregnancy I worried I would have a back labour as the midwife told be the baby was OP at every appointment.

During labor do not lie on your back as this can cause the baby to twist and lie back to back. Try and lean forward or on your knees.
Baby likes to face the placenta- that is why there is a link between an anterior placenta and back labours/OP presentation.

Have a look at the website "spinning babies" if you are worried

For what it's worth, I had an anterior placenta in my first pregnancy and baby wasn't back to back. Later movements were also pretty strong, similar to my current (posterior placenta) pregnancy.

I've had one of these too, and read tons on it at the time.
Baby is more likely to lie OP (occiput posterior, ie back-to-back) during the pregnancy, because babies usually lie facing their placenta. However, this doesn't mean that you'll necessarily have a posterior labour as they'll generally turn in very late pregnancy or during your prelabour or early labour. As your pregnancy progresses you'll probably become familiar with the way your baby is lying, and if it's posterior towards the end then you can encourage it to turn by regular sessions on hands and knees, swaying your hips. My first had an anterior placenta and tended to settle in the occiput posterior position and I became very aware of how to shift him round like this.

As others have said, movement tends to be dulled as it's like having a pillow between you and baby's kicks.

If you end up having a C-section, they will want to take extra care when going in, in case the placenta covers part of the incision site.

Movement was muffled but I had no problems, not back to back and no interventions needed. Delivery was fairly straightforward. I didn't know it could lead to problems until I read this thread.