low lying placenta, marginal

[lmc48]

Hi, I hope you dont mind me asking this question on here, trying to find other mums that have been through something similar. I have a son who is coming up to 2. I would now like another child, be it pregnancy or adoption. Thing is I had marginal low lying placenta, and I hemorraged quite badly. Has nyone else had this with their first and gone on to have other children with no problems whatsoever? Trying to find out if i am more at risk of this happening again seeing as I have had it once.thank you all in advance.

I haemorraged with my last child due to a major placenta previa...I was hospitalised from 33 weeks...I had 2 previous children before that and without any sign of a low lying placenta ...it happens at random iyswim...the chances are of it happening again are very slim, so my specialist claimed...HTH

Hi there

I'm afraid I haven't got an answer to your question, but I'm wondering if you can help me. I was told at 20 week scan I have a low lying placenta - not actually attached to the cervix, but right up against it. I have a scan at 36 weeks to recheck. Doctors seem to be pretty blase about it, and say it will move. I get it if it is a risk and they do a c-section, but I was a bit worried if it is still low lying but not enough for them to do a c-section. Presume there is a risk of bleeding/ complications still??

I didn't have a low lying placenta with my first pregnancy, and neither did my friend (who had complete placenta previa with her second). But not sure if this means you are not at higher risk...

it is random, even if there is a slight chance of it being pp they'll do a c section ime

I really dont know what the risks are to be honest. I hemorraged through a c-section. So sorry dont mean to scare you, but my placenta was not marginal at 20 weeks it was a complete previa, so it had moved a bit but not enough. Hope that helps

A bit! I guess need to just wait until 36 weeks. In my head it's all going to be ok - haven't really faced up to if it isn't and having to spend time in hospital. God knows what I'll do with DD - parents far too far away

No point worrying about it right now, will just have to wait and see. Hopefully all will be ok

Hi there,
I have had a scan that shows complete previa at 22 weeks so am poised with many many many facts on the subject. It's really quite rare for it to persist to term so the figures don't always seem very helpful, but here's what I've found:

lmc48: The recurrence rate for placenta previa seems to be 4-8%, so quite low. The overall risk is pretty low - one in 2000 - so it looks like it would be v. v. bad luck for it to happen again. If you had a cesarean the first time round that is a risk factor, as is smoking, having had other kinds of uterine 'insult' (!) ie D&C, infection etc which could cause scarring, and being over 35. It's more likely to happen in a later pregnancy than in a first, too.

orangecat: I've found some stats (in an academic paper, so I'd say they were sound) that say if you have previa at 15-19 weeks, the likelihood of it staying till term is only 12%. If you have it at 20-23 weeks, the likelihood rises to 34%. It's more likely to move if it's marginal than if it's complete, so it looks like there's a very good chance you'll be ok. If it stays low but away from the cervix you should be ok for bleeding etc.

Fingers crossed for all of us....

thank you all so much for your opinion, it is really helping me decide on whether to go for it again

Ditto - thanks FBs, made me feel much better.