Anterior placenta

[Lozziiee8993]

Hey,

I'm new to Mumsnet, I've had my first scan (private) today due my NHS scan on Tuesday. Really pleased with the scan. Everything is all good baby is healthy and measuring a week ahead.

The sonographer informed me today that I had an anterior placenta. I'm not worried about this but can anyone shed some light and information regarding this?

It’s literally just the position of implantation and doesn’t really matter. The team will make a note of it in case you have a section (as affects the operation slightly) but you don’t need to worry.

I have an anterior placenta. It means you might feel less movement or first movements later on. I’m 25 weeks and still not feeling regular movements. I didn’t feel any at all until last week. The placenta is basically acting as a cushion at the front of your stomach.

Congrats on your pregnancy :)

Hey @Lozziiee8993 congratulations!!
I'm 30+3 weeks currently and have an anterior placenta also! I have to say I have nothing to compare it to as this is my first but they do say having the placenta positioned this way acts like a cushion for baby as it's at the top so you may not feel the little kicks as strongly as first but I tell you now he keeps me awake and entertained most evenings seeing and feeling all the kicks/punches! Xx

That's good to hear. This is my first pregnancy so again nothing to compare it to. Both baby and I are healthy. Still experiencing nausea, but it's all part of pregnancy. So I'll look forward to when I do start feeling the kicks (eventually) 🤣.

I have one too, I had no idea until my 20 week scan. I've been feeling the baby since 17 weeks so was surprised as heard you get movement later with an anterior placenta. Although the midwife said because I'm so petite probably contributed to feeling the baby so early. The kicks can sometimes feel lighter but think it depends on the position they are laying it. I dont have anything to compare to though! Good luck with your pregnancy.

I have an anterior placenta too. This is my first baby and I started feeling baby kick from about 23 weeks. I have friends who started feeling them kick a lot earlier, but baby is ok.

I also have placenta previa (blocking my cervix) but an anterior placenta doesn't mean you'll also have previa too.

We're 26 weeks now and baby is measuring fine, it shouldn't effect your pregnancy x

As others have said, the position of the placenta may make it harder to feel kicks. Just to let you know that it may also make it harder for your midwife to find the baby’s heartbeat at your check ups. (It took about 20 minutes with DD2 on one occasion!) It’s just because the placenta gets in between baby and the sensor and is nothing to worry about - but just thought I’d mention as I didn’t know this and it was a bit worrying the first time when they couldn’t find the heartbeat one week.

@PrincessSarene I couldn't emphasis this more! My midwife tried to find it at the 16 week check up, went into a panic because she couldn't and sent us to the hospital with us thinking the worst ... that's how we found out we had an anterior placenta!

I've had two.
Absolutely no health problems but I ended up going in to be monitored for reduced movement a lot.
The machine would pick up the baby moving but I would feel nothing. Luckily they didn't see any reason to deliver early as it was clear the baby was healthy.

I found out at 20 week scan I have a high anterior placenta which literally just means the placenta is high up on the front.
The only time the placenta causes problems labour wise is if it is blocking the cervix so most anterior placentas are absolutely fine.
Other than that, the only difference is when and how strongly you feel movements. I'm 23+3 and only started feeling anything a week or so ago and even then, it's still quite faint and infrequent. It's frustrating when you hear of others feeling strong kicks at 16 weeks but it is what it is.

I have an anterior placenta and have felt kicks since 16 weeks, I’m now 21 weeks and feel them daily and can even see my bump jumping ! This is my first baby also, and I was so worried I wouldn’t feel kicks for ages ! But she kicks away lots ! Congrats xx

@Babyshine2020 I know! Everyone talks about the effect on not feeling movements but I had no idea about not finding the heartbeat and of course it’s really scary when that happens.

Yes mine is high anterior too, I didn't really feel anything until about 24 weeks and even then no real regular patterns. Now I'm nearly 35 weeks I can feel lots of movement, but grateful to have had the placenta cushioning the really hard rib blows. I also had problems with scans I almost always have to lay on my side at points so they can get to see all of her - and on my 4D scan her little face was all squashed up against the placenta too haha

I knew I had an anterior placenta from 16 weeks (private scan) and my 20 week scan was at 21 weeks. I went straight from feeling nothing, to kicks a few days before 21 weeks. No fluttering etc beforehand. I found out at the 20 week scan placenta had moved up slightly so is obviously still anterior but ‘anterior high’ - guessing that’s why I started feeling stuff. Since 22 weeks I feel him move everyday

I have an 'upper anterior placenta' and feel majority of kicks lower down. I'm 26 weeks and feel a few kicks above belly button but mostly I get booted in the lower half haha

I found out at my 20-week scan last week that I have this. The sonographer didn't tell me; I just saw it in my notes when I got home. I've felt some tickly movements, but no major kicks yet.