Anterior / Risk of PPH

[MrsMyreton]

Evening,

Had my 20 week scan yesterday, and was delighted to be told that everything was looking great. Have felt movement since about week 17. Checked my app tonight, and notes have recorded an anterior placenta.

Long story short I had a PPH after DD three years ago, and this second pregnancy got off to a bumpy start with bleeding at 6 and 10 weeks (though all absolutely fine). Have of course googled and am now falling into a spiral of anxiety! Very much hoping this doesn't mean I have a much higher risk of bleeding??

And yes, I will be patient and ask my midwife at my appointment next week! Any words of reassurance would be so appreciated.

I don’t know the answer but posting because I’d like to follow, because I also would be worried about this.
I also have an anterior placenta - was told at a 16 week private scan, currently 17 weeks and can’t feel anything but they said it might be closer to 20 I’m a FTM and desperate to feel something.

Thanks @Prettylittlelady hope you get to feel something soon! It's definitely reassuring to feel those flutters and kicks.

Hi. Have a chat with your midwife about your previous PPH - there are things that can be done at the time of delivery to make it less likely it will happen again.
The position of the placenta doesn’t matter unless it’s a praevia - covering the cervix. Doeant sounds like it from your post.
The other way sometimes you can have a bit more bleeding is if you need a CS and the placenta is anterior, sometimes they need to cut through it. That’s pretty uncommon though because the placenta is usually well out of the way of the cut, and also doesn’t usually cause any major problem. Hope that helps :)

Thanks so much @TenThousandSpoons0 No mention of it being low lying in my notes or of another scan later on. Will definitely ask about it next week. From a bit more (sensible) Googling what I've read now about bleeding risk completely reiterated what you've just said.

Previous PPH was due to a stuck placenta so had a trip to theatre after labour. Normal vaginal delivery though, so hoping for same again.

Great :) fingers crossed second time round all smooth for you! You’ve probably read that retained placenta does have a wee bit of a recurrence risk - usual message is to make sure you deliver in hospital, IV line in, medication after delivery to help the placenta separate, and low-ish threshold for a wee trip to theatre if you’re bleeding and it’s not separating. Enjoy your pregnancy :)

Yeah, thanks @TenThousandSpoons0 - I had a good chat with consultant about it a few weeks ago as it was already causing me a bit of anxiety. They were so reassuring though. Would always want to deliver in hospital so happy with that, and they'll be all set up with iv just in case. They said risk increases from about 3-5% so I live in hope!

I had an anterior placenta in my recent pregnancy. Placenta came away fine and minimal blood loss. Less than my previous birth with normal posterior high placenta.
Step away from Google. Anterior placenta is unlikely to increase risk of pph, but you'll already be on the midwives radar due to previous pph. Good luck and try not to worry.

Thanks @turtletum So reassuring to hear about your experience

I had an anterior placenta with my 2nd and 1st was fundal that then moved more anterior. No problems with either. Felt regular movement from around 18 weeks. Felt more movement to the side. It’s not something you need to worry about.

That's excellent, thank you @Jupiter15