Missed placenta previa at 20 week scan

[tmc14]

Hi
At my 20 week scan my placenta was listed as being high & posterior. Yesterday I had a growth scan at 30 weeks (due to age), and they said I had placenta previa, which the consultant then said would lead to an early section if it didn’t move in the next few weeks (next scan at 34 weeks).

Has anyone else had this? I was a bit surprised so didn’t ask enough questions... is it the 20 week one that is more likely wrong? I also don’t know what I’m supposed to do while I wait for the next scan in terms of exercise/rest etc. The consultant didn’t say anything but the RCOG website has scared me with all the potential complications. I’ve called and left a message for the consultant to call me so I can check what I’m supposed to be doing but haven’t heard back so thought I’d ask the hive mind if anyone has had similar or if you’re always supposed to rest/take it easy. I’m an active person with an energetic toddler but after reading about the dangers I’m worried as to what I’m supposed to be doing. Plus it’s so strange to have two completely different positions between scans. Any similar experience would be good to hear. Thank you x

I agree tmc14, I've read alot about 39 weeks being the key for that extra development. I'm about 25 mins from the hospital, and the earliest birth I've had was at 39+4 and he was my heaviest baby and I wasn't resting at all, so I'm hoping this time round with more rest, I won't have her early and need an emc.
Good luck for your scan tomorrow and getting some more answers, I wanted to express some colustrum from 37 weeks due to gestational diabetes but can't do that with a low placenta, and I also wanted to take some raspberry leaf tea capsules but don't want to do that if the placenta is low, so finding out more info on Friday will help me with these plans if it's moved away 🙏

Hi @EBM20 I think it's really likely that it will move if its' picked up at the 20 week scan. Seems strange that they haven't booked for a late scan to check, but I'm finding people's experiences so variable. Glad you're able to get a private scan.

@Chocolate4me Scan confirmed low placenta, although it wasn't an internal scan so she couldn't tell me exactly how much it was covering. But I feel better knowing for sure it's low. It has 2 weeks to move out of the way or I'll get a section booked in. I'm the same, I have my dates and raspberry leaf tea at the ready, and I wanted to express colostrum as I really struggled with supply/weight gain last time and want to maximise my chances of exclusive breastfeeding (last time I had to mix feed). But that's all on hold now. It's never straightforward is it?! Good luck for tomorrow, let me know how it goes x

Ah that's a shame it hasn't moved or they didn't measure it so you could compare any movement. Next time they'd have to measure it surely...
Thank you, looking forward to an extra scan for reassurance, I've got 6weeks to go now till due date, feel like I'm wishing the time away!

So my scan showed its moved to 4.6cm, from 1.4cm... Seems like a massive amount considering I haven't grown much and its posterior but I do have another scan at 37 weeks so will be asking them to check again!

Hi ladies, I have had PP twice, although hadn’t been told it was high to start with.

DD1 was born at 37+4, DD2 at 36+1

Happy to answer questions.

@Chocolate4me Oh wow! That is a lot, but I think it only needs to be over 2cm? So even if it's not totally accurate, that seems like it's well out of the way. That's great news, fingers crossed it's the same thing at 37 weeks. Really pleased it was positive news.

@AuditAngel Ah, thank you for offering to answer questions. I think my two main ones at the moment are... Did you have to stay in hospital longer because of the slightly early section/PP? And, if you wanted to, did you find breastfeeding ok? I really struggled with breastfeeding my son and I'm worried about supply issues if she has to come a little earlier than she would prefer.

@Chocolate4me that’s good!

I was told I had PP at my 20 week scan (3rd baby, she's now 11 weeks old! ). 28 weeks it was still low, 34 weeks it had moved. Ended up in hospital anyway for a c-section at 37+5 due to pre-eclampsia and baby being transverse. (She still came out feet first with c-section 😂)

After the c-section they told me that my placenta had been really low so I was lucky not to have gone into labour myself. So just get them to double and triple check if they clear you! Fingers crossed it does move for you!

Hello OP - I had this with dc3. It frightened the life out of me as I had other young dcs, and a dh that was constantly on the road so I felt incredibly vunerable. I still shudder when I remember!
The doctor monitered me all the time eventually getting uncomfortable with the pregnancy around 33/34 weeks. DD was growing a lot, turning into a very big baby, and they worried about the impact that could have on the placenta previa. They decided to deliver her early - as soon her lung function was up to par. Everything ended well but all I remember about that pregnancy is how scared I was. It was quite the existential crisis! You should be careful. You should slow down a little. And you should go straight to hospital if you bleed. Good luck.

tmc - regarding your question about nursing - my early c-secton did not have an impact on the supply of milk.
I did not stay in hospital longer although if that option was available I would have liked to.

I haven't RTFT, sorry! But I will say, I had placenta previa twice. First time it moved and I had a natural birth. Second time, it didn't and I had a section. Was told at 36 weeks and I was absolutely devastated.

At 32 weeks, it read at 1.8mm and by 36 weeks, it was 1.2, which shouldn't happen. Turns out each sonographer can read the scan differently. I had a scan with the same sonographer from the 32 week scan, and she said it was 2mm. But then got a second opinion and realized she was reading it differently.

The notes from the sonographer should say where it is. Unless covering the area, I wouldn't completely worry about resting etc. I'm not suggesting jumping on a trampoline mind! But sounds like you've got a partial one, which is quite common. And of course any sign of bleeding, get to hospital.

I had a planned c section. And was glad I did because I could arrange childcare for my eldest, and I could feel completely rested instead of hours in labour to then need a section. I explained my wishes beforehand, and they did as much as possible to accommodate that. Your partner will probably not be allowed in theatre due to Covid though. I was worried about the recovery. I suggest religiously keeping on top of painkillers and get on your feet after 6 hours. Don't do too much either, it's easy to get an infection that way. My recovery wasn't that bad in the end.

Good luck anyway!

And it didn't affect breastfeeding either.... just get loads of skin to skin :)

And I was home the evening after the section, although I could have stayed longer.

Also something I didn't know...the baby might bring up a lot of phlegm.. like almost choking on it...scared the life out of me! Apparently, when given birth naturally, that is squeezed out of them in the birth canal, but not after a section.

Thank you so much for the info. The breastfeeding really bothers me as I really struggled with DS and had to combi feed as could never get my supply up... But it was a very long slow labour, we were both exhausted, I had 3 hours of surgery straight after so missed that first bit of skin to skin, and I lost a fair amount of blood, so your posts give me hope that with a slightly more relaxed start, even if it's early, and the chance for skin to skin straight away that it could work out ok.

@Heydugeemummy Jeez, stressful. I think after all the misinformation and confusion it's definitely a good shout to have them triple check it! I don't really ask much in the scans and wait for the Dr appointment after, but think I'll be asking the monographer to check the measurement and check again! Glad everything worked out ok for you.

@Harriedharriet Yes I think from reading just the RCOG website I've freaked myself out a bit. I have slowed down, and my private scan last week confirmed it was low so I'm prepping myself for an early section. I'll be pleased if it does miraculously move, but I think at this stage it's much less likely. I was already anxious in this pregnancy after a miscarriage late last year, so it hasn't been the happiest time! But at least I'm prepared now and feel that if I'm careful (I also live a 5 minute drive from the hospital) then fingers crossed we'll both be ok.

@Eslteacher06 Thank you for all the info. I'm not actually too bothered about not having my husband in the ward after (no offence to him!) I'd rather he was with our son really, I've never left him before, he'll be fine with my parents but nicer to have his dad home. I'm also super lucky in that his paternity leave is very generous so I will get the chance to rest properly afterwards and recover. I'm quite scared of a section and the wound etc, so hoping that, with proper rest and support it hopefully won't be too bad.

Thanks all, I really appreciate the stories and the reassurance. I'm still keeping everything crossed it moves enough by next week, but also feel that I'm ok with it not and feel a little more in control of what might happen. Plus the private scan showed baby has moved from transverse to head down, which makes the section (if needed) more straightforward thankfully.

Just thought I'd post an update... had my 34 week scan today. I was actually scanned by two separate sonographers, who both did an internal and external scan. They were both 100% sure the placenta was not previa. They had no idea how every single previous scan could list it in a different location. I'm guessing with an external scan maybe it can be just tricky to tell?! But anyway, there were definitely errors, but they did a good job at reassuring me this one was correct, were happy to spend the time doing it all twice, and I'm not facing an early section. It's been a bizarre four weeks not having a clue what's happening! But thought I'd update in case other people read this... so you can know it is possible to get several errors and it's worth doing a double check!