Hating anterior placenta

[ExcitingTimes2021]

I know I have posted about this before but absolutely hating this anterior placenta. 23+3 and I spend my days concentrating and searching for movement. And when it does come it’s literally 2-3 kicks and then she moves to an area I can’t feel her anymore. I try all the tricks to get her to move so I can feel it but she just has none of it.
As she gets bigger and stronger will the movement become more frequent and easy to indentify? I can literally go all day without feeling anything some days.
I have a very active job where I work very long shifts (13+hours) and I can never feel her when I’m at work coz I’m just too busy and always moving. Iv been on annual leave this week so had plenty of time to try and focus on her, but dreading going back coz I won’t be able to concentrate to see if she is moving! Please tell me life with anterior placenta gets easier!! 🙏🙏🙏

It does get easier. My placenta is anterior high (more on the right) and till 28 weeks she was breech so the main movements I felt were lightning crotch like someone was playing trampoline on my vag. The she turned head down after 28 weeks and I feel her movements still even tho sometimes she would have kicked the placenta but as she’s bigger it’s easier to pick up. I was told before 28 weeks there isn’t a set pattern. As long as you feel movements every so often that’s ok. If you’re not happy by all mean check in with your MAU. I have been doing that

It’s totally normal. At 23 weeks she’s still tiny, so she has loads of room to move around in there without bumping into you. You won’t feel a pattern of movement or anything really regular until later in pregnancy.

I had an anterior placenta and didn’t feel my baby move at all until 24 weeks. By about 30 weeks I was feeling him move every day and it was totally unmistakeable.

Yea very normal!
I didn’t get a pattern till later on then he used to go wild at 11pm on a night time and kept me up before he was even here 😊
It’s hard and can be scary I’ve had afew visits to the maternity unit.

Can I ask how you know you have an anterior placenta? Do you get told at your 20 week scan? Just curious as I’ve seen a lot of people also upset that they can’t feel much movement. I’m only 15 weeks so I wouldn’t know either way yet!

I didn’t feel a thing with mine till I was 21 weeks, on the scans it was like a blanket over her under the front of my tummy. Not sure when I got a pattern of movement but once it started it never stopped and I was lying awake unable to sleep because she was rolling, kicking and hiccuping by the end.

It’s early days yet, try not to worry.

I think you’re just too early at the moment, there’s still so much room in there. I’m now 35 weeks and thankful I have an anterior as I’m being kicked all over the place!! Once the baby gets bigger, you’ll definitely feel it.

How often are you being scanned OP? I had an anterior placenta at 12 week scan so have another scan this week (week 17) to check it out and make sure it’s not interfering or fused to my section scar. Where I live we get regular extra scans throughout. Have you been offered the same?

@Thefaceofboe

Can I ask how you know you have an anterior placenta? Do you get told at your 20 week scan? Just curious as I’ve seen a lot of people also upset that they can’t feel much movement. I’m only 15 weeks so I wouldn’t know either way yet!

I was told at 12 week scan

@EmbarrassingMama

How often are you being scanned OP? I had an anterior placenta at 12 week scan so have another scan this week (week 17) to check it out and make sure it’s not interfering or fused to my section scar. Where I live we get regular extra scans throughout. Have you been offered the same?

Wow your lucky! In my area we’re told and that’s it 🙈🙈

I would be worried too but as baby gets stronger and bigger the movements will be more noticeable.

I'm 22+4wk with my 1st anterior placenta, 6th baby. I expected movement to be much later but I can feel ours loads and see kicks on the outside of bump despite my extra padding (tho with excess skin after huge twins my flabby belly sags below bump as I carry high). I think the placenta is more to the right as I never feel anything there, easy to miss movement when I'm busy too but she is developing more of a pattern now and awake at similar times of day.

I have an anterior placenta too. I started feeling proper kicks from around 23ish weeks. Mostly at the sides never at the front. Like you when I was busy at work I would never feel movement and I had to lie down in the evenings to actually feel anything. Once I hit around 28 weeks I would constantly get movement. I’m now 34 weeks and it never stops moving!

Thanks for all your replies. It’s has been really stressing me out for the last 2 weeks! When I feel her move it’s just a bit of reassurance really for a pregnancy Iv been very anxious through.

@Thefaceofboe they told me at the 20 weeks scan but only because I asked them. They basically just said the placenta wasn’t blocking the exit, I asked it it was anterior and they said yes. Then after I asked they told me just to expect movements a lot later on.

@EmbarrassingMama no extra scans for me. First time mum and they said the placenta wasn’t blocking any exits so I presume it’s not something they are concerned about. Just the 12 and 20 for me. However I did pay for a private one at 10 weeks and 18 weeks coz I was too anxious. Going to try not pay for another but I keep checked available dates🙈🙈 xx

I think your stressful job might have something to do with not feeling much movement! When I was stressed or distracted I never felt any movement until the baby was quite big and strong - around 30-32 weeks or so. I'd suggest taking some time out to sit on the sofa, relax and do nothing except concentrate on your baby. Within a few weeks you should realise that there is regular movement (and remember some babies move less than others).

I also think there's nothing wrong with getting a private scan if it puts your mind at ease!

I'm on my third anterior placenta, and once you pass 30 weeks there's not much difference from those without from all accounts. Anterior placenta means sod all once they learn how to get their little feet in your ribcage....

28+6 with baby #6 and anterior placenta

I can actually see lumps which must be feet etc coming out of the sides of my bump when i lie down. And yes all up in my ribs too!

24+5 and she is having another quiet day again today. Felt very light kicks this morning but nothing since. It’s stressing me out so much! X

I was told I had a high anterior placenta at my 20 week scan last week. I feel very little movement when busy and working during the day. I currently have to concentrate really hard to feel movements at night... but I know we don't need to worry too much about regular movements until 25 weeks plus... and as they get bigger, the movements definitely get more obvious! I remember, feet, bum and elbows sticking out towards the end last time!!

@BrumBoo have you had any labour complications with any of your anterior placenta births?x

@LayingLow none at all, two very straightforward labours with no issues due to the placenta.

@ExcitingTimes2021 I'm having the same stress. I can only feel movement on one side and even see my stomach move, if it turns I literally can't feel anything!

Yes it gets better!! Please don't worry, I didn't feel a single thing until 21 weeks, and then there was none of this 'pattern'.
But week by week it'll get more and more noticeable and then you're into the third trimester asking your baby to stop moving so much because you'd like to get some sleep 🤣 or you're being jabbed in the rib or the bladder and you wonder if it's going to burst out of your skin!

@BrumBoo oh I'm glad to hear that! I just heard that if your placenta is anterior it is more likely the baby will be back to back which means a longer more painful birth! That's what I'm worried about 😔 I'm pregnant with baby number 4 but first anterior placenta.. due in 4 weeks 4 days

[quote LayingLow]@BrumBoo oh I'm glad to hear that! I just heard that if your placenta is anterior it is more likely the baby will be back to back which means a longer more painful birth! That's what I'm worried about 😔 I'm pregnant with baby number 4 but first anterior placenta.. due in 4 weeks 4 days[/quote]
I'm on my third baby with a third AP. This baby was back to back but considering the awful heaviness and pain I've been feeling low down I think he's shifted (hopefully in the right direction). Also due end of May, I've had a feeling I won't see 40 weeks though. Didn't last time!

I didn't feel regular strong movements until thirty weeks. It was very reassuring once they started, I finally could enjoy the pregnancy. You have my sympathy. Hopefully not long until you get lots. I tried to ask my midwife at 28wk what to do about reduced movement when I'd never had much or a pattern at that point. She couldn't answer the question...