Is an Anterior placenta a big deal?

[Didylicious]

Had a scan on Mon, and was told the placenta is "Anterior" meaning "at the front of the womb".

I'm 13w pregnant.

Is this a big deal?

I told my friend who is a midwife, and she told me I have an increased risk of bleeding in pregnancy (have already had "spotting" for several weeks on and off - but they said at the scan they could not see an obvious reason for this!), and also I might need a cesearean if the placenta doesn't "move"!

I'm totally confused.

I thought it was only placenta previa that caused these problems - they didn't say I had that - and from what I have read, it's too early to diagnose that yet.

From what I understand, a placenta previa can be either posterior or anterior. They will be able to tell you at your 20 week scan where the placenta is lying, and even then I think, 90% of placentas move by 36 weeks.

I have been told that mine is low-lying and I will be monitored, but I think for you the best thing is to try not to think about it until later (which is what I am trying to do). Whatever you do, don't google!! it scared the life out of me.

I am not a midwife, unlike your friend, but as far as I know anterior and posterior placentas are both normal. It is placenta praevia (low lying placenta) that you need to watch out for, although you are so early in your pregnancy that even if it is low now it is unlikely to still be low at term as your uterus grows a lot and it grows up.

I just checked my notes and my sonographer said that mine was anterior and that was good as it was nice and high up.

I suggest you call your own midwife (assuming you have had your booking in appointment, if not push for one) for some clarification and also a check on that spotting. I have never seen a single drop (am now 32 weeks).

I have an anterior placenta. The risk of bleeding is higher,movements take longer to feel and the heartbeat takes longer to find. If your placenta is only at the front thats fine, however, if its low lying there are added complications (mine is as low as it can be)

When you have your 20 week scan they will check position for you wrt low lying or not.

I had an anterior placenta with my third. Imagine you have a cushion (the placenta) between the outside and the baby. So, as mumofmonsters says, it tends to be later in your pg before you feel movement and it can take longer to find the heartbeat. I have never heard of a higher bleed risk.

I think the person who mentioned the possibility of a c-section may have been confused. An anterior placenta is less usual but is normal. It may cause the baby to be posterior which some feel made their labours longer and/or more painful though my posterior baby - who remained so throughout labour and birth - caused no extra problems.

Upshot is, don't worry at all, things can change a lot throughout your pg. But, if you are really worried then talk to your midwife, not your friend who is a midwife but hasn't seen your notes and may not have had brain engaged when chatting to you.

My midwife saw my notes yesterday, and never said a word about the anterior placenta, so I guess she didn't feel concerned.

I've had 3 scans for the "spotting" already - and they have never been able to see any cause of the bleeding. The baby is growing well, and my cervix closed.

This is my 4th baby (7th pregnancy as I've had 3 early MC too).

I had unexplained bleeding (throughout the pregnancy and sometimes quite heavy too!) with my 2nd baby and her placenta was posterior. I had no cervical erosion, and her placenta looked fine when she was born - it was a complete mystery!

All 3 of my chidren were posterior regardless of placenta position (think they just prefer to face away from my constipated pregnancy bowel!!!), so labours were not quick (although not dreadfully long either thankfully).

I guess, this "anterior placenta" is nothing to worry about just yet - and we'll see what happens with the 20 week scan.

Thank you everyone for your replies - it may be my midwife friend had something else in mind when I said "anterior placenta" and got muddled?!

#3 had an anterior placenta and it wasn't a big deal movements were cushioned and I did have some very early bleeding (at times period was due), labour was normal (HWB in under 3 hours)

#4 also has an anteroir placenta. I'm currently 37 weeks and no problems so far

I am 39 weeks and have an anterior placenta without any problems. Baby is lying in the in the correct position for birth too. : )

It really sounds like I don't need to worry about it being "anterior" at all then!

bumpybecky - a HWB in less than 3 hours - awesome. Hope I get the same!!!

I am going to buy one of those huge exercise balls to bounce on in later weeks - apparently this can help position the baby correctly for birth. I really would like the chance to birth a baby wbo is not back-to-back for a change, I'd appreciate a little less work in the "pushing" department!

Hoping the spotting goes for the rest of the pregnancy and I am "allowed" a waterbirth (I do not want to birth out of water, I need that water!!!).

im 24 weeks with baby #3 and have a high anterior placenta, apparently it makes no difference apart from how soon you notice movement and how easy it is to find the heart beat. to be honest i havent noticed to much of a difference with movement. felt (and saw) baby move a week earlier then with my last 2 who both had posterier placentas and apart from the movements still being fairly low down and occassionally a bit muffled its the same.

however the mw did find it difficult to find the hb at 22 weeks which has never happened before. she had to push baby down towards my feet a bit to get it but then when i asked said it wasnt because of where the placenta was

As posted below I have an anterior placenta and felt movements at 16 weeks (with my first baby!) and no-one has had any issues finding the heartbeat, apart from my lo escaping that is (hates sonicaid)

LOL! Those baby's really hate the sonicaid don't they!

I bought a "angelsounds" doppler off ebay (so cheap, from hongkong!), and I've been able to find the heart beat from around 9 weeks. I've had a couple times it's taken a while to locate, but have alwasy been able to find it. I have to say - what goes on in my belly is quite deafening!!!

Wonder what stage the baby begins to hear?

I'm convinced I've been feeling movements from around 11 weeks. Not often, just now and then at first, and now daily. I'll be 14 weeks on Friday (and this being my 4th baby). However the scan tech said that would be VERY unusual to feel it that early.

I asked some friends who are mums' and many of them think they felt the baby move around 12 weeks also.

I guess the anterior placenta is not stopping me feel movements or pick up the heartbeat either then. (yet!).

I wish I knew what was causing the spotting I've been getting, but am thankful it doesn't seem to be doing any harm.

It's just stressful, especially as I've had 3 miscarriages in the past (though early - much earlier than this pregnancy has gone), it just makes me worry.

Sounds like you've been reassured already, just adding my 2p worth- anterior, lateral, posterior, fundal are all placenta positions, and all are completely NORMAL. Until you get nearer 20 weeks no-one can see if os is clear, therefore start you worrying about praevia. At 20 weeks, v.v. rare to see things well enough to diagnose a true praevia, usually 34 weeks for that ( often we sonographers say we can't see properly, or say its low at the mo) as lower segment of uterus is last to grow- therefore we can call it low at 20 weeks and be completely FINE at 34 wks- so you're just starting to worry a little early on!! Also, at 34 weeks it can still look low but at 37 weeks be FINE! Also, if placenta is anterior and we want to look at it again at 34 weeks- the anterior lower segment grows LOADS so they ( in the last 4 or 5 yrs{can't remember now, pg brain!} of my personal scanning experience) have ALWAYS looked fine later on. The posterior ones can be a bit more tricky. So, in my experience anterior is great!
Good luck and enjoy,
mumofk

Thanks so much for taking your time to reply mumofk - a sonographers opinion is worth it's weight in gold!

I have stopped spotting in the last few days - an am feeling better. Less anxious about everything

Well, just thought I'd update as it's been a while.

Last scan at 20w showed the placenta is still anterior - but HIGH (well away from the cervix).

All bleeding stopped around 6 weeks ago.

It turned out to be my cervix not liking the pregnancy hormones that was causing the bleeding.

I've had an anterior placenta with around 4 or 5 of mine. It's no big deal but I dont feel movement until 20 weeks but have always found the hb with a doppler from 8-10 weeks. It definitely doesnt increase the risk of bleeding. If you are bleeding then it's not from having an anterior placenta!

i am 31 weeks preg with #2 and been told my placenta is anterior i had a scan at 17 wks and it was low lying but has since moved and i have been told it can't move down again dont know how true this is but i trust the hospital staff and like some of you i have had spotting that can't be explained but i am having trouble feeling some of the movements my baby makes but she reasurres me every now and then by giving me a good kicking lol

Interested to read all of this thread I am 22 weeks with baby 2. The placenta is anterior and low but it has already moved up a bit. It is now apparently Grade 1, what does that mean? with DS the placenta was posterior and high and they always told me that was good. I have to say, I know the kicks feel more cushioned this time.

thanks for all your inputs..

i have a question, what does anterior high lying placental position mean?

thanks for your reply..

I have an anterior placenta but mine is low lying - I am having another scan at 32 weeks to see if it has moved but I'm having a csection anyway so doesn't really matter if it hasn't.

I had an anterior placenta on my first pregnancy and this was not considered a problem. I still felt the first fluttering movements at 16wks and got regular kicks from about 22wks. The only thing I noticed was all the movement I felt was to the left and right and top and bottom of the bump as opposed to the centre of the bump.

As far as I am aware there is no serious problems associated with an anterior placenta. Placenta praevia (where the placenta covers the cervix and can be a problem) occurs when the placenta is low lying and does not move up during the pregnancy, but this is completely different to a standard anterior placenta position.