Low-lying placenta, NHS error

[notmyname22]

Hi, everyone.

Just hoping for advice from anyone who's had a similar experience.

I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant (second pregnancy; my first was born vaginally 18 months ago). I had a small bleed on Monday with small clot. Got checked over in hospital, given an injection of anti-d, then sent home after a few hours with no explanation for the bleeding. They checked my cervix and it was long and closed.

I had a bigger bleed (bright red) on Wednesday morning with two small clots so went back to hospital and was kept in overnight for monitoring.

I didn't have further bleeding, all my obs and baby's heartbeat were fine, cervix long and closed, so they let me go after 24 hours. I wasn't given an explanation for the bleeding – they basically said sometimes it just happens. I asked for a scan to check my placenta and they said no, it wasn't required.

After leaving hospital I booked a private scan (with a properly qualified sonographer). She said that I have a low-lying placenta and confirmed this via transvaginal ultrasound. It's 1.6cm from my cervix and apparently anything less than 2cm should be classed as low. This seems the most likely cause of the bleeding. She said I have grounds for an official complaint against the sonographer who did my 20-week scan, as they marked my placenta as high in my notes, and this is a potentially very dangerous mistake to have made. She also said I should have extra monitoring/scans from the NHS before I deliver.

As I understand it, it's likely that my placenta will move out of the way before delivery, and there's no immediate risk to me or baby right now, but it's definitely something that requires further monitoring to avoid the worst-case scenario.

I tried to get my midwife on the phone today but no luck, so phoned triage for some general advice, which was a vague take it easy, no exercise, no sex – but I’m not sure if that just means for now, i.e. in the aftermath of the bleeds I’ve had this week, or for the rest of the pregnancy.

I’m trying to absorb all of this after what has been a tiring week, and I just feel a bit… lost? I’m frustrated with the lack of information, and I feel both scared and angry that this was missed at my 20-week scan. I'm a big supporter of our NHS, but I feel pretty let down by this. And very, very grateful that I could afford a private scan.

I already had a midwife appointment booked in for next week, so I’m going to take it very easy until then, but in the meantime, if anyone could please share their experiences of low-lying placenta, I would be very grateful.

I had low lying like you in my first pregnancy and midwife was very relaxed as usually they move. She didn’t really give me any advice, apart from not to worry as they usually move. It did move by 32 weeks and all was fine from that perspective.

second pregnancy and had a full cover with placenta up front and back walls. I told the sonographer I was relaxed as 90% move and I had had it before. She said ‘hmm, these ones die not normally move that much’. She was right, it never moved. It was still low at 28 weeks. I didn’t make it to my 32 week scan as had two huge bleeds in my 31st week and spent 6 weeks in hospital with a delivery at 36 weeks.

no-one medical gave me any advice about previa early on as ‘it usually moves’. But I read stuff online and followed all of it except lifting my toddler.

I would say that my consultant in hospital thinks the whole episode was triggered by a norovirus infection, ofc cannot be sure but he thought the force of the vomiting etc was the thing that did the damage. I had no idea, had merrily taken my eldest to soft play (where I picked it up!).

sorry for long post. But I reckon if it’s not full coverage then you have a good chance it will move.

@stepstepstep and @OuiLaLa, that sounds so difficult for both of you! Six weeks in hospital must have been so tough to get through mentally. Especially as sounds like you both had children at home.

I had it picked up in my 20 week scan, went back at 32 weeks and it had moved. Could see ds had a full head of hair floating away in there! Definitely raise it with your midwife, I'm shocked they didn't scan you when you were in hospital anyway.

my DM and DMIL were amazing & brought DD1 (she was 18 months at the time) in to see me every day & the lovely play therapist in the hospital made sure we had lots of toys & crafts to do. was pretty crappy though. But don’t worry, if your placenta is away from the cervix a bit already there’s a good chance it will be fine. The DDs are 15 and 13 now & no ill-effects!

@OuiLaLa sounds like our experiences were very similar. No norovirus for me though!

I had two (very) big bleeds in mid-second trimester with my second child, and a complete placenta praevia at that stage, but it was out of the way completely by 28 weeks (even though I was told that wasn't likely with the way mine was) and dc was born vaginally at 41 weeks.

Definitely inform your MW and give her the printouts. Back then I had to take it easyish, but was still able to go about my daily life (just avoided rushing about too much).

I had a low lying placenta. They kept telling me it will probably move out of the way - it didn't. Had a big bleed in third trimester, was in and out of hospital and baby was premature delivered by EMCS. I didn't have sex or do any exercise throughout pregnancy. The bleeds happened despite me taking it easy so you have to be careful.

I have posterior placenta previa with placenta covering cervix by 1.8mm. I think it’s moved 1mm since my 20 week scan. I wasn’t given much info at all until very recently as in 9 out of 10 cases the placenta moves up. From online forums, it seems it’s more likely to move if the placenta is on front wall as you grow out that way and there is more chance of the placenta stretching upwards and away from the cervix. Not sure if that’s true but it does make sense. Anyway, iv had one minor bleed which was browny blood. This was around 32 weeks. I went to hospital but they said brown blood is old and generally only bright red blood is something they would be worried about and consider keeping me in for monitoring for. The RCOG guidance is section at 36 to 37 weeks for uncomplicated previa. I was scheduled additional scans to confirm my placenta has not moved. They do the final one at 36 weeks in my local trust, at which point you would be scheduled for a c section if still covering or not 20mm clear. You can’t do anything to make it move but should avoid sex, exercise, heavy lifting, squatting etc to try and prevent bleeds. With my placenta being posterior, the section is easier as they won’t need to cut through it but they still order blood as you are at higher risk of needing a transfusion. If you have multiple heavy bleeds and are unlikely to make it to 36 weeks for your section, you will be offered steroid injections to help babies lungs develop more quickly. You probably want to make sure you always have a plan of how to get to hospital and have your notes available Incase you have a heavy bleed and need to go in at short notice. Good luck x

My placenta was low lying at 20 weeks, they advised no sex/nothing in your vagina. They didn't say no exercise, I work as a gardener which I continued until 36 weeks, just at a slower pace. I had one extra scan at 34 weeks and my placenta had moved so really caused no issues for me at all. I hope yours is as straight forward.

Just to add as well, despite the previa, I would consider my pregnancy to have been very straight forwards so if your placenta doesn’t move, please don’t worry too much.

Thanks, everyone. It's really useful to read about all these different experiences and it's helping me to put the more factual information I'm getting from online into context.

I'll definitely be super careful until I see my midwife next week.