Placenta accreta scan referreral for low lying placenta

[ZooGDA]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone has had similar? I had my 20 week scan yesterday - all was fine with baby but it was flagged that my placenta was slightly low (posterior, 1.85mm from os). Apparently because I had to have a c-section in my previous pregnancy, it means I’m now at risk for placenta accreta? Maybe I’m being naive but I would understand the risk more if I had an anterior placenta and it was showing as being over my c-section scar?
I’ve been referred for a transvaginal scan in 10 days to check, but again, not sure I’ve come across this before on other posts? Most people seem to be told to wait for another scan at 32 weeks?
she didn’t say she could see anything that made her think it was growing into the placenta, and it’s just precaution given my history of a c section…has anyone had anything similar?
Thank you in advance!

Bumping for you... I didn't have exactly the same experience but my 20-week scan did show placenta previa and sounds like it's completely covering os. They did a transvaginal scan on the spot, and I was offered another scan at 32 weeks to double check. This is my first child so no history. IMO it's always good to have extra scans just for the peace of mind and safety...

Thank you for replying, I completely agree that having extra scans is a good think. I’m a very anxious person so tend to overthink and catastrophise before I actually have all the facts. I think it’s just the confusion over what I was told that is worrying me and I just have a long list of questions that I want to ask now!
They told me that if it is diagnosed as accreta, then I would have my care transferred to another hospital as my current one wouldn’t be equipped to deal with it. That in itself has made me worry that even if the scan comes back fine, that if something goes badly wrong when I (hopefully have a VBAC) then I will be in the wrong place…For someone like me who overthinks I think less information is definitely better sometimes!
I hope your placenta rises by 32 weeks for you. It sounds like the odds are definitely in your favour so will keep my fingers crossed for you :)

@ZooGDA I have recently gone threw the same. Only been given the all clear regarding placenta acreta last week. My maternity care would have stayed in the same hospital but the section would also have been moved to another hospital if I had it. My understanding was that this happens as in most cases with placenta acreta the uterus actually has to be removed during birth. As there is a high risk of lots of blood loss they tend to do these procedures in hospitals with other non maternity specialist e.g. blood vessel specialist etc. I would have been moved over to my maternity hospital after a day or two in intensive care. My baby would have been transfered to the maternity nicu straight after delivery. Delivery would haben been before 36 weeks. Hopefully you will also get the all clear soon.

I had similar with my 3rd DC.
Placenta was covering the internal OS at 20 week scan. Rescanned at 32 weeks and it was well clear 🙌🏻 I went on to have a perfectly textbook (if a tad speedy 🙈😂) home birth.

@ZooGDA sorry only just saw that you said you do better with less information (I am the opposite) sorry if I said to much. On the positive side I was told that in 95% of cases, the placenta moves and isn't ingrown so be hopeful that it will all work out well.

@ZooGDA I've been told at my 20 week scan I have low lying placenta. Similar to yours I think, not covering my cervix but close. My notes say I'll be rescanned at 32 weeks and that in 90% of cases the placenta moves up with the uterus. They didn't make a big deal out of it at all so I haven't really given it much thought!

I had the same (ELCS due to breech with my first). I had another scan at the local hospital (which was inconclusive) and was then referred to a foetal medicine specialist at the university hospital. He did both an abdominal and transvaginal scan and ruled placenta accreta out with absolute certainty. A VBAC was even on the cards again. In the end, I had another ELCS as my kids have ridiculously big heads and won't go/ stay head down... It was textbook, no sign of accreta whatsoever!

I would imagine if your placenta is anterior and so close to the os, that means it is covering your CS scar. If you want more peace of mind, ask for a referral to a foetal medicine specialist for a scan. If you're prone to anxiety, don't read up on placenta accreta. The key thing to remember is that it is extremely rare. All the best of luck with it all!!!

Placenta praevia and placenta accreta are not the same thing. The risk of accreta is hugely increased if the placenta attaches over a previous section scar. If you haven't got a scar, then they won't be concerned about accreta, just praevia if your placenta stays low. All the best of luck with your pregnancy!

You can always choose to transfer your care and birth to another hospital if you think you'd feel more at ease there. I do think it's important to keep some perspective though - if there is no medical indication you need the higher level of care provided there, is it worth the inconvenience to you?

I agree with @Sunshine085, in the vast majority of cases this resolves closer to the time so I wouldn't worry about it just yet. Good luck

Thank you for all of your replies, all very useful to help me keep some perspective!

If my placenta was anterior and low I would completely understand the need to rule out it growing into the scar, it’s the fact that it’s posterior that’s confusing me, given the sonographer said she couldn’t see anything but needed to rule it out given I’m ‘high risk’. But I’ll remain optimistic and just hope it’s an extra chance to see baby boy again!

Just to confirm, the scan referral says specifically to rule out accreta rather than the issue of it being low lying

That's very odd! I hadn't realised from your earlier posts that your placenta is posterior. Sounds like something has got a bit mixed up somewhere along the way - is it definitely not anterior? Otherwise it sounds like a rather unnecessary box ticking exercise.

Good luck OP! Given the current status of NHS I'm actually glad that they would rather err on the side of caution and do extra scans for you. As others have said placenta accreta is very rare but worth all the attention if it actually happens.

@Cantseethewindows strange isn’t it! I’ve had my 20 week scan and a private one at 17 weeks which both said posterior so I’m assuming both can’t be wrong. I think I’ve made my peace with it now - whatever will be will be and hopefully I’ll just be getting an extra scan almost by mistake 🤷🏼‍♀️

@katerose2022 Agreed. I will remain optimistic and just keep my fingers crossed that it’s an opportunity to rule anything serious out

Definitely ask at your next appointment - tell them you don't understand why you've been referred as it is your understanding your placenta is posterior, which means there's no increased risk of accreta, can they confirm that is correct? Hope you get some answers! It sounds like it's quite likely there is nothing to worry about, fingers crossed!

It is still possible to have placenta accreta with a posterior placenta, but the fact that it is posterior means that your previous c section does not make you higher risk in the sense that the placenta will not have grown into your scar. It sounds like you are not at higher risk of placenta accreta- it is likely that there is an algorithm that has to be followed where a patient that has both low lying placenta and previous c section needs to be followed up to rule out placenta accreta. Try and think of it as an extra chance to see baby. All the best x

Thank you for the common sense replies, you’ve all made me a feel a lot better :)

Just a quick update - went for the extra scan…I asked at the start why I was high risk, he said I absolutely wasn’t and they had to stop sending people without properly reading notes…long story short and after a very very quick scan, he said my placenta could barely be classed as low, it certainly isn’t growing into my c section scar and he was very sorry they’d completely wasted my time. What a lot of panic for nothing!!