Low placenta abutting os?

[SarahHewitt]

Hello x
just wondered if anyone else has had this or heard of it. 20 week scan baby great. Sonagrapher mentioned my placenta is still posterior position but it’s closer to the exit and I will need to be rescanned at 32 weeks to see if it’s moved up otherwise it would be a c section. I was advised not to worry as the placenta can move up. I was not advised about exercise, sex or bleeding but when I have read up about it it says all these things to be avoided that causes bleeding..
is this a common thing? And just wanted some advice ..is it good that my baby is doing great and the placenta must functioning fine it’s just it’s abit low? On my maternity notes it says ‘32 week rescan low placenta abutting os’

Most of the time the placenta will move up as the uterus grows. Some don't and will be seen on the next scan. Of course if you have any bleeding call the maternity department and explain. You'll be well looked after. It's only a problem if the placenta is blocking the exit when you're nearly full term. Then it's an elective c section.

@ChocolateHelps thanks that information. I wasn’t told if it was covering or anything, but I’m my notes it says ‘Low placenta Abutting OS’ do you know what that means?
on my ultrasound check Up they didn’t advise anything about bleeding or anything it’s just when I have googled it - it says it can happen with low laying placenta?

Think if it's partially or fully covering os then the technical term should be placenta praevia. I had that in my 20w scan and was given leaflets with information about it. The biggest risk is bleeding, so if you have any kind of spotting or bleeding, you need to ring triage and go to the hospital to get checked out. Best to avoid too much exercise or sex yes.... In most cases it does move though posterior ones move slower. I'm now 32w with posterior placenta, and it's still not moved far enough from os, but mine was praevia to start with. Fingers crossed yours will have moved enough by 32w!

@katerose2022 yeah it doesn’t say praevia it just says abutting os which I have gathered this may mean close by the exit. I was just wanted more information on It as it wasn’t made a big deal of it was causally told to me during the scan I wasn’t informed of anything other than I need to see where it is at 32 weeks but when I googled it - it said it can cause bleeding and to avoid sex etc and just wondered if that was also true because you would think they would of told me that at the scan?
ah ok so posterior does move slower.
aw sorry it’s not moved much for you will you now need a c section x

I've got two more scans booked for 34w and 36w, one to check the placenta location and the other to check baby growth as I also have GD. With those two conditions combined, the doctor I saw after my 32w scan did sound like c-section may be the way to go. She also mentioned that with posterior placenta, even if it's moved away from the os, it could still be blocking the narrowest part of the womb where baby head will need to rotate, and making it difficult for the baby to come out.

My baby is not particularly big for now, but it's big for me as I'm just under 5ft and very slim so it's 76% percentile on my own GROW chart. I'm also a 38yo FTM. So I guess with all those factors added up together I'll most likely end up with c-section.

Was just reading the leaflet they gave me about c-sections. Apparently 1/2-1/3 of FTMs who choose vaginal birth will end up with assisted delivery (with ventouse or forceps), AND another 1/3 will end up with emergency c-sections anyways 😑

Hey,

I have the same thing, I found at the 20 week scan they weren’t keen on calling it placenta previa and mine was down as posterior abutting OS with a rescan at 32 weeks.

Wasnt told to adjust my lifestyle at all either but did see online about pelvic rest etc….I’ll be honest….I didn’t stop anything. Carried on exercising, sex and spin class frequently.

My placenta was confirmed previa and covering cervix on a 29 week growth scan so they pushed back my next scan to week 36.

I had my scan Thursday at 36+3….Unfortunately for me the placenta hasn’t moved as hoped and is completely covering the OS/cervix. My midwife said I’d likely have a section at 39 weeks so imaging my surprise when the consultant came in and said they were taking baby out this Monday!!!! 3 days notice as he is head down and starting to engage so they can’t risk labour. I’ve had no bleeding or any trips to maternity triage at all so some cases of placenta previa seem really uneventful.

It’s been a bit of a mad weekend getting final bits sorted but he will be arriving at 37 weeks with an estimated weight of 6lb 7oz so the placenta has been working well up until now and there’s no reason it shouldn’t in your case either fingers crossed.

My only advice would be to have things prepared and a hospital bag ready a little earlier than advised towards the end. Most placentas do move as others have said but I’ve just been in the minority.

Good luck! X

@Thelazygardener All the best on Monday!

I had placenta praevia and bled a lot from 27 weeks and was hospitalised for most of the remaining weeks, until an emergency C-Section at 34 weeks.
I was told it would move but it clearly didn't and bled on several occasions whilst in the hospital. The last time I had a C-Section with half an hour of the last bleed.
He was in SCBU for 4 weeks but is now a healthy 28 year old in the Armed services

I had exactly the same 'abutting os'. Was told it would likely move, it didn't. Booked in for a C-section at 39 weeks. Ended up with a huge bleed at 34 weeks, emergency c section. It can happen for no reason with no warning - I didn't have sex or exercise, was just resting at home. I would advise don't go too far from the hospital in the third trimester. I had to get a taxi because there were no ambulances. Baby was luckily all fine though.

I have placenta previa with DC2 and again with DC3. With DC2 I was admitted at 33+5 and had her at 37+3, but bled intermittently from admission.

I was given no advice with DC2 other than to call labour ward in even5 of bleeding.

With DC3 , diagnosed at 20 scan, lots of instructions (no flying, no lifting DC, no pushing a shopping trolley). First admission at 24 weeks, then 26, 3 admissions during week 31, final admission at 33 weeks and CS at 36+1