What to do after vague low placenta / placenta previa diagnosis

[Fluffydino21]

I'm not sure if anyone will be able to help me as obviously you all have even less information about my personal circumstances than I have but here goes..

I had my 20 week NHS scan last week. Baby is good but the sonographer casually said that my placenta was low / covering the cervix (we can't remember which term she used!!) and so I'd be brought back for a 32 week scan to see if it had moved.

When I asked, she said if it didn't move I'd have a c-section but not to worry. She didn't say anything else at all. Nothing about bleeding, avoiding sex / exercise etc. She couldn't really have been more casual about it so I left thinking everything was all good. It was only when I looked it up and saw the increased risk of bleeding / no sex recommendations / no travel / potential hospital admissions etc that I became really concerned. I also have another complications and I'm not sure whether it's even more risky having both together.

Worst of all I have no actual information about what my specific situation is. Is it low / partially covering / completely covering? By how many mm? Anterior or posterior? I have absolutely no idea! And the medical staff don't seem to know either as it isn't in the notes from the scan... I did call them today to try and clarify and all I got was 'it just says low'.

What would you do in this situation when you have such limited information? Continue as normal including going on holiday? Get a private scan for more specifics? Challenge the NHS about why there's not a more detailed record?

I do plan to discuss this with my midwife but I appreciate all she will know is that its 'low' and might be limited in her ability to advise about the risks to me / what if anything I should be avoiding...

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Honestly I really wouldn't worry. My placenta was covering my cervix last pregnancy at 20 weeks and moved out the way with plenty of time to go and again this time around I was advised mine was in the same place at my 20 week scan. If you are not experiencing any side effects like bleeding I would carry on as normal but obviously reach out to your midwife if you do start to bleed and they will advise accordingly

I had similar to you where they were extremely casual about it.
Later in pregnancy do carry your notes with you and have a bag packed in case you have a bleed.
I gave birth at 35 weeks by EMCS after being told it was far enough away to not need a c section. Thankfully I lived very near the hospital and was in surgery super fast but I do wish they'd mentioned the possibility of this.
Personally I'd not fly at a later gestation if it's still low as if something happens there isn't any way to help you.
Sorry to be the voice of caution - most move up out the way, some don't, so it'll probably be fine.
Premature baby is now massive teenager!

It's unlikely to be a complete placenta praevia if you weren't specifically told and informed a bit more about the condition. A low lying placenta is very common at 20 weeks (uterus still small, not much other space for it to move to). When the uterus grows the placenta stretches up out of the way with it. Normal to rescan at 32-34 weeks to check if it has moved, majority do. Any bleeding go to triage. Low lying placentas can cause a bit of bleeding as they move just to be aware.

I'm having a c section tomorrow due to low lying placenta, this was discovered at my 20 week scan and I was referred to the fetal medicine unit where they did more detailed scans as they specifically specialise in these areas. The placenta can move up as the pregnancy progresses.
I was told to avoid sex, not overly do things etc, I had two stays in hospital due to some light bleeding.

I hope your c-section goes ok and you have a speedy recovery.

This is what's confusing me. It seems like some hospitals / medical staff take this really seriously and you speak to a specialist and get much more information and need to take precautions. And then other hospitals like mine say that it's fine.

Thank you for all your thoughts.

I think I'm just very terrified about the possibility of bleeding. Some of the posts I've read about women waking up in pools of blood sound terrifying.

The holiday is in the UK but on the other end of the country so no flights but long car journeys and still far from home. There does seem to be a reasonable size hospital a 15 minute drive from where we're staying.

I'm seeing the midwife and a Consultant this week (although about a different complication) so I'll bring this up and see if they share the sonographer's laid back approach. Just wish we had more information about my situation to make it a more meaningful discussion. And I think I'm inclined to book a private scan shortly before my holiday to see how things are looking.

@Fluffydino21 I don't think I'd even heard of placenta previa until that scan. The sonographer said she wanted to speak to the consultant at the fetal medicine unit to see if I needed to be referred and they said yes. Apparently can be common in older ladies, those who have had c sections previously, IVF pregnancy ( which mine is) if you'd feel more at ease ask about the fetal medicine unit. I had two scans with them and the second scan the placenta hadn't moved enough for a vaginal birth, but I'd already decided on a c section anyway.
Thank you very much ❤️ I hope you're ok. Xx