low lying placenta at 21 weeks

[lizzie9442]

Hi, I had my scan 2 weeks ago now and was told i have a low lying placenta which at the moment is covering the birth exit for the baby. I have to go for another scan when I am 32 weeks to see if the placenta has moved out of the way. I was told if it hasn't I will go for another scan at 37 weeks and then if still not moves will have to have a cs. I am terrified of this as all my 3 pregnancies so far have been a natural birth and i would like this one to be to. Has this happened to anyone at 21 weeks and then later the placenta hads moved? I just want to know the likehood of having to have a cs. Thankyou

Mine was low at 21 weeks, it's now moved. SIL is a midwife and said that they move by 32 weeks in about 95% of cases and half of the remainder have moved in time for delivery - so don't worry too much. She said that placenta praevia is very rare.

Different hospitals have different policies on rescanning placentas.

My old hosp used to scan loads for the same reason that you have outlined. The vast majority (99.9%) were not low at 34 weeks.

They reviewed this policy in light of an audit and decided that they would only scan if the placenta covered rather than reached the os. This reduced the number of scans they did but meant that those they did recall were more likely to need a CS.

So... it really does depend on the way that your hosp interpret and manage their scans.

Discuss it with the midwife? Ask for more advice?

It is very rare to have placenta praevia that requires CS however loads of women are told they have a low placenta early on.

Not sure I've helped much (to reassure)but I would hang onto the last paragraph I wrote

hi,ive just been told that i have a low placenta covering the birth exit..im 20 weeks and 3 days.ive got to go back when im 32 weeks for a re-scan to see if its moved!ive been advised i could bleed and that its dangerous..is this true

Another one low at 20 week mark but moved by 32. Fingers crossed.

Hello, I had a low lying placenta at my 20 weeks scan. Scanned again at 32 weeks and sure enough like so many other people's had it had moved.

I had no bleeding.