Low lying placenta - not scared, just want feedback

Hi All

I had my checkup with the OB today and we went over the results from my 20 week scan. Tarko is fit, healthy and growing so all good there. I, on the otherhand, have a low lying placenta. Thanks to Belly Belly, I knew a lot about them already and wasn't concernced at all when he raised it with us. I actually said 'oh that's ok, they're very common at this stage, aren't they?' and he said 'Yes, they are but your placenta is much lower than a standard low placenta'. Bugger. He's told me there is a good chance I may spot around the 28 week mark and I'm not to travel any further than 2 hours from the metro area. Golly! We are grateful we didn't book a Babymoon after all!!

I did wonder what all the fuss was about (given I'm such an expert on these things thanks to BB - LOL!) but it turns out mine is less than 2.5cms from my cervix so yeah, it's pretty close. He did say there is still a good chance it will rise and I'm having another scan at 32 weeks to check on it. He did prepare us for the fact that I may need a CS though. That would be a shame but I'm ok with it especially given I've had so much warning and there may be no option. Poor Tarko is trapped at the moment and unless my placenta moves, there will be no light at the end of the tunnel to guide the way!

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has experienced a super low lying placenta (so less than 2.5cm) and went on to deliver vaginally.

Ta!

Taurean I have a low lying placenta too (apparently 2cm from my cervix) and my OB said exactly the same things to me. I'm kind of relieved actually as I've been having bleeding/spotting on and off throughout this pg so its comforting to know why. I'm the same as you, don't really want to have a c/s but I guess it may be the only option.

One of my work colleagues had a low placenta at 20 weeks too and went onto deliver vaginally only a month ago. I'm hoping that happens for both of us too!

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Taurean I have a low lying placenta too (apparently 2cm from my cervix) and my OB said exactly the same things to me. I'm kind of relieved actually as I've been having bleeding/spotting on and off throughout this pg so its comforting to know why. I'm the same as you, don't really want to have a c/s but I guess it may be the only option.

One of my work colleagues had a low placenta at 20 weeks too and went onto deliver vaginally only a month ago. I'm hoping that happens for both of us too!

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Hi Sangie! Was going to post in our BB Group thread about this too! I thought you and Pooley said you both had it too. Glad to hear I'm not alone on just how low it is though! I thought I knew so much about it and was all blase about it until he said that it's lower than the 'normal' low. Doh! Fingers crossed we both defy the odds! ;)

Cant really help - mine have always been the other side of the uterus from the cervix - but I just wanted to drop in and say that for you both I hope it moves up enough to get it out of the way! :hug:

Obs are all different so there is no definitive answer. I think most low lying placentas should be a 'wait and see' approach. Know examples of this going both ways when waiting and seeing (i.e. vaginal birth and c/s after bleeding started), you never know what the placenta is going to do. 20 weeks is way early yet. You have read the BB article I assume?

If you want to see how placentas move, get a balloon, blow it up a little, say like an orange, draw a smiley face on it at the base and then blow it up all the way, see where it is then :)

hi there, i was also told that i have a low placenta 1.7cm from my cervix. My OB said 90% move before bubs are due. i have to have a US next week to check if its moved. so unfortutally cant help u but its pretty much a waiting game your closer to the end. good luck!

A low lying placenta is actually defined by being less than 2.5cm away from the os generally. So without knowing exactly how far away it is, it's hard to say whether yours is more of a concern than anyone else who is diagnosed with a low lying placenta iykwim.

Perhaps if you ask him the exact distance that will give you an idea about whether it's something you should be concerned about. If it's 2.3cm, obviously that's very different to .5cm.

Lots of women (myself included) have this finding at the 20 week scan and it turns out to be a complete non issue. Knowledge is power - ask questions ;)

Hi,
I too have just had my 19 week scan and have been told that I have a low lying placenta which is reaching to the internal os. The dr doing the scan wasn't that optimistic it may move. However I will discuss this with my ob at the next visit. The placenta was in the right place at my 12 week scan so I am just hoping it moves. I had a great natural delivery with my first so a c section is not something I want. I think it is just a matter of wait and see what the 32 weeks scan says.

Jules:

Mine extended to the internal os but did not cover it. It was less then 1cm in the offical report. It said it couldn't rule out a placenta previa I didn't have any bleeding and had a vaginal delivery at 36weeks. I had a repeat U/S at 32weeks which showed it was high enough for a normal delivery it was 8cm from the internal os then.

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm not at all concerned about this but it is interesting to read (again) that more often than not, the placenta behaves itself and moves high enough for a vaginal delivery.

I figure there is nothing I can do to change the outcome (gorgeous DH asked if standing on my head each night would help - LOL!), I'm just best to prepare myself for either direction at this stage - vaginal or CS. I desperately want to try for a drug free vaginal birth but if a CS is the only option in the end, then I'll just have to deal with it. I figure getting my baby a little earlier and safely isn't such a bad outcome ;)

I'll be sure to post back after the next scan. Can those of you who are waiting to find out do the same? It would be interesting to see how many of our placentas move.

Thanks again all!

Taurean, just came across this thread. I also had a low lying placenta at 20 weeks. Mine was 1.5cm (I think). At 32 weeks it had moved back to 3cm. We were going to do another scan at around 37/38 weeks to check again but I went into labour at 36+6 and DS was born early via c/s. My OB likes placentas to be at least 5cm away from the o/s to have a VB, other OB's are happy for it to be a bit closer, so it depends on your OB I guess. Turns out my placenta had an extra bit on top of it too, so it was bigger than normal as well.

If you're really, really keen on a VB definitely push for scans toward the end of your pregnancy and go for the internal ones too because they can get a better measurement.

Good luck, keep us updated :)