Position of Placenta for VBAC

I have been reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and was reading the VBAC bit yesterday and it said that the placenta has to not be covering the scar for a VBAC. So today when I had my 20wk scan I asked where the placenta was and if it was away from the scar because I knew from the 12 week scan that I had an anterior placenta again.

He said the placenta is down low and so would be close to my scar but he looked all around and couldn't see the scar so I don't know if it's too close or over it or anything :(

The report just says: 'The placenta is anterior and appears non praevia'.

Does this mean I will have to have another scan later to check? Will they ask about this? My next appointment isn't until 28 weeks. I hope this doesn't mean I can't have a VBAC :(

I didn't want to have a 3rd tri scan because I didn't want them going on about the size of the baby if it looked big.

Nah if it was attached to the scar he would have known it. My last three pregnancies have all been with an anterior placenta, so don't stress :)

You'll still get your VBAC. :D

Thank you Mel, my VBAC guru! lol.

How come he couldn't see the scar at all?? What if it's under it!! And shouldn't you be able to see it? I don't get it. Maybe I didn't really have a c/s at all, LOL.

Anyone else have a low anterior placenta and have a VBAC?

I really shouldn't have googled just then :( When will I learn! lol. One site told me that you really do not want to see a low anterior placenta in a VBAC mum :( But I also saw many stories saying that people had low placentas at 20wks and then by 34 weeks they had moved to the top :hooray:

Crappy that they'll have a reason to want another scan now though other than to check the size of the baby which I was going to refuse.

I'd say that if it was attached to your scar, he would have been able to see it. The fact that its not close enough for him to see the scar reassures me that its not close - ITMS?

I think my placenta was pretty close with mine, but nobody ever mentioned it, and my OB wasn't concerned about it - and my midwives down here didn't even ask. They just looked at the report from the ultrasound and it was fine.

Did you get a copy of the report? How far away from your cervix does it say your placenta is?

oh - and I'm not a guru ;)

I do have a copy of the report but it doesn't say the distace on there, just 'The placenta is anterior and appears non-praevia'. But I just looked at the photos and there is two that say 'PLACENTA CERVIX' down the bottom and on the side one says 'dist. 1.48cm' and one says 'dist. 2.19cm'. eek...that seems pretty close doesn't it?

Is it weird he couldn't see the scar? I know they can check the thickness of the scar, so shouldn't he be able to see it?

Stupid thing. I just don't want to be all prepared and ready for a VBAC and then there's some stupid reason like this I can't have one, I will be so disappointed :( I really think I can do it if nothing out of my control gets in the way!

I may be wrong, but I always thought they checked the thickness of your scar closer to term, so the uterus is full expanded, and you can see your scar better. Either that or a vaginal ultrasound?

I dunno, mine has never been checked, so I've never had to go through it.

I'll check my records, but I think those measurements are close, but not TOO close. And it nearly always moves up anyway - so PLEASE - try not to stress :hug:

Thanks Mel. Again! I will try to relax! What a PITA though, I don't want any negative thoughts in my mind! Back to reading Ina May I think, lol.

I always think its ok to have negative thoughts - but have them when you know for sure whats going on. Its all up in the air lovely, even if it is close, it can move so you might be giving yourself grey hairs over nothing ;)

heaven i got the same dx at my 20 week scan- had to have another scan in third tri to make sure it had move totally away- which it did. Yup they did estimate that my bubs would be over 10lb if he went full term- OB said it could be a factor in hindering my VBAC- pftt to that- didnt bother me! In the end boof decided to come on his own at 37+5 weeks and he was 8lb!! So yes he would have been over 10lb if he was 40 weeks- but lets face it - its the size of the head, not the weight of the body!
BTW the told me that hospital policy with VBAC was constant monitoring- phooey to that as well!! I spoke to my OB and he agreed to do monitoring every 30 mins instead- in the end they would come over every 30 mins- put the CTG on till they heard a heartbeat and then leave me alone- i managed to spend about 90 mins in the shower and they bought the machine to me and i just stuck my belly out the shower for a sec lol!
just make sure your OB knows exactly what you want and dont want and dont be bullied into anything else!!
also have you considered a doula or a student midwife?? I had one who was also a qualified doula- she was great - even though i stood up for myself it was nice to know i had someone beside me to back me if it needed it- and it was great for DH as well!!
you can do this hun!!! it was awesome/amazing/healing/empowering and all over ACE!!!
mwah

Thank you det! Did they say your placenta was too low at the 20wk scan? He didn't say anything to me, it was just coz I asked. He didn't think there was a problem and I think thought I was weird for asking him if he could see again. Said he'd never had to really check. But I don't know if the m/w will ask at my appointment or if I should even bring it up.

I wonder if I do have another scan to check if I can tell them I don't want them to measure the baby, just check the size and that's it.

Thanks for sharing your story! I read your Birth Story the other day too! I have a student midwife who is also a doula aswell!! (Sara from BB actually) :)

Mine is the same as yours hun, anterior and low, and I will need another scan to work out exactly where it is in 3rd tri..but I have been assured it will move, and even if it is on the scar it is not necessarily a big thing either.
No reason you can't still have a VBAC.

TBH I though it was more of an issue if you needed to have a repeat CS as they cannot use the same scar site if it is covered but your placenta...?

Thanks LS. I hope they move for us! Looks like it's highly likely they will. I think the problem with the placenta over your scar is because of the risk of placenta accreta. But that is very rare and usually occurs in cases where you also have complete placenta praevia too (which we don't have). No idea what they would do if you need a c/s anyway, where are they supposed to cut? No idea. Anyway, looks like it won't be a problem but now I can't avoid another scan damn it!

Just ask them not to take any measurements of the baby - you are only having the scan for placement of the placenta. That way they can't rattle on a bout it because they won't know ;)

That's my plan now!

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No idea what they would do if you need a c/s anyway, where are they supposed to cut? No idea.

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They would have to do a classical incision - straight up your belly :)

Just an update!

Saw my m/w on Monday and asked her about the placenta. She said not to worry about it, it's no problem and that she doesn't recommend another scan. As long as it's not too close to the cervix, which it isn't, then it's fine.

Yay!

Wooohooo!! Beautiful!!!! Just what we like to hear!!

You will get your VBAC, I just know it! :D

My placenta was low laying early in the pregnancy almost over my cervix which would definately mean another c/s. And I have a bicornuate uterus so the is less room for things to move around as there is to a normal shaped uterus, But the placenta is way up the tope above the baby now so don't worry too much in early stages :)

Good stuff Heaven!! VBAC here you come :)

Thanks guys.

How did you go LS?? Do you need a scan?

Ob hasn't even mentioned it yet lol have to go see him again next week.
Will see, but I think he will let it go too so bonus!!!

Yay! Fingers crossed for you too!