Low lying placenta @ 20wk scan?? Scared!!!

I've just had my 20wk scan today. Everything else was normal (yay!:dance: ). Bub measured in at exactly 20wks (19wks 6 days today). The radiologist mentioned that the placenta was lying low very close to the cervix and if it didn't move by 34wks I would need a caesarean! :( I'm absolutely terrified now!! Has anyone else had this happen and did the placenta 'move'??
Should I be taking any extra precautions? I'm so confused. Will speak to the ob soon, but just wanted your opinions. Thanks so much in advance.

Hi there it is more common that you realise, But generally most placentas move by 34 weeks.

I had this and mine moved by repeat scan time.

If you get any bleeding get it checked straight away (i had a bleed at 24 weeks no problems all ok)

good luck and congratulations on scan

My SIL also had a low lying placenta that moved out of the way in time for the birth. 34 weeks is a long time off so please stop stressing, its no good for you or the bubs! Very happy that everything else was fine.

I had a very low lying placenta as well at the 20wk scan. I was scared as well when they mentioned the c word! Mine moved up out of the way and in most cases it does. I had my repeat scan at 33weeks and all is clear.

Feeb's is right it is quite common. Try and enjoy your pregnancy and just think you will get to have that extra scan at around 34weeks to check in on your little bundle!

I had a low lying placenta with my first pregnancy and it moved up and I had a natural delivery. In most cases it will move up as the uterus expands. Try not to stress over it yet (easier said than done, I know!) only a small percentage of placentas will stay low lying by term. I think there may be an article on it on the main site.

I had a low lying placenta with my first pregnancy, and it moved up, and my sister also had the same, and everything was fine for her as well.
I know it is so hard not to worry, but i'm sure everything will be fine. :)

This is so incredibly common. They only bother checking for it at the 20 week scan because for some women this will be the only scan they have...but it's such an inconsequential finding at 20 weeks that they really shouldn't bother.

For the vast majority of women by 34 weeks it will not be an issue.

Imagine your uterus as a blown up balloon, with the tie at the bottom being your cervix. Draw an "x" down near the bottom of the balloon, which is the edge of your placenta. As the balloon is blown up more (ie as your baby grows), the "x" moves further away from where the tie is. This is what happens to your placenta as your uterus gets bigger. The stretching pulls it further away from the opening of your cervix.

Don't stress, I'd nearly bet my first born that it won't be a problem for you later ;)

Yep had low lying placenta a 20 weeks and it was well and truly out of the way by 34 week scan
very common and it moved in most cases
HTH

Thanks girls. It is so reassuring to hear your comments :grouphug: Are there any precautions I should be taking (like work, exercise etc.?) I've had some pelvic pain on and off. Could this be causing it? I know I should talk to my ob. Thanks again.

Belle, there's no reason to do anything any differently. A low lying placenta won't cause pain. Obviously, if you have pain that distresses you, you should see your health care provider, and if you start to bleed, you should do the same.

I'm having a scan on Friday to check whether my placenta is moved and I'm quite sure that it will have.

I had a low lying placenta at my 20 week scan was admitted at 28weeks with cord presentation and when the did a scan to check the cord again i was told the placenta had moved!

It will most likely move hun! Don't stress it will be fine!

Thanks girls. I hope you are right and the placenta "moves". I am just so scared :(

I had a low lying placenta at my 20 weeks and I was one of the rare ones where it didn't move.

Did they tell you how many cms away from the internal os the placenta is? It really depends on your ob but generally I think if it is more than 3cm you will be good to have a vaginal birth. Mine was 1.5cm at the 20 week scan and just under 3cm at 32 weeks and so I had a c/s.

Like everyone else has said, don't worry too much. You don't need to take any major precautions, just head straight to hossie if you start bleeding. Your ob will send you for another scan at around 32-34 weeks to check the position of the placenta again. If it still low and they are leaning towards a c/s, ask for another scan at 37 weeks, because it can still move slightly even then, just another half a cm could make a difference, you never know.

Thanks Laranna. They didn't say how close it was and I was too upset to ask :rolleyes: Do I need to worry about DTD etc? :redface: (not that that's really happening now!)

You can do everything that you normally would do even if you didnt have a low lying placenta. YOu just need to call them if you have any bleeding. A low lying placenta isnt as bad as placnta praevia (which is what you might be worried about).

You still have a great chance of it moving out of they way. At your next appointemnt just ask them how far away was the placenta from the cervix and tell them that you are really concerned about it as they may be able to ease your concerns.

I am sure all will be okay for you Belle and I really hope that you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Just think how wonderful and healthy your little baby is in there.

Thanks AliBaby. It was quite special to see bub :) Bub turned toward us as if he/she knew that we were watching. Can't get the image out of my mind! :lol:

That's great!! Such a special moment. Just try and keep those images in your head and try and look forward to your next scan where you get to see how much your little one has grown and developed those unique facial features. Such special times.

My friend just had an u/s today and found out that she had the same thign she is worried about it being the cause of her having to have a c/s....I have attended several births now where at the earlier u/s they had a low lying placenta but by the time they went into labour the placenta had moved and they had a vb

belle, yep you can DTD :) I would only see a doctor if you had bleeding. We DTD alot right up until DS was born with no ill effects :)

Wa-hay, I had my scan today and the placenta is a clear 5cm away from the os!

:

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Wa-hay, I had my scan today and the placenta is a clear 5cm away from the os!

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Surprise surprise ;) !

Great news toomany :)

great news.. glad it has shifted.
Reading this, i had no idea it was so common, and, just as common, the placenta moving.
I was also told with this preg that the placenta was low, was told that at like 9 weeks or something. At my most recent check up, 27weeks, was told that it was in a normal spot.

Thanks Laranna ;)

Toomanytoomany - tha's excellent news!

please dont be scared i had this with my 3rd child and it went by 32 wks when it showed on the ultrasound .
and i had a normal 4 hr birth so dont stress yourself out very good chances it will go and move.
all the best
savina

Hi Belle, I just wanted to let you know that I have a low lying placenta too, and the midwife said to not DTD. In my case, anyway, I had a really really heavy bleed after DTD. So they told me to stop that :redface: and to not exercise. But might not be the same for everyone. I hope your next scan shows that the placenta has moved up and all is good to go! xoxo

Thanks Pash. Have not DTD just in case. No bleeding yet, so fingers crossed. Good luck to you.

Hi all

I had my 20 week scan today and had a funny little incident. Both hubbie and I thought that the sonographer said to us when we had the ultrasound in the morning that the placenta was posterier and up high which was two positive ticks as far as I was concerned. You can imagine my surprise when my OB said to me in the visit I had with him in the evening that the only thing that he needed to watch was my placenta which was on the low side! He even showed me the report when I told him that this wasn't what they had told me some 8 hours earlier!

All in all he wasn't too concerned though. Currently is 1.9cm from os but like so many of the stories here he expects it to move up as the pregnancy progesses. Will just have to go back at 32 weeks for ultra sound - or photo session like I like to think of them :lol:

Right now definitely not concerned but was glad I had read this thread before going getting the result. Keeping fingers crossed that will all move up and out of the way but if it doesn't it doesn't. All things happen for a reason and at the end of the day just want my baby and me to have the best birth thats possible for us both. However if anyone has any tips on anything to do to make a c/s birth easier to recover from happy to hear

Cheers M

Good luck Meadsie. I hope the placenta moves in time for you. It isn't that close to the cervix so fingers crossed for you luv. Having my scan at 34 weeks(in 3 weeks!). here's hoping for both of us. :hug:

hi there,
I had the same as you. But they found mine being low at the 30 week scan, I was so worried but then they told me to go back in 6 weeks and i did and it was up so i could have a normal birth. Dont panic to much as bubs is fine. it will come back up if you dont do to much and just rest. Im just saying just rest as my midwive told me that i should rest. and i did that. it came back up within 6 weeks..

Wish you all the best for you and bubs

Thanks Mummy2Lilly. Hope you are right. Not getting much rest.

I had a low lying placenta, this was picked up at my 20 week scan. I was to have another scan at 32-34 weeks to check the position. At 31 weeks I had a bleed and was told to stay at home and rest and no more dtd. At 33 weeks I had a large bleed and was kept in hospital until 35 weeks when I had a planned caesarian and DS was born with no complications. I think what happened to me is not common and I don't want to scare you but that is what BB is about, getting as much info as you can. I just wanted the baby to be born safely and having a caesar meant that he would be born without any stress. I would have a c/s again in a heartbeat in the same situation. That is just my opinion and am sure you will make the right one for you & your baby in your situation.

Good luck & look forward to reading your BA.

I had this but was fine by 34 weeks. My ob told me that it can be very close to the cervix and not cause a problem, so unless it's right on the cervix you would be very unlucky to need a c/s by the time your uterus expands. GL hun and try not to worry.