Can someone please explain to me how the placenta attaches to the uterine wall?

[LimeSlice]

As the title suggests...also wondering how it is possible for it to move?

The reason behind the question is I recently had my morph scan, and she checked (because I asked) the position of the placenta in relation to my previous cs scar.... She said she couldn't see for sure, but it is fairly close and is also on the anterior wall.

So just quietly I am freaking out about ending up with the placenta on my scar, as she said that due to the uterus stretching, the placenta can move positions...

I nodded because I have heard this before and know I now have to have a 3rd tri scan to see where it ends up.

Then DH asked me how it move, and by extension, how can it move if it is attached to the uterus, so thus, how is it attached? And it occurred to me I really hadn't the foggiest

So please enlighten us wise women!

[onthefly]

It think it's a movement 'relative' to a fixed position (eg, cervix, scar) as the uterus stretches, not an actual movement...

[LimeSlice]

Ah that would make sense! lol

[*Efjay*]

ummmm not sure about the how is attaches bit but I guess its probably like a leach LOL As it develops it probably just latches on to where ever it lands first?

my understanding of the how it moves bit is not so much that it moves but as the uterus stretches with your growing baby, the placenta moves as that spot it is attached to moves KWIM? like picture a balloon thats deflated with a dot on it. As you blow the balloon up the dot will appear to move as the rubber stretches. At least thats how I thought it worked....

[PollyA]

The attachment is by blood vessels kind of embedding into the wall and the blood kind of percolates from mum into the umbilical cord. And the movement is kind of relative. Imagine a little stretchy wart on a balloon thats not blown up. The wart grows and the ballon blows up, so it might have looked close to the mouth piece when the balloon was small but it grew towards the top and the balloon stretched so in the end it was only the edge near the mouth piece and not nearly as close because the bit nearer the mouth piece also sretched as the ballon blew up....OMG does that make any sense?

Having the placenta near the scar doesn't = bad every time either. There are some complications SOMETIMES, nOt all the time, where the placenta kind of gets stuck to the scar, but the large majority of time it doesn't, and they will be able to tell if it is and then it won't be such a big problem....

Hope all that made sense
I am sure your placenta is lovely and healthy and wonderful!

[MummaSue]

It think it's a movement 'relative' to a fixed position (eg, cervix, scar) as the uterus stretches, not an actual movement...

:yeahthat:

Think of your uterus like a balloon stretching - it moves with the balloon as opposed to on its own if that makes sense.

[Alan]

What they said.

[Arimeh]

FWIW, this is my 3rd pregnancy with an anterior placenta, and no times has it attached to my c-section scar. So be reassured that even if its close it doesn't mean its attached for sure

[LimeSlice]

Thanks Melly! x