Anterior placenta and labour

[KAH1990]

Does having an anterior placenta affect how you labour ie- more difficult, and painful, complications? Or is it not a factor on how your labour will go

 

[spicyorange]

Shouldn't make any difference unless it's low down.

 

[Charmed86]

Agree 100% with PP, it shouldn't have any effect on your labour as long as it's not low down x

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Doesnt have any effect at all

 

[icklemonster]

Anterior placenta does give you a higher chance of baby occupying a posterior position which can cause back labour. (Check out Gardberg's study in 1994). Babies are thought to like to face the placenta. It doesn't mean you will definitely have back labour though, just chances are increased. You can do things to help baby turn though. I had anterior placenta with DD and she was back to back from 34 weeks to 38 weeks, but after 4 weeks of doing recommended exercises and not reclining she shifted to an easier birthing position.
I did a lot of research on it in my first pregnancy as I was very scared of back labour after witnessing my best friend go through it!

 

[Eleanor ace]

I was told that having an anterior placenta makes you more likely to have a back-to-back baby. I've had 2 AP's (on my 3rd now!) and both were back to back, so it rang true for me. But it was no bother. And otherwise my MW said that having an AP wasn't a problem for labour, although I think it can have some implications on a c-section but I'm not entirely sure.

 

[KAH1990]

What does a low down placenta mean? She said it was quite low today but not to worry because there is still loads of time for it to move up as I'm only 16 weeks

 

[DoubleTFun]

What does a low down placenta mean? She said it was quite low today but not to worry because there is still loads of time for it to move up as I'm only 16 weeks

Low down could end up as placenta praevia. There is definitely time for it to move up though.

I know this is my first pregnancy with an anterior placenta, and of course both babies placentas are anterior. Yay me!

More likely to have baby birth posterior which could require longer pushing time. With Csection if it is lower down it could affect where they do your incision.

Plus back labor is more common.

 

[goneawry]

I had a high anterior placenta with my first (and again this time), and I did have a lot of pain in my back during labour, probably enough to be classed as "back labour". DS wasn't back-to-back though. I have heard this is more common with ap.

 

[brokenoven]

I heard it could cause problems if you need a c section but I'm not exactly surf how. I also have an AP,but this is my first baby so don't know much about it.

 

[KAH1990]

Oh man I've been reading horror stories of back to back labours vs 'regular' labour my last labour with DS1 wasn't exactly a walk in the park but was totally manageable that's why I'm hoping for my home birth. Is there a big likely hood baby will be back to back with an anterior placenta then?

 

[Embo78]

I had an anterior placenta with my last baby and it had no effect what so ever on my labour. I did end up having an epidural with him though cos I was induced and couldn't handle the pain from the drip from hell

 

[WW1]

I had an anterior placenta last time. It made no difference - in fact I don't even recall it being mentioned during labour. I ended up with a section (nothing to do with the placenta!) and it wasn't mentioned as a concern then either. If the placenta is covering the cervix that can be an issue but otherwise I think it's fine. As for back to back labours, I don't know about that. DD was facing the right way.