Can a low lying placenta cause issues with a csection?

[sammynashley]

Title pretty much ask the question I had a scan at 27 weeks and they discovered my placenta was very close to the birth canal pretty much Roth next to it. We were previously told that I had a high anterior placenta but was told it's now low anterior. I have another scan in 4 weeks for growth and placenta position. I just wondered could a low lying anterior placenta cause issues during the section if it hasn't moved up by my next scan?

 

[george83]

I just had this with my baby. I was told at 20 weeks it was low, I was re-scanned at 32 weeks and officially diagnosed with placenta previa with an anterior placenta. I was the told I'd be re-scanned again at 36 weeks. I have since found out that I should have been referred to see a consultant after my 32 week scan but never did and everybody I've spoken to since has been horrified at this so make sure your aware of what you should be entitled to.

The day before my 36 weeks scan I started bleeding so immediately phoned the hospital and went straight in. Once I got there I was bleeding really heavily and ended up having a c section that night. I lost more blood that usual because of my placenta - they had to cut through my placenta to get baby out - and felt awful for the next two days, I also ended up needing iron infusions but in the grand scheme of things that was nothing (I did feel like a pin cushion for the best part of the week). Baby is now 13 days old and still in special care as he struggled with his breathing and now isn't gaining any weight which is all because he was 36 weeks and a c section.

I'm sure you'll be ok but I'd just find out if you should be on any restrictions or taking any special precautions

 

[sammynashley]

Thank you Hun, sounds a little scary. Hope your little man is out of special care soon, I'm lucky to be under consultant care but at my 20 week they said my placenta was high and anterior I had another scan at 27 which they noticed it was low and anterior being close to the birth canal. (Didn't realise it could move?)

The scanner also said if your having a section you'll be fine but I did wonder if it's over the scar area surely they gotta go through that first? Think I'll mention it at my next appointment.

 

[george83]

I would definitely speak to your consultant so you know the facts and what might/might not happen. My biggest fear at the minute is that if I had of had my consultant appointment they might have given me some advice which would have stopped the bleeding from happening. However with regards to the caesarean I don't think they were any complications as they knew in advance what they were dealing with and were prepared for the extra blood loss etc

 

[sausages]

As always with low laying placenta's I would recommend you read about Vasa Praevia - www.vasapraevia.co.uk. One of the risk groups is low laying placenta's even if they've moved up. That's what I had. Good luck.