Low lying Placenta Thread

[Carrie29]

Just thought i'd start a thread for those of us that have been diagnosed with this. It has certainly caused me endless worry for the past few days so it would be good to talk to others that have it too.

I went for my 20 week scan on Monday and was told it's 2.3cm's away from the os, the sonographer mentioned that if i had of gone to the other hospital in London that she works at they would not have mentioned it, as there guidelines are anything under 2cms is low whereas at west mid hospital it's anything under 3cms. She told me not to worry and that i would just need another scan at 36 weeks to check the position, she did send me to a clinic to get some more info.

In the clinic the lady said i was the 10th person they had seen that day for this considering it was only lunchtime and 2 sonographers with scans each taking an hour, that seems like a huge percentage for me!. Anyway she said the usual no lifting, no exertion and no sex which is fine (much to DH's annoyance) but she also said no flying. I asked at that point to speak to a doc to discuss my results as i am immigrating to NZ in 5 weeks, all of our shipping has gone our jobs are going and it's a big move not just a holiday so i wanted to be sure of this considering my is 2.3cm's away and likely to move. The doctor eventually agreed to see me and started telling me scary storied that i could bleed to death at any time if not in hospital quickly enough , so not to fly. She didn't want to know the other hospitals policies refused to scan me again before i fly to see if it's moved and just kept quoting hospital policy, she had no sympathy for us at all. After 3 hours and DH loosing his rag she finally agreed to speak to a senior consultant. They than said that at 2.3cms it should be absolutely fine and ok to fly. Grrr!!.. anyway left it that i will see a doctor there in 3 weeks time to check how going and hopefully get a fit to fly letter.

The thing is i can't get the other doc's words out of my head about bleeding to death and obviously the most important thing is that baby and me are safe. So i have now booked a private scan for 2 weeks time to see if any movement as the uterus streches.

It seems that 50% of pregnant women get this diagnosed at 20weeks, 95% of them will have it move up in time for the birth, and 10% are false diagnoses (from my research online).

Just wanted to hear from anyone else that has had this and your experiences.

 

[Quartz]

Just to give you my story to (hopefully) reassure you. I was told I had a low lying placenta at twenty weeks and all they said to me was to come back at 34 weeks - I went back and saw that a lot of people get told the same and most move up and did not think of it. I was not told about no lifting, no exertion or no sex so carried on as normal (although not much of any of the three went on!). We went on holiday at 27 weeks (short haul flight though) which was fine. Then at 34 weeks I went back for the scan only to be told it was still low lying and at that point was only 1.3 cms pretty much had not moved at all. I was told that if it had been 1.2cms I would have been admitted at that point as they would be concerned and remain in hospital for the rest. I went away and carried on as normal pretty much but was told any bleeding to go to hospital. At 36 weeks another scan and booked in for a c section. At 38 weeks went in and had the c section and it was all fine. I never had any bleeding at all and pretty much carried on as normal - I worked travelling into London five days a week on the tube until 351/2 weeks.

 

[Carrie29]

Just to give you my story to (hopefully) reassure you. I was told I had a low lying placenta at twenty weeks and all they said to me was to come back at 34 weeks - I went back and saw that a lot of people get told the same and most move up and did not think of it. I was not told about no lifting, no exertion or no sex so carried on as normal (although not much of any of the three went on!). We went on holiday at 27 weeks (short haul flight though) which was fine. Then at 34 weeks I went back for the scan only to be told it was still low lying and at that point was only 1.3 cms pretty much had not moved at all. I was told that if it had been 1.2cms I would have been admitted at that point as they would be concerned and remain in hospital for the rest. I went away and carried on as normal pretty much but was told any bleeding to go to hospital. At 36 weeks another scan and booked in for a c section. At 38 weeks went in and had the c section and it was all fine. I never had any bleeding at all and pretty much carried on as normal - I worked travelling into London five days a week on the tube until 351/2 weeks.

Thanks Quartz thats good to know.. Although i don't want a c-section i am not too worried about having one if needed. It was that silly doc that scared me to death about flying that frightened me.. glad to hear you were fine on yours. Also i will probably relaxing more on the trip there than i do at home, with work and stuff.. Congratulations on your LO, so cute!

 

[bky]

Mine was 1.4cm at 20 weeks and was 7.8 by 32 weeks. I never had any bleeding and worked up until 38ish weeks. There are some other threads on this, and most of them move. Is yours anterior or posterior? The anterior ones I think are more likely to move as that is generally the part that stretches the most, but many of the posterior ones move as well.

 

[Carrie29]

Mine was 1.4cm at 20 weeks and was 7.8 by 32 weeks. I never had any bleeding and worked up until 38ish weeks. There are some other threads on this, and most of them move. Is yours anterior or posterior? The anterior ones I think are more likely to move as that is generally the part that stretches the most, but many of the posterior ones move as well.

Thanks bky, glad your's behaved.. mine is anterior so hoping it will stretch x

 

[Rach27]

Mine was touching the cervix at 20 weeks and in the fundus by my 32 week scan!! A very small number don't get enough clearance. I also flew from NZ to the UK at 27 weeks without issue.

All the best!

 

[Alias]

I was one of the ones who almost bled to death. I was told at 20 weeks the placenta was 'low', but she didn't think it was touching the cervix, it would move up, and all will be fine. Totally opposite of your experience! At 34 weeks I had a scan, and then a internal scan because the external wasn't clear. The placenta was completely covering the cervix. The doctors threatened to keep me in until 38 weeks when I'd be sectioned. But to this point I hadn't had any bleeding so they let me go home, with a promise to readmit at 36 weeks. But the next day I had major bleeding (bled through a super overnight pad in the 15 minutes it took to get to hospital) and was admitted for the duration. Three days later I woke up at 2am not feeling well. I was bleeding internally (placenta was bleeding, but not at the cervix so nothing 'escaping') and baby was in severe distress. I had a crash section and we're all fine now. But if I hadn't already been in hospital it wouldn't have been a happy ending.

If you're flying soon and haven't had any bleeding, I wouldn't worry too much about flying. It's towards the end of the pregnancy that the risk gets much higher. Any contractions or movement in preparation for labour could move your cervix, which, if the placenta is too close or covering, will cause bleeding. But usually that doesn't happen until later in the pregnancy.

 

[Mystique26]

Is this smilar to placenta previa? I also have a low lying placenta which is completly covering the cervix but Im only 13 weeks now and the doc told me to have another scan at 20 weeks to see if it has moved up.

 

[chanel]

I have been told that my placenta is paritally covering the os and that was at 27wks at a private 4d scan. I have since seen my mw who looked quite concerned but didnt' really give me any scare stories other that any cramps or bleeding then phone the labour ward immediately. After reading this thread i'm seeing why she said this. She didn't mention anything about exerting myself or sex not that i am part-taking in either at the moment.

Is it likely that if the placenta stays in this position that i will suffer bleeding ? Is it a kinda normal thing to happen in this situation at about 34ish weeks? or could it happen any time now?

The mw will book me in for a scan at about 35ish weeks, the other problem i have is that the baby is breech. I'm not worried about whether or not i need the section i just want us both to deliver safely so that is my main concern at the moment :s.

Oh and placenta previa is the same as far as i'm aware but at 13wks you have loads of time for it to move. I don't think they really make note of it being a problem until you are at 20wks.

 

[Alias]

Is it likely that if the placenta stays in this position that i will suffer bleeding ? Is it a kinda normal thing to happen in this situation at about 34ish weeks? or could it happen any time now?

The mw will book me in for a scan at about 35ish weeks, the other problem i have is that the baby is breech. I'm not worried about whether or not i need the section i just want us both to deliver safely so that is my main concern at the moment :s.

I think bleeding is most likely to happen towards the end of the pregnancy. Any softening or movement of the cervix could cause bleeding, as it might tear the placenta. I think the cervix stays relatively put until the end of the pregnancy. My hospital had a policy of admitting previa patients at 36 weeks and sectioning them at 38 weeks. I didn't make it that far, but I had only had a bit of spotting in week 6 then nothing else until 34 1/2 weeks.

 

[mumtobrandon]

I have a low lying posterior placenta. It was diagnosed at my 15 week scan but has moved 2cm away from the cervix in 3 weeks (it was just covering it before) the consultant told me that as long as it moves another 2 cm they wont worry. My next scan is on the 13th (20 weeks) and if it hasn't moved any more, then they will scan again at 32 weeks, and obviously if STILL no movement then it's a c-section for me! I think it will though.
They did ask me if I had any bleeding so far and I said no so I think they are happy with that. It makes sense that it would be more of a problem during the later stages and the cervix is preparing for labour. I hope things improve for you and the placenta moves up. x

 

[HollySSmith]

I was diagnosed with a low lying placenta (posterior) at 20 weeks. I went back this week to check its position and now its completely out of the way. I'm still working, never had a bleed, still have sex without any problems. My doctors were not concerned and to be honest it moves 95% of the time. Try not to let one person stress you out, there are worse case scenarios for any situation in pregnancy.

 

[3pinkwantblue]

At my 18 week scan I had a complete previa by 28 a partial. By 32 weeks it was a marginal not touching.34 weeks it was 1.7 cm away. At 34 weeks I had a heavy bleed, they put me in the hospital for 3 days and gave me steroid shots. Went home 8 days later another bleed, spent 3 more days in the hospital. Went home only to return the next day by ambulance. I had a major bleed. I mean it looked like some one was murdered. From then on I spent the remanded of my pregnancy on hospital bed rest.(3 weeks) my son was taken c section at 37.5 weeks. Come to find out the placenta was still on the cervix and started to detach. I would listen to your Dr. And take it very serious. My son and I almost didn't make it. But 95% of them do move, I was just a rare case. I hope everything works out. Noah is 15 days old today and very happy and healthy.

 

[JynxPhD]

Has anyone been through this: I was told during the whole pregnancy that I had one placenta at the fundus and the other placenta was a complete previa (twins obviously). At 20 weeks the complete previa had moved and was just a low lying placenta. Well at 24 weeks I was told that it is now covering the cervix again! I can't find any info on this. I haven't had any bleeding (fingers crossed) either. I had a previa with my daughter that cleard up before birth but it never moved back and forth like this! Thanks!

 

[Mystique26]

Thanks for sharing your stories ladies. I hope that our placentas move up for our babies' sake. Im a complete anterior previa at 14 weeks.

 

[3pinkwantblue]

I had a ton of ultrasounds. Towards the end the placenta started measuring closer to the cervix. My Dr. was confused. My other high risk Dr. Explained that it depends on how full your bladder is. The fuller your bladder the further away the placenta will look on ultrasound, when in reality its closer. At the end of my pregnancy my high risk ob was still saying that I could try a normal delivery, because ultrasound showed the placenta being off the cervix. Even though I had several bleeds. My ob didn't want to risk it. We had a c section and my Dr. Said the placenta was still covering the cervix. And that if I would of tried a normal birth that I would of hemorrhage again and would of had an emergency section.

 

[mumtobrandon]

I didn't know that about the full bladder making it look further away-Mine was over the cervix at 15 weeks and 2cm away at 18 weeks. I have another scan next tuesday so will make sure my bladder isn't too full!!! (they want it 4cm away before they stop scanning)

 

[Carrie29]

i'm getting really nervous now as i have my scan on Sunday to see it's moved.. If it hasn't i won't be on my flight moving to NZ eeeeek!

 

[mumtobrandon]

Hope it has moved hun. x

 

[newmommy23]

I just got told I have placenta pervia and Im soooo scared