Low lying placenta

[Wondermum]

Has anyone had a low lying placenta and did it result in a V/B or C/S?

In my 18-20 scan results the sonographer discovered I had a low lying placenta. I was referred to have a repeat scan at 32 wks which was done today. The placenta has stretched slightly away from the opening of the cervix but is still close being 3 cm from cervix. He said it was on the borderline and I would need to speak to the Doctor regarding their recommendations. They have also suggested I have another ultrasound at 36 wks to check this again and also the position of the baby which has been in a transverse position since 26 wks, which is not abnormal as they can still turn of cause. I had a V/B with DS1 and feel a bit unsettled knowing I may have to have a C/S with this one. I hate the feeling of not knowing what is going to happen :(

:hugs:
Me: Jessica ~ 27
DH: Nathan ~ 28
DS1: Hayden Cadel ~ 3
DS2: EDD: 11.9.06

[sam's mum]

I had the same thing, except that my doctor told me at 12 weeks that I would probably be needed to have a c/section. I had all the extra scans and at 30 weeks she told me that I may be able to try a vb if I wanted to. I did, but when I went in for the 36 week check up and she did the scan she told me that it would be a c/section for the first surgery slot that she could get as the baby was sideways across the top of the uterus. (explains why I was getting kicked under both ribs) I was just glad that I didn't have to worry about bleeding anymore. It is hard to stay within 15 minutes of a hospital. Sam ended up being a forceps c/section because of where the placenta was but they managed to get him out without having to cut through the placenta or do a traditional c/section cut. I was just happy that he was healthy. He was a little small though because he hadn't had much room.

Good luck, and I hope everything works out ok.

[PhAnToM]

I've had 2 friends with this.
Both extremely stressed about it.
And both of them found that their placentas had moved up around 2 weeks before the end of their pregnancy.

So don't stress about it too much.
There is still a chance right to the end, that the placenta can actually move up and allow for a V/B.

Good luck! :fingerscrossed:

[~Emmylou~]

It's interesting that they're saying it's 3cm away and still borderline.
I was told 2cm or more was fine at my scan?

I had this at my 20 week with DD but it was out of the way at the 32 week scan and I had a v/birth no worries.

If you are really set on a vb perhaps get a second opinion about the distance?

[MrsMiggins]

Yeah, I thought that was odd too. My Drs were going to let me trial labour if the placenta was only 2cm away from the os. Unfortunately when they re-scanned me at 37.5 weeks, it was only 1.8cm away and they were even going to let me trial then, except when they did an internal u/s they discovered it was more like 1.5cm.

As my DD was also breech, they advised that I should elect to have a c/s as going into labour would be far too risky.

I am awaiting scans this time to see if I have the same problem again. Apparently if you have it once, it's more common to get it again next time round. :( We'll see! :fingerscrossed:

[Wondermum]

It's interesting that they're saying it's 3cm away and still borderline.
I was told 2cm or more was fine at my scan?

I had this at my 20 week with DD but it was out of the way at the 32 week scan and I had a v/birth no worries.

If you are really set on a vb perhaps get a second opinion about the distance?

The comment regarding the position of the placenta 'anything under 3cm' was made by a sonographer not a doctor. I am 32 wks now. I have yet to talk to the registrar/doc and also get a repeat scan at 36 wks. When the midwife done a palpitation to check the position of the baby she found that he was laying transverse which made her wonder about the position of the placenta. I had the clinic appointment with the midwife an hour before my ultrasound. Then when having the ultrasound they also confirmed the babies transverse position.

:confused: Emmylou when you said it was out of the way at your 32 wk scan how far out of the way was it for you to succesfully have a V/B?

I'm just a little :gloomy: cause I had a very straight forward pregnancy/ birth with DS and I just don't want anything to go wrong if I'm given the option to have a V/B with the placenta being so close. I know I'm thinking ahead of myself, I haven't even talked to the docs yet, but the 'timer' is ticking and I hate feeling unsure about the birth being so close.

[MrsMiggins]

I know it's easier said than done, but honestly - try not to worry yourself. My placenta praevia did not resolve & all that happened was that I had to book in for a c/s when I had my heart set on a vaginal delivery. I still got my beautiful little girl here safe & sound & that's all that really matters.

While a c/s was not my first choice of delivery, it really was not as bad as I had feared. Yes the recovery took a little longer & I was quite sore for a few days afterwards, but facing this situation again, I know that if I have to have a c/s again, then so be it.

I would definitely talk to your Dr before you even have to be concerned about having a c/s as they should let you at least trial labour if your placenta is more than 2cm from the os. If you are already 3cm away & still have weeks to go until term, then I would safely say you should be OK. But definitely talk to your Dr as soon as you can & hopefully they can reassure you. :)

[~Emmylou~]

:confused: Emmylou when you said it was out of the way at your 32 wk scan how far out of the way was it for you to succesfully have a V/B?


Hi wondermum
I didn't think to ask them how far it was at the 32 week scan unfortunately...I was just so happy I wouldn't have to have a c/s.

I know what you mean about wanting everything straightforward this time, I share your fear.
My bub is quite a bit bigger than his sister was and keeps going breech...normally I wouldn't be worried about it yet but my placenta is at the front and unfortunately that tends to encourage them to be breech and/or posterior....so the fear of a c/s isn't too far from my mind at the moment.

Let's hope things work out for both of us ;)

[tickle]

Placentas are strange things, very unpredictable.
I was told I had a low lying placenta (not too bad) at the 18 week scan. I went for the follow up at 33 weeks, to be told I had complete placenta previa and there was no chance of a v/birth. The placenta was completely covering the internal os from left to right. I had my next scan at almost 37 weeks and it had actually improved, but was still touching the cervix so I had a c/section. You still have a good chance for a v/birth, but you will obviously need to talk to the dr. It also depends on whether the placenta is posterior or anterior. V/births are apparently not as much of an option for a posterior placenta as there is not as much room for it to move out of the way, it doesn't have all those cooshy muscles to move up against, only hard bones. Good luck.:thumbsup:
P.S Definatley do some googling about it, there is some great info out there. It is also a good idea to prepare yourself with the added risks of giving birth with previa. I'm sure you will be absolutely fine, most are, but it is good to prepare yourself.:hugs: PM me if you need more info.

[Wondermum]

:thumbsup: Thanks Happy Lady, I'm going to call clinic now to see if they can tell me if the placenta is posterior or anterior.

[Wondermum]

It's anterior! I've done a bit of googling too. Just hanging on until next appointment.

[tickle]

You've probably got a great chance for a v/birth. Good luck, I'm sure it will go well but even if you end up with a c/section, you'll be fine. ;)