help! with a low lying placenta? im scared?

Question

Hi all, i went for my 20 week scan yesterday, all is fine but i was told my placenta was lying low next to the entrance and they will do another scan when im 34 weeks, i have read that it can sort off move away be for then and should be able to give birth naturally, which i hope as i have a real bad phobia of needles and hate having to go for the regular blood tests, anyway i have been told that i could suffer from real bad blood loss when im in labour and im a bit scared about loseing to much blood or that they cant stop it or help me,(mite die) can some one put my mind at rest, im gonna dread the next 5 months, as i have the phobia and been told i mite be having a section at the end of it all, please help me, sue mother of 2 boys preggers with a 3rd

Answer 1

I was told the same thing with my first baby. It moved up and out of the way as the baby grew so wasnt a problem.Try not to worry as this condition usually corrects itself .In the meantime take it easy and dont over exhurt yourself. The advise they gave me was that if I experience any bleeding at all to go straight to the hospital and not wait to see the doctor or midwife at the surgery or home. Go straight there...even if it turns out to be a minor problem they woud rather you be safe. If they were very concerned I think they would scan you on a weekly basis so it might not be as serious as you think! I hope it all goes well for you and good luck.

Answer 2

When your placenta embedded into the wall of your uterus/womb it embedded nearer the bottom close to the cervix. Once embedded the placenta is fixed and cannot move. However the uterus continues to grow.
Try to imagine a deflated balloon that you draw a cross on (near to the bottom). When you blow the balloon up it appears that the cross has moved up because the balloon is stretched - it is the same with your placenta.
The lower third of the uterus does most of it's growing and stretching in the last trimester of pregnancy. This is why they cannot tell by scan earlier than around 34 weeks how close to the cervix the placenta will be.

In most cases the placenta will be away from the cervical opening by 34 weeks. If this is the case you have no worries.
If the placenta stays very low (called placenta praevia) you would need a Cesarean section to deliver baby. There is an increased risk of bleeding associated with this.
If your placenta remains low discuss your fear of needles with your midwife and obstetrician as they will be sensitive to your fear and can help by applying local anaesthetic creams before any needles need to be used.

Answer 3

I was told the same thing when I had my scan last week when I was 19 weeks. I have to have another scan at 34 weeks to check if the placenta has moved. I wouldn't worry too much. As long as they get the baby out safely is the main thing. Good luck and try not to stress.

Answer 4

I had this with my first baby, I think the placenta moves in something like 80% of cases so it's likely yours will too. Some advice said to rest more, others said to kee as active as possible. I went with the keeping active option as it made sense to me that this would encourage it to move. I had a scan at 36 weeks and it was completely out of the way, I had a normal birth and now have a beautiful baby girl :o) Congratulations, and try not to worry - it's likely that it'll all be over nothing.

Answer 5

I was told at my 20 week ultrasound that my placenta was low lying. No big deal, i just had to hope it moved up when my uterus grew. All of a sudden at 30weeks pregnant, i had some heavy bleeding, so i went to the hospital. They told me I had complete placenta previa(my placenta completely covered the opening to my cervix). I was told to be prepared for a C-section at 37 weeks and put on bed rest from 30 weeks untilk 37 weeks when they did another ultrasound and said that I could be off bedrest because my placenta had moved up away from my cervical opening. So I started to live a normal life. 2 days after they took me off bedrest, I started bleeding horribly...my fiance took me to the hospital where they did an ultrasound and said it was covered again. They let me lay there bleeding for 24 hours before they decided they needed to take the baby. I was taken in for a C-section...baby came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, but I was a different story. i'd lost so much blood my heart rate was dropping and they pumped 4 vials of blood into me just in the OR. I was on the table for 3 1/2 hours and my spinal wore off leaving me to feel all the pain. Luckily, I had a wonderful team of doctor's in there who saved my life. i was pretty doped up because of the pain, but now I am fine. Don't want to scare you because this isn't the way it happens with everyone, but just wanted to share my experience.

Answer 6

I had my 20 week scan last week and they said same thing. But didnt mentioned it any further - no mention of potential problems. I might have to have c-section as during first birth, my cervix tore and I lost 2 litres of blood. My cervix might not fully dilate this time around. They wanted to give me blood but I wasnt keen, in the end I just had to take loads of iron tablets. So I too am a bit apprehensive. Theres nothing you can do but wait. I'm sure all will be fine. Good luck

Answer 7

When i went for my twenty week scan mines was lying low aswell, i had to have regulary scan not because of that but other reasons and at about 28/30 weeks mine had moved up so i shouldnt worry im sure it will move up so you can give birth naturally xx take care xx

Answer 8

they told me my placenta was low when i had my 20 week scan, i have to go back in 4 weeks (i will be 34 weeks then) where they will tell me if i need a section, my baby is also breech at the mo. don't worry, it will most probably move upwards.

Answer 9

They said the same thing when I went in for my 18 week scan, at 22 weeks it moved up,.THANK GOD.
Now I am 28 weeks and eveything seems to be fine.

So best of luck and congratulations.

Answer 10

I had the same thing, when she turned she moved the placenta out of the way. Very very common! Don't worry at all.