Good news & not so good news from A/S

Mommy2Bee23 · September 2013

So we found out that we are having a girl! And that she is both measuring & forming perfectly.

And then my doctor told me that I have a low lying placenta and that if it doesn't move up, I will have to have a c-section.

I know it's early, only 19 weeks, and she told me I could continuing exercising, having sex & going about my life as I have been, I'm definitely worried...even though she told me not to.

I'm going back for another scan at 25 weeks. In the mean time, I'm trying not to stress/think too much about it, but DH & I are both so seeing why she mentioned it ("Does she scare the sh!+ out of all her patients?") if its something that has a very high chance of resolving its self.

Anyone experience this in a previous pregnancy? How did it turn out?

littlepig2 · September 2013

I've never had this but I would rather have the dr tell me things than keep it a secret. I'd rather know now and then go back at the 25 week scan knowing what they're looking for rather than find out at the later u/s about the low lying placenta and wonder why they didn't say something earlier. your doctor isn't saying it to scare you; it's what she saw. I'm sure it's still nerve wracking but from what I've seen on this board, it seems common.

Virgo&Aquarius · September 2013

I'm so sorry that it didn't go as planned. She mentioned it because she obligated to let you know everything that's going on so that you can prepare for the what ifs. It's all about getting as much information about the pregnancy as possible. I would without a doubt want to know. I hope it does resolve itself out during the next few weeks. I've seen some people mention how it did work itself out over time.

djtippietoes · September 2013

I have not personally experienced this, but I've read a lot of things about women who have and theirs moved up. It's scary when a doctor mentions that something isn't "right", but like the previous posters stated, having all the information you can probably have is the best way to prepare. Hopefully yours will resolve itself and it'll be a non-issue for you.

Sweets11 · September 2013

This is really common. I had it with DD.

Almost always the placenta moves up by 28 weeks.

mamacrunch · September 2013

I have,it moves so much infact most people's placenta are lower around 15-25 w and I think techs should keep their mouth shut about it.it will probably move in time. It has 4 months to hey out of the way ad et most liked do. I WOULDN worry about it. Mine was out of he way at 27 weeks

Sweets11 · September 2013

djtippietoes said:
I have not personally experienced this, but I've read a lot of things about women who have and theirs moved up. It's scary when a doctor mentions that something isn't "right", but like the previous posters stated, having all the information you can probably have is the best way to prepare. Hopefully yours will resolve itself and it'll be a non-issue for you.

I don't know that low-lying placenta is considered a complication this early on. Placenta previa is, but that's a different story.

djtippietoes · September 2013

@sweets 11 I didn't mean to imply that it was a complication, only that if it was, I think it's better to know ahead of time to be prepared. That is just my personal feeling on things like this, since she asked why the doctor told her. I hope that it's a non-issue for the OP and everything resolves itself.
Edited to fix quoting issues. (Which I didn't really fix, but oh well!)

djtippietoes · September 2013

Okay, apparently my quote button is not working properly. Or it's user error. Probably user error. Oopsie!

Mommy2Bee23 · September 2013

Thanks for the insight ladies.

halfthetree · September 2013

Oh don't worry!! I just read up on this yesterday because I have the same. How far from your cervix is your placenta?

Go find a doctor who will "let" you deliver naturally if it is 2cms away, some prefer 3 but 2 cms away at the time of birth is considered safe by most I think.

I think it was only .5% of mothers who have a low lying placenta at 20 weeks actually have a low lying one at birth.
Your uterus will grow and your placenta could end up in the Fundus by your due date! So don't stress mama:)

azzyberry · September 2013

I had marginal placent previa with my DS at my 20 week a/s. I had another u/s at 28 weeks and it had corrected.

This is extremely common and in most cases the placenta moves up as your uterus grows. I wouldn't worry about it.

GirlyGirl319 · September 2013

I am high risk and they told me I have placenta previa at 16 weeks and at my A/S at 19 weeks I have a low lying placenta. Told me chances of it moving up are VERY high at this stage in our pregnancy. Think positive!!

bugandbibs · September 2013

It's not uncommon for it to resolve on it's own, but it's understandable why the doctor would inform you of the risk. I'd rather have all the information possible than be left in the dark.

Kedra231 · September 2013

Yup, had it, & it was over the cervix. It had moved somewhere in my 20th+ week. When it's directly over the cervix, bleeding can occur for various reasons, from sex, too much activity, exercise, etc. Had low placenta with DS, NOT over the cervix, again, it moved.

Having it be low is not the same thing as having it over your cervix, BUT, it can still be a concern if it does NOT move by the time you're closer to your due date, & wouldn't you rather know NOW that a C-section is a chance so you can research it, make sure you have it as a secondary birth plan if needed, etc., rather than waiting until you're 37 weeks & being told, well, it's low, which we never mentioned b/c we expected it to move, but it never moved up so hope you didn't have a birth plan/birth dream in mind, b/c you're headed for surgery...btw, it'll change the length of your hospital stay & what you can do right after delivery, so...you have a week or so to prepare, hope that's enough time. (THAT would tick me off...not knowing ahead of time).

She wasn't scaring you, she was informing you so that you've got time to prepare & make plans just in case it doesn't move up.

psychgalbride · September 2013

I am the exception- mine did not get better. It was more than just low lying at the anatomy scan with my DD and I ended up on modified bed rest by 23 weeks (no sex, no lifting, no exercise) and a scheduled C/S at 37 weeks because it got worse and was a complete previa by then.

Honestly C/S is not the end of the world. Cutting 3 weeks off the baby's inside time stinks- my daughter was a peanut. 5lbs 11 oz and came home from the hospital at 4lbs 8oz. But she was healthy.

I think the worst part is the amnio that is required the day before to check for the baby's lung development. I was a nervous wreck. It didn't hurt - I just didn't want to see that needle.

More than likely it will move, and you will be fine!