abnormal placenta question

ANDOPANO6 · October 2013

Hi Ladies,

I usually post on the PAIF board, but I had a question for ya'll to see if anyone had a similar situation and what was the outcome?

I'm going to be 26 wks pregnant this week and got some news at my MFM growth scan last week (I have been seeing MFM to measure growth every 5 wks due to predisposition for high blood pressure). I was told my baby is measuring in the "lowest categorized normal range" of growth percentile, not having anything to do with my BP, but because I have an abnormal shaped placenta. Instead of my placenta being round and thick, it's shaped like an "8" thick at two ends and thin in the middle. My baby's umbilical cord is attached at the thinnest part of placenta in the middle, thus making her have to work a lot harder to get proper nutrients for optimal growth from me. Right now, they didn't really tell me to do anything differently but told me what possible risks of this are like, bed rest, extremely pre-term labor, etc, IF she doesn't pick up pace or at least stay within "normal" range and I'm scared to death of that. I get re-measured in 2 1/2 weeks at MFM so I guess we'll see what happens then, for now I'm left guessing.

Has anyone on this board had a similar situation with abnormal shaped placenta possibly affecting growth and how did it turn out? Thank you!

ANDOPANO6 · October 2013

BTW, my siggie has decided to stop working so it is not accurate and won't save up to date...not that makes a difference just thought I'd let ya'll now!

RoseHQ12 · October 2013

I am sorry you are dealing with the worry of this

I don't have experience with exactly this but did have growth issues with one of my LOs. Once you get farther along it may be that your LO will do better outside. FX things improve by the next appointment. Hang in there.

luvboston · October 2013

I had a circumvallete placenta where it curled in was small but very thick. My baby had severe iugr and I delivered at 35 weeks she was 3.10 pounds. They just watched me but baby always measured small when she got to 7th percentile they started talking about pulling her out that week and that's what happened. As long as you stay at 10th percentile or above LO should be able to stay in but prepare for an early birth and nicu time.

Ruthie04 · October 2013

My experience is different in that my placentas did not have an unusual shape, but they were graded IIIs very early on. My boys growth progressively slowed until their abdominal and femur measurements were in the 1st and 2nd percentiles. I was placed on bed rest and a special diet at 34w and delivered at 36w when my water broke. They boys were 4lbs13oz and 4lbs15oz, but were never admitted to the NICU and went home with me at discharge.

IUGR and placental issues are so terrifying. Many hugs and well wishes your way.

ANDOPANO6 · October 2013

luvboston said:

I had a circumvallete placenta where it curled in was small but very thick. My baby had severe iugr and I delivered at 35 weeks she was 3.10 pounds. They just watched me but baby always measured small when she got to 7th percentile they started talking about pulling her out that week and that's what happened. As long as you stay at 10th percentile or above LO should be able to stay in but prepare for an early birth and nicu time.

Hi luvboston,

I recognize you from PAIF. How is LO doing now? Sorry you had to go through all of this also.

luvboston · October 2013

ANDOPANO6 said:

luvboston said:

I had a circumvallete placenta where it curled in was small but very thick. My baby had severe iugr and I delivered at 35 weeks she was 3.10 pounds. They just watched me but baby always measured small when she got to 7th percentile they started talking about pulling her out that week and that's what happened. As long as you stay at 10th percentile or above LO should be able to stay in but prepare for an early birth and nicu time.

Hi luvboston,
I recognize you from PAIF. How is LO doing now? Sorry you had to go through all of this also.

She is doing really well she's gaining weight and can hold her head up like a champ:), Thanks and Best of Luck if you have anymore q's pm me.

IBackBevo · October 2013

My placenta wasn't abnormally shaped, but my LO had IUGR. He was about at the 3rd percentile for weight, I think, by the time he was born and this was down from being really big at his 20 week ultrasound. His head and length were normal, though...just very skinny. I think mine was caused by placenta problems on the microscopic level or how the placenta attached or something because I developed severe pre-e, too, studies/medicine seems to suggest that that is what causes both the IUGR and pre-e. I was on bedrest and high calorie/high protein diet. I think the bedrest may have been for my blood pressure, though. Honestly, though, I have since read the studies and they don't really show where bedrest or a high calorie/high protein diet actually work...but who knows.

You might ask about baby aspirin is that is supposed to thin the blood and help the baby get more nutrients somehow. I don't understand the exact mechanism by which it works, but I do know a lot of people on both a pre-e board and an IUGR board I frequent who seemed to have had success with it preventing or lessening growth restriction in second pregnancies. It seems to be pretty standard in both instances of pre-e and IUGR.

I also had a lot of NST's and was on hospital bedrest for part of the time--but that was due to the pre-e, I think. They let me keep LO in so long as he passed NST's until he had heart rate decels and then they delivered him via C-section.

If it makes you feel any better, it is a good sign that he has gotten this far and it sounds like isn't technically IUGR yet. He had some feeding issues (nothing major) at first, but my LO is fine now. His head is still large for his body, but my in-laws tell me DH was the same way so I don't know if this is even the IUGR or just hereditary.

There is an IUGR board on baby center...you might ask there, too. I think placenta problems are common among the IUGR crowd.

I think it is always an issue of balancing keeping them in for as long as possible without endangering them.

My MFM was in the "keep him in and cooking" crowd, but I had an OB who tried to deliver me pretty early...so different thoughts for different docs, I think. I think this is why close monitoring becomes so important--if they stop growing completely or there is at any time not blood flow, I think is when they tend to want to deliver.

Want a personalized experience?

abnormal placenta question

Re: abnormal placenta question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards