A Low Placenta

Updated on March 08, 2008
S.W. asks from Fort Smith, AR
20 answers

My doctor told me yesterday that my placenta is low. She said it's nothing to worry about and she'd check it again at 30 weeks. I was just wondering if any of you have had this or is familiar w/it. This is my 3rd pregnancy. Thank You!!

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R.E.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had the same thing at 19weeks. It was resolved at my next ultrasound arouond 28weeks. I was just told to take it easy and no heavy lifting. Call the doctor if I had any bleeding, pain, or cramping. My baby is now 3 months old and doing wonderful. It had no effect on him at all.

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M.S.

answers from Jackson on

No worries. I have placenta previa that was discovered at 18 weeks. I was told no strenuous excercise, no sex and I did not even have vaginal exams. It may move out of the way before it is delivery time. Mine moved, but it did not move completely and as a precautionary measure, I have a C-Section schedlued 10 days before my due date (5 days left)! Just remember to call your doctor if you experience any bleeding.
M.

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J.P.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had a low lying placenta as well and it corrected itself by 30 weeks. It will usually migrate upward as your uterus expands and gets bigger. I would not worry about it right now at all. This is not uncommon and most times it will correct itself. Don't worry, just enjoy your pregnancy for now. Good luck!

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H.

answers from New Orleans on

I'm no doctor; but I "think" this is placenta privia. There's really no need to worry right now. I had a low placenta. He will check later b/c your placenta can move up as your pregnancy progresses. If I remember right the problem comes when it is down at the exit only and it's time to give birth, it could detach - not good for baby. I think a c-section is called for at that time, and contractions have to be avoided. But If he's not concerned now it's probably b/c it's it's high enough now that he think it will be ok. Try not to stress...I ended up ok through it all and had a natural birth w/o any problems...but I'm not doctor I just am trying to remember from my pregnancy...13 years ago.

H.

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C.F.

answers from Lake Charles on

I had this with my second child. The info you will find is very scary but keep in mind that most of the time the placenta moves up and out of the way. I was just told no heavy lifting after 20 weeks and by 25 weeks mine was out of the way. If it stays low they will schedule you for a c-section instead of letting you go into labor.

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S.W.

answers from Tulsa on

It's completely normal... I had partial previa at my 20 ultrasound... but not at full term. As your uterus grows, the position of the placenta will likely move. Although sometimes it doesn't. So it's good to keep an eye on it, just in case. One question I would ask your doctor is if the placenta is just low lying or if you have previa (partial or full) because previa at full term would be an indication for a c-section. But simply having a low-lying placenta might mean that you could still have a vaginal birth (although I'm not a birth professional--so it's definitely a good reason to talk with your doctor).

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S.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had the same thing. I think it's fairly common. As the baby grows, the placenta can move up, which is what mine did. But if it moves down, it is Placenta Previa and you may have to have a c-section. Here's a helpful website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000900.htm

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A.O.

answers from Pine Bluff on

I had a low placenta with my 3rd baby also. My chiropractor helped to rotate the uterus and move the palcenta. Mine moved by 32 weeks.

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T.C.

answers from Lafayette on

Hi, I now have 2 boys (9 and 21 months). When I was pregnant for my first son I had this issue. When I went in for my regular ultrasound at 20 weeks my MD noticed that I had a low-lying placenta or placenta previa. He said that it is common and just happens sometimes and that they do another ultrasound around the 7 month stage to see if it has flipped. Alot of times it just flips back in place on its own and if it would happen to still be low-lying for the next ultrasound then that would just mean that I would have had to have a c-section because the placenta would be covering the birth canal and if you try to have it vaginally you could hemorrhage. When I had my second ultrasound it had flipped on its own and was in the right place and all was fine. Needless to say, I still ended up having a c-section because the little booger just didn't want to come out.

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S.M.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi Sydne, go ahead an place a call to your dr. and ask for a more detailed explanation. Just tell the receptionist that you have an exam follow-up question. I'm sure he/she will be more than happy to speak with you. Best Wishes!S.

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M.H.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Hi, Sydne:

I have had this problem with two of my three of my pregnancies. The first one was just "low" as you've stated, but I did have to have a c-section because it didn't move back up and out of the way of the birth canal.

The second time my placenta actually attached over the cervical opening and caused all kinds of problems, but I have three healthy babies, so don't worry!

Your doctor has seen this a thousand times and will know what to do. Don't worry. Usually as the baby grows it will just push the placenta back up and out of the way.

Congrats and good luck!

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C.G.

answers from New Orleans on

i had my placenta low for my one pregnancy about a month or two before delivery it pulled back out of the way. some docs will use this as an excureto get you to have a c-section (though it sounds like yours is taking a wait and see approach), if it hasn't moved by 4 weeks out rom your due date then think about it, but the female body is amazing at adjusting itself for getting the job done. :)

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M.T.

answers from Mobile on

Hi. I am a 39 yr old mom of two boys, 10 and 13, and have been married to my sweed dh for 21 years.

My second pregnancy included a low lying placenta. When I spotted, I was put on bedrest. I gave birth one month early via emergency c section after my placenta abrupted. Daniel and I were 100% perfect, and went home on day three like any other c section. My point is: When the doc puts you on bedrest, you do it. I went to the doc for a check up, and just exerted myself too much, and boom, there was Daniel one month early. He was high and breech. It was definitely a low lying placenta problem.

You'll be fine if you listen to your doctor and those wonderful nurses.

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F.R.

answers from Huntsville on

I had that. It was called Placenta Previa. Mine corrected itself by the next ultrasound. I don't remember when the ob discovered it. I was just told not to exercise and no sex. I have had several friends who had that and it corrected itself for them as well. Good luck with your pregnancy!

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L.H.

answers from Lawton on

I had this with my last pregnancy also... It fixed it self buy 30 weeks. I wouldn't worry about it.

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L.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I was told that too. It was my first (only) pregnancy. I read all about it and it scared me to death. I wouldn't even have sex for fear that something would go wrong (the doctor said to call/come in if there was any bleeding during sex so I didn't even take the chance.) When I had my second ultrasound all was fine. I've read that it moves up into place in most cases.

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R.M.

answers from Little Rock on

My placenta was low with my first child (placenta previa). My OBGYN watched it, and it slowly moved into a correct position. I was very scared. It all turned out OK, though. I wouldn't worry (you can't do anything about it). Just wait and see. I hope the best for you.

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A.W.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I also had a low-lying placenta, and was scared by what I read about it. My 30wk US showed that it "moved up" on it's own, so don't worry! :)

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J.S.

answers from Little Rock on

with my 2nd pregnancy, i had "placenta previa" at my 1st ultrasound, but sometimes it corrects itself. by 24 weeks, it had moved up. i know if it doesn't it could cause problems with a vaginal birth because the baby needs to come out before the placenta. but you should be able to find out more on the internet. hope it moves up on its own. since she didn't seem too concerned, it may not be so low that its a real problem. i believe if it's really low there's certain things you can't do like intercourse, heavy lifting, etc. but i'm sure she would have told you those things if it were a real concern. good luck!

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A.T.

answers from Shreveport on

Yes, I had that, too. I think it's called Placenta Previa, or something like that. My doctor told me not to worry about it, that 90% of the time, the placenta raises up to the correct position. He did another ultrasound on me closer to my due date to see if it had moved up, which it had. From what I understand, if it doesn't move up, you can't have a vaginal delivery b/c the placenta is blocking it. Good luck to you!

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