low lying placenta???????

[Salem Lily]

I'm 15wks and haven't had any bleeding or cramping, but at a quick gender check ultrasound today the technician mentioned the placenta looked a little low. I am now, sort of....freaking out!

I was wondering if anyone could give me some information from personal experience? When was it first noticed? How did you handle any problems/issues that came up? How was your pregnancy and what was labor like?

I've heard that most times (with a low lying placenta), as the pregnancy moves on (uterus expands), it fixes itself . But if it doesn't it automatically means a c-section! I guess a homebirth would be completely out of question at that point.

Also, she mentioned baby looked closer to 17-18wks. My LMP was February 5th....so I'm waaaaaay confused now.

Thank you for your insight and help.

[NicolleLynne]

Hi Mama,

I was diagnosed with low lying placenta at about 20 weeks. It was first noticed during my anatomy scan. It wasn't a previa but a couple centimeters closer to the cervix than my OB would have liked to have seen. On each subsequent visit it was a little better until it had moved far enough away from the cervix to not be a concern (I'm 39 weeks now). My OB said 95% of the time, this is what happens and never really showed any concern over it.

At 15 weeks, your placenta still has plenty of time to move and I wouldn't let it worry me. Just enjoy your second trimester!

[lillymonster]

I had a low lying placenta at my u/s. As I got farther along it moved. OB just kept an eye on it, but by like 30 something weeks it fixed itself

I also wouldn't put much stock into what the baby "looks" like. My period were not 28 days long, so that screwed up everything with the using the LMP as a beginning date

[MaerynPearl]

I have partial placenta previa (not low-lying, outright covering the cervix) and we aren't worried at all. Almost every case of it ends with it moving up and out of the way and not being anything to worry about... even some that are complete previa, with the placenta centered over the cervix, move completely out of the way by birth.

You are only 15 weeks, Id be mad that the sonographer even mentioned it, as at that point it doesn't mean anything whatsoever.

My midwifes reaction was, if Im worried about it I can do another ultrasound at 32 weeks but its not necessary...

My doctors reaction was, if I get spotting/cramping, go on pelvic rest and call her ASAP but nothing else is necessary.

(Yeah, I have a midwife and a doctor lol, lucky me!)

[earthyamber]

I don't have any advice but I found out yesterday that my placenta is low-lying and covering the cervix about half-way. I am 15 weeks 4 days. I went in for the ultrasound due to bleeding over the weekend (heck...I am still bleeding). The bleeding is light and ranges from red to brown. Thankfully baby is fine but the bleeding is from the placenta. I see my OB next Tuesday and will find out more about what this means and if we can stop bleeding. The tech did say that it is common for it to move so I am trying to be hopeful.

[Salem Lily]

"You are only 15 weeks, Id be mad that the sonographer even mentioned it, as at that point it doesn't mean anything whatsoever."


15 wks or not, I'm actually happy that she noticed it. Before this I knew very little about it (low lying placenta), so at least now I can keep an eye out for any danger signs, get more familiar with it and talk with my OB about it at my next appt. (before we have our "big" anatomy ultrasound).
The more I learn about it though, the more at ease I am. It seems like it usually resolves itself anyway.