Low lying placenta

[WifeofAnt]

Hiya. Just got back from my appointment. He says my 18 week ultrasound looks good except my placenta is a bit low (its not a previa but its further down than he'd like) and he wants to do an ultrasound four weeks from now (at 24 weeks) to see if its moved up. Does anyone have any information or experience on this sort of thing? I'm not too worried but DH is.

[lillymonster]

I don't think 24 weeks there may not be much change, I'd ask to hold off until 32 or 35 weeks or something. 24 weeks is not a lot of growth, and then they will have to to do another one a few weeks after to check on it again. Most of the time they move and sometimes not until after 30 weeks.

I had one at 20 weeks on a u/s, my OB didn't mention anything again except when I got another u/s at 36 weeks, to tell me they need to check on it, I totally forgot I had it. It had moved by then. I have it again on my 12 u/s and the high risk OB I went to for the NT scan made a big deal about it, my midwife blew it off and told me not to worry.

[MaerynPearl]

I had previa at 21 weeks, at 27 it was resolved.

If its low but not previa at 18 weeks it just sounds plain normal and not anything to worry about... to me.

[AmyKT]

I had a low lying placenta at 20 weeks. A recheck at 30 weeks showed that it had moved up high enough not to cause any complications or changes of birth plan. I agree that 24 weeks is a bit early for a recheck. I'd ask about holding off, because you could end up with two more u/s instead of just one if it's checked too early. There's nothing that can be done to make it move, and if it's not actually touching your cervix, there's very little risk of bleeding, so I can't imagine what benefit you'd get from a 24 week check.

[shoefairy3]

I had a partial with baby #4 around 20 weeks, it resolved itself by 27weeks.

[aikigypsy]

If it's just low-lying, not a complete previa, I really wouldn't worry about it at that early stage in your pregnancy. I agree with PPs that 24 weeks is a bit early for a repeat ultrasound, though.

[faeriecurls]

I agree that 24 weeks is early - not much will move by then. They found a marginal previa at my 20 week u/s and sent me back at 26 weeks and nothing had changed. My m/w was annoyed that they had me go back then - she said it was too early. I had another at 30 weeks and it is now moving, just not totally clear of the os yet. I have one this week (I'm 34 weeks) and hopefully it will have resolved.

I wish I hadn't had the 26 week one for sure and probably could have done without the 30 week one.

The only thing I did after the 26 week one was have my acupuncturist start working on some points that might help with upward movement.

[Tresa]

They saw my low-lying, partial previa at my first, 20 week, sonogram. And they did a repeat at 28 weeks which turned out to be pretty unnecessary, because it hadn't moved enough for them not to continue to watch it...did another one at mid 30s week and it was fine. You have a LOT of time and space to grow before it's all over with. If you're short on cash or don't like intervention, totally delay your repeat sono to confirm the placenta's moved up to right before you're due. It's not like they can do anything or move it or anything anyway...it's just unnecessary intervention, overzealous testing to pay off their machines and pay their techs, imo.