[spiritedmama]

Yesterday at the u/s the dr. told me I have a low-lying placenta. NOT placenta previa, just low-lying and that he would monitor it and I should have another u/s in 2 months to make sure it moved. I am not sure what to do here for a couple of reasons:
1) I am not seeing the dr., I am seeing the midife and just got the u/s to find out and make sure everything is o.k. I know dr's play these tricks on you to make you have a c-section
2) Will it actually be a problem with a homebirth or he is just being a dr....
3) Should I go back for the second u/s where he could possibly scare me into worse things and then I would have to go have the baby with him? I never had an u/s with dd2 so things could have very well been the same and I never knew it. Why did we get the stupid U/S!!!

Anyway, I was hoping to get some feedback that will help me make this decision. Last I heard, as long as the placenta was a couple of centimeters away from the cervix, everything is fine...I don't understand this "low lying placenta" thing. This is exactly why we aren't having the baby with an OB at a hospital!

 

[wombatclay]

Well, a low lying placenta usually moves. It's not anything "bad", just something that happens. If, for some reason, it doesn't move very much then the possible concern would be a partial abruption during dilation. It's probably something for your midwife to keep an eye on (perhaps calling for a transport if you seem to be bleeding more than normal in early labor) but not something that would in any way rule out a homebirth.

And a low lying placenta isn't something that would push you to a c/s... again, it is something that they would monitor during the birth (so a push for EFM probably to keep track of the babe, or even a push for a scalp monitor) but not something where they'd say "Oh Gods! We must section!", you know?

Personally I'd have the follow up u/s just for peace of homebirth mind, but if you and your midwife feel it's not necessary (and you have no bleeding or other signs that the placenta may still be low) then I wouldn't worry about it.

Good luck with your decision.... sorry the u/s wasn't totally reassuring!

 

[texaspeach]

my placenta is low lying too. In 90% of cases it moves up as the uterus grows

I'd have a repeat u/s for peace of mind. In all likelihood, it will move and not present a problem.

 

[Jilian]

Low lying placenta is pretty common this early in pregnancy, don't worry too much about it. I had it with DS1 and DS2 and both times it moved well out of the way.

 

[kellykins]

Im in the July ddc, but just at the end of July.. so.. I lurk here too...

Hope thats ok.

I am also in the low-lying placenta club and will be having a repeat u/s at 28 weeks to check on it. My midwife didnt sound super concerned, like, I was doomed to transfer to an OB or anything, but she does want me in for a repeat U/S. You aren't alone, and I have also been told by oh, about 80000 people, that they had the same thing and it moved and wasnt an issue.

 

[Cheshire]

As others have said it will more than likely grow away from your cervical opening and you'll be able to have a vaginal birth.

I had placenta previa, then marginal previa and finally at 37 weeks was cleared to have a vaginal delivery. What I wish someone had told me was to ask the doc to check the umbilical cord placental insertion site (not the fetal insertion site at the belly button but where the cord inserts into the placenta) and also check for vasa previa.

Placenta previa/low lying raises the risk for vasa previa (where the umbilical cord inserts into the amniotic sac before going into the placenta and the vessels cross over the cervix- when the bag of waters break the umbilical cord tears and it is almost always fatal if not diagnosed).

I had velamentous cord insertion and vasa previa. My son lived for 12 hours after his birth because he lost most of his blood in just a few heart beats and we couldn't deliver him fast enough when we realized there was a problem. I pushed him out in less than 8 minutes but it wasn't quick enough.

Both of these conditions are easy to spot on ultrasound if they are looked for. Do a quick search on google to better understand the condition and then ask your doc to double check and make sure all is clear.

They are rare but they do happen. I don't mean to alarm you - I'm just passing along information that I wished someone would have passed along to me this time last year when I came and posted about placenta previa and marginal previa. I'd never heard the words "vasa previa" or "velamentous" until after my son died.

If I had been diagnosed I would have had a c-section. It is the only safe way to deliver vasa previa. I would have been upset over losing my vaginal delivery but I would trade that surgery for losing my son in a millisecond.

Best wishes!

 

[bright-midnight]

DDC crashing, sorta.

At my anatomy scan they discovered I have a marginal previa. I started to freak out (i'm a VBAC hopeful) but my OB told me to calm down and that about 90% of the time, marginal previa's and low lying placentas will move as the uterus grows and expands.

She also told me that a vaginal birth with a low lying placenta or even a marginal previa is safe.

 

[pageta]

I had my US at a doctor's office (better ultrasound than my midwife has - they are not all equal) and he said to come back in 6 weeks due to low lying placenta. When I left, I told the receptionist that I'd let the midwife schedule the appt (as she scheduled the one I just had). In other words, my midwife can decide if I need another appt or not once she sees the results from the ultrasound. My doula said this OB is known for gloom and doom so I'm not too worried about it. I had a friend with placenta previa, and her OB did an US every four weeks - now I think that's excessive. I have no problem with their doing another one if it's necessary (the tech didn't think it would be based on all the pictures which she said the OB hadn't seen), but I don't want it done right away. We have plenty of time. Let it move on it's own.

 

[spiritedmama]

wow, thanks for the info on vasa previa and velamentous previa. i will definitely ask the ob when he does the follow up ultrasound about checking that out. sorry about your loss cheshire and thanks for letting all of us know so we can be watchful.