Sorry to confuse people: I have a ? about low lying placenta?

Question

I spoke to my midwife on the phone. She said that she is concerned that the baby is "sitting" on the placenta when I am in an upright position. I am so concerned that the blood flow is not reaching the baby's brain when I stand or walk-

I'll be in for an ultrasound on Thursday that will tell us the location of the placenta to verify if her theory is correct. Just very scared right now....What do you think? Is this something you may have experienced? Any advice?

Answer 1

Personally i havent experienced this but if the midwife though this was a major issue she would have told you to go straight to hospital..

Good luck xx

Answer 2

I have a low lying placenta - I'm 27 weeks. The only concerns the doctors have told me about are the placement of the placenta when it comes to labor and delivery. If it's over the cervix either totally or partially, this could cause it to rupture during labor.  They have said nothing about the baby sitting on it when I'm in different positions.  I am not an expert on this condition, but I just wanted to point out that they have never said anything like this to me.  The talks have always been about the placenta itself, not any affect it would have on the baby. Apparently it's pretty common but for most women it corrects itself as the uterus grows.

I know that if you start spotting they can prescribe bedrest, but I thought this was because the placenta can sort of slough off bits of it and by resting and not exercising you are reducing stress on the placenta.  Also you sometimes are told you can't have s*x if it's over the cervix.

Edit: I saw your other question. I am now wondering if your midwife is competent.  Braxton-hicks as far as I know is not a reason to think you have a low-lying placenta. Spotting or bleeding can be a sign.  An ultrasound is the only way to locate where the placenta is for sure.  But for her to say you might have a low-lying placenta because you're getting BH at 31 weeks - that's odd to me.  Again, I'm not an expert or a midwife, and they have a lot of anecdotal knowledge.  But BH are normal, you just need to stop exercising if it's bothering you and drink lots of water.

Answer 3

If the restriction concern was so great, your midwife would have immediately placed you on bedrest or ordered you to take some other measures as a precaution.  

The placenta gives the baby the oxygen and nutrients through an incredibly complex "blood hand-off system".  Your baby's heart is working like normal and pumping the blood throughout the baby's system.  So, it would be either that the whole baby is not getting enough or that the whole baby is getting enough, unless there is something wrong with the baby's cardiovascular system which would be unrelated to placental position.

The real concern with a low lying placenta is overall reduced hand-off of blood and nutrients which it sounds like your midwife is worried about or else your going into labor.  If your placenta is covering the cervix, you will need a C-section because the placenta cannot come out first as the baby will then suffocate.

An ultrasound is exactly right and will definitively tell you where the placenta is.  

Answer 4

It depends how far along you are. When I was 18 weeks my sonogram showed that the baby was on my placenta (it covered my cervix) at that point it was still ok. If you are in your third trimester and are worried, just try to take it easy, lay down the majority of the day if you choose. Why does she think the baby's on your placenta?

Answer 5

I had a low lying placenta as well, apparently they are fairly common (about 20% of women will have one a some point during their pregnancy) The good news is almost all (except I think 2%) resolve themselves as the pregnancy continues. Don't fret - it is just a concern right now not a big thing to be really worried about.

Answer 6

I had a low lying placenta in the beginning of my pregnancy. It will grow up as the baby does. They told me to just take it easy and be careful. They took a ultrasound a month later and it was up at its normal place. My U/S tech has been doing it for 15 years so I trusted her.

Answer 7

You didn't say how far along you were.  If you're still fairly early (less than 20 weeks) then you should be fine.  As the uterus grows, the placenta will slowly move upward and away from the cervix.  I find it amusing that a midwife can make this judgment without an ultrasound first.  Make a diagnose and THEN test for it?  FFS.  If it was a very real concern to where the placenta was so low that it was basically covering the cervix (which no one knows without the ultrasound) then she should have recommended bedrest until that ultrasound or sent you to a hospital for an immediate ultrasound.