Baby to be questions

s@sha

Hi Anitha,

I haven't suffered from this but I've read about it, being 3 months pregnant myself. I just had a quick look for more info about it on https://www.babycentre.co.uk, and here's a quote:

"If you have an ultrasound scan in early pregnancy and the placenta seems to be near, or even covering, the cervix, don't be too alarmed. It almost certainly is not placenta previa. As you get larger, your uterus naturally pulls the placenta away from your cervix. Even if the placenta is still low-lying at your 20-week scan, it may well not present a problem once you are full-term"

It also says in my pregnancy book (new, up-to-date one!) that in most of the women who are told they have the condition at the 20-week scan, the placenta moves away from the cervix naturally in the last few weeks of pregnancy. And, the condition occurs in only 1% of pregnancies anyway.

As you know, reading all the details of the condition can be quite scary, but I really would try not to worry yourself at this early stage, as a lot can change in the next few months. I know myself how hard it is not to worry that things will go wrong. Mine's an IVF baby, and there is a higher risk of ectopic pregnancies & early miscarriage after IVF, so I was absolutely paranoid until I had an early scan at 7 weeks. Just try to keep picturing how healthy & lively your baby looked in the scan, and how that is a good sign.

By the way, if you're only 10.5 weeks pregnant, I think it's unlikely that the baby is 15 cms long...that's more like the size of a 20-week baby.

They usually measure the length from the crown of the head to the rump. I've just had my scan at 13 weeks & the baby is 79.3 mm. (about 3 inches).
At week 10 it's usually more like 31mm to 42mm.

If you've got a scan picture, see if there is a measurement in millimetres, that's probably the right one. It may have the letters 'CRL' in front of it.

Bun

Hi Anitha,

It's easier said than done, but do try to enjoy your pregancy and not to worry too much. I worried about absolutely everything when I was pregnant, it had taken us over a year to conceive after a probable early mis, and I was terrified of losing the baby. I read so much about anything that could go wrong I wound myself up. It also didn't help that in our area we only have one scan at 18-20 weeks. I found babycentre.co.uk extremely helpful. In terms of the lady who did your scan, she will look for the same things in everybody, and picking up what is an extremely common position of your placenta now means that they will also be able to deal with it earlier if it does become a problem. I did not have this myself, but know of someone who did - it was monitored with frequent scans (daily just before the birth) and the baby was induced a little early and was fine. Many of my friends also had spotting throughout pregnancy and had healthy babies.
Many of the things they look for are 'just in case' they are become problems.

Hope everything works out for you!

jellyhead

hi cervical nosebleed woman, this is nosebleed woman, i think i lost half my bodyweight in a nosebleed last night lol!

from what i've heard from women who've had it the placenta usually moves later on in the pregnancy as the womb stretches, it will enlarge by so much that the placenta will still be low-ish but will be out of the way of the cervix if that makes any sense? if it remains in the way they will do a scan nearer the birth and if it looks like it will be a problem they can do a C-section instead of you having a vaginal birth. now that they're aware of it they will monitor it and your birth will be safe so try not to worry too much although that's easier said than done. the problem with reading about things on the net is that so many women post their horror stories but there will be many more who ended up fine and dandy, they don't tend to post stories on support websites because they don't need support and aren't traumatised by anything if that makes sense. for every horror story you will hear there will probably be a million women for who it turned out okay.

but do take care of yourself and call the doc or midwife at the slightest spotting. don't let all of us telling you to stop worrying make you not want to ask for help if you're genuinely worried *HUG* happy mothers day :-)

kazbabe

i dont think it matters. i have had two and they were both totally different. my first was only 6lb 15oz so my bump wasnt huge and they couldnt work my dates out properly whether i was the hospital or the midwife. i then had my second who was 9lb 14oz and i was massive, was wearing proper maternity clothes by 5months as i couldnt fit in anything else at all.
everybody is different, the make up of your body is totally different.
we all vary

anitha

Hello Everybody,

I am back. Sorry for not chatting for a while. Amidst all alse that was happening, hubbie and I went to spain for 2.5 weeks.
I am now 16 weeks preganant and all seems well.
I see the midwife next week and can't wait till she tells me all is well.
I feel alot better and more secure. Although my brain has turned to cheese and I am so forgetful it is frighteneing. I ended up in a pool of tears yesterday, when hubbie took the mickey and my burning a saucepan cos I had forgot about it. He thinks it is funny.At the time , I did not.

JULIE

Hi anitha... i'm sat on birthing ball trying to encourage things i'm ten days overdue with third child.

I had spotting around 8-10 weeks. At my scan it showed my placenta was low lying...from wanting a home birth this time to wondering if i'd need a c-section was not pleasant...all ok now mind although sods law says i'll be in hospital on Friday anyway for induction if baby doesn't make an entrance between now and then.... BAH HUMBUG!

However as most others have said the more the baby grows and your uterus rises it generally lifts the placenta away from the cervix.....so you MUSTN'T worry...mine is now posterior and baby down all ready to go...

So you keep burning food...I do that when i'm not pregnant and i'm constantly dropping things...very annoying... in fact typing how annoying things are...is just making me even more annoyed at myself..... GOD I'M ANNOYING.... How can you tell that i'm an overdue, bored, huge mamma...and I keep having to correct myself as my spelling is useless.....oh i'm going ...........................BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Jay-Jay_4

anitha wrote:

My understanding of implantation is that where the baby puts down roots "placenta" is baby's link to mom and cannot be changed. So how is this condition gonna correct itself ?

I have read disturbing stuff about this condition and am worried. Apparently any pressure on cervix can cause "mis" Hubby is annoyed with me and says I should be enjoying this but instead I cling to negative. I am just so nervous as I have had so many scares now. A doctor friend has told my mom that this is touch and go.

Anybody had this condition with a happy ending ???

A

Hi anitha

I had this too and like Julie I was booked for a home birth so was gutted

I got an explanation that helped me......

Get a deflated balloon, take a marker pen and draw a small circle quite close to the neck of the balloon. Now blow up the balloon and look at where the spot is........it should've moved! voila! placenta will get s-s-t-t-r-r-e-e-t-t-c-c-h-h-e-e-d-d out of the way (hopefully) as it and your uterus grows.

I was eventually told at 37 weeks that my placenta was 5 cm away from the cervix which was enough for a normal delivery (so it doesn't have to move very far out of the way).

If it's just low it's called a low lying placenta and if it's covering then it's placenta previa. Don't worry unless you start to bleed, then obviously you should to go to the hospital.

misty

Hi
I had low lying placenta too - was gutted because it ruled out home birth. However it did shift eventually but by this time they were saying ooh it's a big baby they reckoned he 9lb 11 at 34 weeks - I was wetting myself(not literally the 400 trips a day to the loo took care of that!) can't have a home birth if it going to extra big. Anyway when he was born at 39 weeks he was 8ib9 1/2. Everyone is different - good luck.

jellyhead

my baby also weighed a lot less than the scans said he did, he just had a really big head lol! i suppose the head size is important in deciding if you can deliver naturally though.

julie have you had your baby yet?

JULIE

Hi jellyhead, No haven't had it yet... 13 days over monitoring tomorrow again then definately in on monday if littleun doesn't show up..... i've posted more about my predicament on "what to pack in a labour bag"!!