Anterior Placenta

16 messages
14/01/2008 at 11:24
Hi everyone

I've just been reading through the results of my nuchal scan and I notice it says 'Placenta Position: Anterior'. I've looked this up on google and this means the placenta is at the front of my tummy. I guess this would explain why my midwife couldn't find the hearbeat last week. Does anyone else have this? Are there any implications apart from not being able to hear the hearbeat as clearly and, when further on, not feeling the full force of baby's kicks?!

Serena xxx

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14/01/2008 at 11:31
Hi serena I had this with my first pregnancy on my first scn they dont really discuss it with you or worry about it until further on. By the time I had my 20 weeks scan it had moved into normal position so there was no need for any worry. I heard that it would affect how you feel kicks ect and not sure how they want you to labour with it.

My advice would be try not to worry as hard as it is. You will know a lot more after your next scan and then they will probably advise you a lot more.

Hope this helps xx
14/01/2008 at 11:36
Thanks honey. I'm not really worried about it to be honest, I just wondered how many other people have the same. Hopefully it will move like it did for you!! xxx
14/01/2008 at 12:09
Hiya Serena,

There are quite a few girls in the due April forum that have anterior placenta's. Mine is anterior too but anterior high, so i've not had any issues with finding the heartbeat or feeling movement. The midwife 1st picked up the heart beat at my 13 +3 week check up, I found it at home for the 1st time bang on 13 weeks. At 12 weeks it can be a bit hit and miss finding a clear heartbeat because the baby has so much room to move about it and if its back is not facing the front it will be further away.

I think the only time you need to worry about the placenta position is when it is very low down and covers part or all of the cervix.

Take good care xxxx
Silver member
14/01/2008 at 12:24
HIya, I'm due in June and had my 20 week scan on Friday. I have this too. They didn't seem concerened at all, just said that I wouldn't feel the baby moving as soon as other mums because obviously the placenta is cushioning everything.

I have a doppler at home and can find the heartbeat no problem, this will obviously get stronger the further on you get x
14/01/2008 at 12:27
Thanks Mum2another1! I have no idea whether mine is a high or low, nothing was mentioned at the scan. I have a home heartbeat monitor and so far I haven't been able to locate the heartbeat but I'm 13 weeks tomorrow so maybe I'll be the same as you!!

It's reassuring to know lots of Due April mums have anterior placenta's. I hadn't even heard of it until I read my scan report properly!!

Thanks.

Serena xxxxxxx
14/01/2008 at 12:31
Thanks LadyGwen! It's good to know I'm not on my own with this one! xxxxx
14/01/2008 at 13:02
Hi, I'm 34+5 now and was told at 20 week scan I had an anterior placenta which was covering my cervix. Had to go back for another scan at 32 weeks to check position cos if it hadn't moved away from cervix I would have had to have a c-section. All fine at scan and placenta has moved out of way so I can have normal delivery now. My midwife has never said the anterior placenta is a problem, she can always get heartbeat OK and I feel mighty strong kicks all the time!
Really don't think you should worry, just enjoy rest of pregnancy!
14/01/2008 at 13:06
Thanks Niki. I'm not really worried, just wondered how many other people were experiencing the same as me xxxxxx
14/01/2008 at 13:45
I didn't have a scan at 12 weeks but at my 20 weeks scan I found out I had an anterior placenta (I am due in April as well), it says on my scan notes 'Anterior, not low' so I presume it is in the middle, so I don't feel many kicks. No-one mentioned it to me but I asked my mw who said it is not a problem at all, just means u feel less movements. I have no problems finding the baby's heartbeat though, it can be quiet but that's it.

I didn't feel my baby move until I was nearly 20 weeks, so I was relieved to find out why. I know 20 weeks is the average to feel your first baby, but so many girls on here seem to feel it at 14 weeks!!

I have read up on anterior placentas and I read that it causes no problems in labour...unless you have a c-section, then it is a bit more complicated as the surgeons have to go through the placenta. But it is only with a low-lying placenta that you need to worry...ok it may be anterior but it is still doing it's job lol!

Seeing as ur early, yours might move yet anyway. I have a suspicion mine has moved as I am feeling more & more movement and even saw baby's foot kick up my belly the other day. Oh has felt a kick too which is amazing as we never thought we'd feel anything!

Good luck with ur pregnancy.
Philippa, 25 wks x x x



14/01/2008 at 13:52
Hi i have been for my 20 week scan this morning (im 19+1)and on the report they print out it says i have the same!! they didnt seem concerened about it so we'll see what they say when i go back for a re-scan!!!

15/01/2008 at 06:29
Thanks Philippa. I didn't realise how common this is!

J - they definitely can't be worried about the position of your placenta else I'm sure they would have mentioned it. Maybe they're used to the placenta moving during pregnancy so they won't worry about it until you're nearer your due date, and if it hasn't moved by then maybe they'll explain the consequences, if there are any! Good luck with your pregnancy.

Serena xxxxx
10/05/2009 at 15:50
Hi!

I've just re-read my notes from my 12 wk scan and realised I have an anterior placenta. I was a bit disappointed as I can't wait to feel baby move and was worried this may hamper any feeling I get - but it's good to hear that lots of you ladies have this and still feel baby !

K xxx
16+6
10/05/2009 at 16:10
Hi i'm quite clued up on placental position as my mum had an anterior placenta with both her pregnancies! With me it wasn't low so didn't cause her any problems (she actually didn't know about it until her 2nd pregnancy). With my brother it was anterior again but low so she had to have a section but this was identified early on (about 16 wks) and she was monitored closely so i think if you had anything to worry about they would have told you.
Hope that helps
Jo 17+2 x x
11/05/2009 at 11:18
You will still feel your baby move, the kicks just won't be quite as strong. I'm now pregnant with baby no. 2 and my placenta is fundal this time (right at the top of my uterus). It's definitely made a difference. The kicks with this baby are very strong!! xxxx

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04/05/2012 at 14:27

This is just for anyone reading who was researching anterior placentas etc like I was when I first found out and was worried about not feeling movement.

I'm 19weeks with my first, anterior placenta, slim/normal build and I started feeling what I thought were flutters at 16weeks, only to dismiss it as a mistake when told by u/s operator that my placenta position meant I wouldnt feel baby til much later. I thought I felt some kicking at the start of 18weeks but again dismissed it as it didnt noticeably repeat. Then at 18weeks 6days I felt very undeniable kicks start that I could feel from the outside that have been off and on since then, with more consistent tapping/fluttering in between, tho there are periods where it either stops, becomes less noticeable due to strength/location of movement, or I am so active I am not in a position to notice it. However if I lay on my back/or sit in a reclining position and wait with my hands on my lower abdomen I can usually feel her kicking. I feel it more predominantly on one side, so that may be due to there being less concentration of placenta on that side, tho I have felt the movements all over at one stage or another. I think if anyone reading this article is disappointed at having an anterior placenta, dont despair, trust your own feelings and take the time to sit and close your eyes and concentrate on what you feel, you may not feel it for a while (there may be other factors that delay it) but if you think you feel something, however slight, allow yourself to believe what you are feeling. And dont let it stop you from talking to belly if you havent felt it - your little one can still hear you at this stage!

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