Problems with your placenta

If the placenta is lower than usual in the uterus (womb) at 20 weeks, you should be offered at least one scan later in pregnancy

The placenta is the organ that develops during pregnancy to support the baby. Normally, it is high up on the side of the uterus (womb). But sometimes it develops lower down and partially or completely covers the cervix (neck of the womb). This is called placenta praevia. Women with a low-lying placenta are more likely to experience bleeding from the placenta in pregnancy or around the time of the birth

Most women with low-lying placenta at their 20-week ultrasound scan have no problems. At least one more scan will be recommended to check the position of the placenta in later weeks. For most women, the gap between the placenta and the cervix will increase as the uterus stretches around the growing baby. But, if the placenta is covering the cervical opening or is very close to it towards the end of pregnancy, a caesarean section will be recommended as a vaginal delivery is not safe  

 

If you've been told you have a low-lying placenta

  • Discuss with your midwife or doctor when you will need to have a scan to check its position later in pregnancy
  • If you have any vaginal bleeding, go to your nearest maternity unit straightaway
  • Depending on how low your placenta is, your doctor may advise that you don’t have sex for the rest of the pregnancy because of the risk of bleeding with placenta praevia
  • You might also be advised to eat foods with a high iron content
  • You may want to ask your midwife or doctor about these issues if they do not mention them

Very rarely, some other placenta problems can develop 

Sometimes in placenta praevia, the placenta grows into the muscle layer of the uterus. This is known as placenta accreta. When this happens, the placenta and uterus can’t separate at the time of the birth, and there may be heavy bleeding. If this is a risk for you, your doctor should talk to you about options and extra care at the time of birth

Occasionally, the blood vessels that travel between a baby and the placenta pass near the cervix (the opening of the womb) and are not protected by the placental tissue or the umbilical cord. This is called vasa praevia. When this happens, the delicate blood vessels can tear during labour or when your waters break, causing heavy bleeding from the baby. If this is  identified as a risk for you before labour, your doctor will talk to you about options for an early delivery. If vasa praevia is suspected in labour or when your waters break, your baby needs to be born urgently, usually by emergency caesarean section   

 

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