Low Lying Placenta at Time of Delivery

When I had my first daughter I was diagnosed with a low lying placenta. I thought I was doomed, I wanted a natural birth only. My doctor's office never gave me measurements (this office tends to not give out that sort of information to patients so the patients don't needlessly worry). SO I can't tell you exact measurements, they did however assure me that if there was an issue that there would be an operating room etc. in the rare event that I needed it. They told me that many woman have natural births all the time with this condition... which I am happy to report I did. However, I did bleed a lot for an extended period of time after my daughter was born, to the point where they wouldn't move me from the delivery room to the post delivery room. After about 2 hours it slowed enough on it's own. They were never overly concerned, it wasn't a major issue, just something that is common and should be watched.
My advice to you is if you don't like what your doctor is telling you, quickly go and get a consult with another doctor. I know it would be a pain to switch now, but you can always get all your records switched over, and you may like a new doctor better. I don't think it's fair when the doctor isn't willing to consider any other options.
Otherwise have a heart to heart with your doctor see if you can persuade him to let you try a natural birth. I don't know how sympathetic he will be to you being that he will never understand exactly how you feel, because he can never experience pregnancy, but only you know that. Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask for what you want!

Hi A....I had placenta previa (which was nerve wracking) until about week 34, when we discovered that the placenta was migrating up. I never got exact measurements, but I was 100% prepared to do whatever was best for my baby and for me. I did end up having a vaginal birth with no issues, but I was open to a c-section if needed. Honestly, trust in your Dr. and keep your thoughts focused on the end result: a healthy Mommy and a healthy baby!!! Good luck and congratulations. K.

Hi A.,
I hope that your placenta continues moving north. While there may be women whose doctors allowed for a vaginal birth with lower measurements, the fact is that if your doctor has a different criteria, what the other women had won't matter. Their doctor had a different criteria, but you have your doctor and it's his way of practice that will apply to you. There are many things in birth that are your choice, but you are not likely to convince your doctor to change his mind on this issue, even if you know of other women who safely gave birth vaginally with different measurements.
Good luck

I had a marginal previa that migrated by 37 weeks. It was a scary time until that point! Despite being very much for vaginal births whenever possible, I would not challenge your doctor on this point. If your placenta doesn't move enough, go with the c-section. After a long, natural labor, I had to have an unexpected c-section anyways. It wasn't what I wanted, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Now I have a big, healthy, happy 9 1/2 month old!

And a low lying placenta is too risky to mess around with, you know?

Good luck! I hope it keeps moving north! :)

My doctor was concerned with my 2nd child too. For a few weeks they checked with a sonogram. It "moved" up far enough that I had a normal vaginal delivery (10 days PAST my due date. Baby wanted to stay and we evicted her!) I did bleed and they gave me a med to stop the bleeding. It was never said if they thought the placenta was the problem or something else. Listen to your doctors because a healthy baby and a healthy mommy is most important! Congratulations!!! A.

i had the same situation with both kids.
the first time the placenta moved and i delivered at 38 weeks vaginally, however, it moved before your weeks. the second time it didn't move and i had placenta previa and i had a
c- section at 36 weeks.
good luck