Diagnosis Of Posterior Placenta: What Does It Mean For Your Baby?

During pregnancy, the placenta is responsible for supplying your baby with important nutrients. However, it can assume different positions. Here you can find out what a posterior placenta means for you and your baby.

What Is A Posterior Placenta?

A posterior placenta is when the placenta is located at the back of the uterus. If the placenta is in the front part of the uterus, it is called an anterior placenta. Your doctor will determine the position of the placenta during your pregnancy check-ups and enter it in your maternity record.

An unfavorable position of the placenta can lead to complications during pregnancy or at birth. A low-lying placenta – placenta praevia – partially or completely closes the cervix. In this case, a cesarean section cannot be avoided.

What Is The Placenta Responsible For?

The placenta is vital for your baby. Without it, your baby could not receive vital nutrients. In addition, the placenta also protects your baby from harmful substances.

The position of the placenta in the uterus can be very different – this is completely normal. In most cases, the placenta sits on the uterine wall above your baby.

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However, this position is not always the case. As you already know, you may also have an anterior or posterior placenta. A distinction is made here as to where exactly the placenta is located in the uterus.

Basically, the position of the placenta is not of great importance for you and your baby. It can also happen that the position of the placenta changes during pregnancy.

The important thing is that the placenta can grow in order to provide your baby with the best possible care. The placenta is the link between you and your baby and, in the best case, should be placed in such a way that it is not damaged during birth.

With a posterior placenta, the placenta sits at the back of the uterus. This happens when the fertilized egg has nested in exactly this position. At this point, the placenta grows with your baby.

In principle, the position of the posterior placenta is quite natural and does not initially lead to any complications. However, as with the anterior placenta, the organ can also sit lower or higher. Your gynecologist will also examine this and enter it in your maternity record.

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In case you are wondering why your doctor enters all this in your maternity record: The strict documentation is done for the reason to detect placenta previa as early as possible.

What Is Placenta Previa?

Placenta previa is a complication during pregnancy. In this case, the placenta slips so deep that it completely closes the cervix. This can lead to life-threatening complications during delivery.

If the placenta ruptures, this is a reason for a cesarean section. With a normal posterior placenta, the placenta remains undamaged in most cases and can be born as an afterbirth without problems.

The position of the placenta can have an effect on birth. As you already far, the placenta forms at the implantation of the egg. From this point on, it is the link between you and your baby.

Depending on the location of the uterus, there are different terms that describe the location of the placenta. Some terms also indicate complications.

Basically, there is no need to worry if the placenta is on the anterior wall or posterior wall. What matters is the height of the placenta. As you have already learned in this article, a low position of the placenta (placenta praevia) is dangerous.

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If your gynecologist diagnoses placenta praevia, it means that the placenta partially or even completely covers the cervix.

Is a cesarean section necessary?

Depending on the shape and location of the placenta, a cesarean section may be unavoidable. However, the factors that lead to this must be clarified in advance by your gynecologist.

Is The Position Of The Placenta Decisive?

For you as an expectant mother, the position of the placenta is actually not that decisive. Some women with an anterior placenta describe that they felt the baby’s movements later or more weakly than with a posterior placenta.

How can this be explained? It has to do with the fact that the placenta dampens your baby’s kicks. So they are hardly felt or not felt at all.

Placenta Grade 1

This term describes the degree of maturity of your placenta. Since the placenta is an organ with a limited duration in your body, it tends to calcify quickly. This can affect its function in particular.

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As a rule, there are 4 degrees for this. Grade 0 stands for the degree of maturity up to the 12th SSW. Grade 1 describes the placenta from the 13th SS W to the 32nd SSW. Grade 2 is completely normal up to the 36th week. From this time until birth maturity is from the 3rd degree.

Calcification Of The Uterus

With age, it can happen that the uterus calcifies naturally. Moreover, besides age, these factors can favor the calcification of the uterus:

  • Circulatory problems
  • Genetic causes
  • Diseases
  • Medication
  • Nicotine
  • Alcohol

Caution: Excessive calcification of the uterus can lead to a collapse of the placenta. In this case, it can no longer be guaranteed that your baby would receive optimal care.

Posterior placenta: Should I Worry?

Don’t worry. The term posterior placenta is simply a description of the exact location of the placenta. This is where the fertilized egg has attached itself to the back of the uterus.

Basically, you should go to all the checkups during your pregnancy. However, if you are not feeling well and you are worried about your baby, it is always advisable to contact your doctor or midwife.

Sources

https://www.mamiweb.de/familie/plazentalagen-und-ihre-moeglichen-auswirkungen-bei-der-geburt/1

https://www.familie.de/schwangerschaft/hinterwandplazenta-was-bedeutet-das-genau/

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