Low lying placenta

Hi there, my placenta is low lying at 1.1 cm from the internal os and i am 34yrs old pregnant with my first. I badly would like to avoid a c section as i prefer the natural way of things unless it is absolutely necessary.  I have had a few ob's who it seems would prefer to schedule me in for a c sec to fit around their golf game and holidays, and i feel like I cannot get a proper answer to my question which is:  Is there anyway possible for me to be able to give birth vaginally??  I have had no bleeding or spotting so far, and all is well with baby so far. Is there any way, or is it impossible with such a low lying placenta. Also, if a natural birth is possible, what are the risks??  Please help i am already at 31wks and a little scared...  

[MomNpain]

It really depends. Do you have placenta previa or just a low lying placenta? Most of the time with a low lying placenta they will allow you to have a shot at a vaginal delivery just as long as it's not TOO low lying. You actually still have a few weeks left and it could move up just enough to where you can deliver vaginally.

I'm 21 weeks and I have placenta previa. This is the information that helped me the most -

http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/encyclopedia/P/Placenta/Placenta-Previa

Good luck.

[goldfish34]

Hey there, thanks for the info.  at 22wks it was sitting 1.5cm anterior.  My ob told me it was not previa and that it may move up.  Thanks for the web site. Good luck sweetheart with your birth xo

[JoyRenee]

You could definitely try to deliver vaginally but you may have more complications. Such as the placenta detaching prematurely while trying to give birth, or birthing the placenta first. Both are dangerous as that would mean baby would be without oxygen.

To be on the safe side, you may want to schedule a c-section and hope that the placenta will move up still (you still have time!).

[mamma4]

I had a C-section due to placenta previa, but I was also hemmoraging.  My placenta didn't move up, but usually (90% if the time) it will, so don't lose hope.  Chances are your placenta will move out of the way as your pregnancy progresses and you will be able to deliver vaginally, but be prepared for the slight chance that you will need a C-section.  Sometimes natural is not better when your baby is at risk, and a C-section really wasn't too bad in my opinion...I was trying for a home birth with that particualr baby (I HATE hospitals and IV's and all the unnecessary interventions) but ended up just being glad I could take him home well and whole without oxygen deprivation or worse!  And just a note, a low lying placenta is pretty testy when it comes to intercourse.  DON"T try having sex until your placenta is up and out of the way or you could hemmorage and go into pre-term labor.  Yah, wish my doctors would have warned me about that...I ended up in pre-term labor and in the hospital three times before my baby was born and he was still born early all from having sex once when my placenta was low... SO DON"T HAVE SEX UNTIL IT"S OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!!!