Learn how having an anterior placenta affects your pregnancy, baby movements and ultrasounds in this easy-to-understand guide.
When you first hear the term “anterior placenta”, it can sound a little intimidating. However, it’s actually very common and usually nothing to be concerned about. In fact, many pregnant women only discover this during a routine scan, often around 20 weeks.
So let’s chat about what an anterior placenta means, how it compares to other placental locations and what it might mean for your pregnancy outcome and delivery.
What is the placenta?
The placenta is one of the most incredible organs your body creates. It develops from the fertilised egg, soon after conception. Its main role is to act as a lifeline between you and your baby, attaching to the uterine wall and connecting through the umbilical cord.
Through this connection, your placenta provides oxygen and nutrients, removes waste products and supports your growing baby throughout the entire pregnancy. It also produces hormones that keep everything running smoothly.
Placental location: Where can it attach?
The placenta can attach in several normal places inside your uterus and these different placental locations have different names:
- Anterior placenta: Attaches to the front wall of your uterus.
- Posterior placenta: Attaches to the back wall.
- Low-lying placenta (or placenta praevia): Attaches very low and may partially or fully cover the cervix.
- Fundal: Attaches high up in the top of the uterus.
When your sonographer comments on your placental position, they are simply noting where your placenta has settled.
What does an anterior placenta mean?
An anterior placenta means that your placenta is sitting in an anterior position, attached to the front of your uterine wall, between your stomach and your baby. This is very common and generally not a problem.
However, because the placenta cushions the front of your abdomen, you may notice some unique differences compared to mums with a posterior placenta.
How it affects feeling baby’s movements
One of the biggest things women notice is that baby’s movements can feel different. Since the placenta is acting like a pillow at the front, it can soften or delay the sensation of baby movements, especially in the early weeks.
- With an anterior placenta, you may feel your baby’s kicks a little later (sometimes after 22 weeks).
- Movements may feel lighter or cushioned, particularly in the first trimester and early second trimester.
- As your gestational age progresses, you’ll still feel plenty of wriggles, rolls and kicks, just not always as strongly at the front.
The good news is that an anterior placenta doesn’t reduce your baby’s heartbeat, blood supply or overall health. It just changes how you feel your baby’s movements.
Anterior Placenta vs Placenta Praevia
It’s important not to confuse an anterior placenta with placenta praevia.
- Anterior placenta = front wall attachment (usually harmless).
- Placenta praevia = the placenta is low-lying and covers part or all of the cervix, which can lead to higher risk complications during delivery.
Your healthcare team will check your placental location at the 20 weeks anatomy scan to rule out issues like placenta praevia.
Risk factors and complications
Most of the time, an anterior placenta causes no complications at all. However, in rare cases, certain issues can be associated:
- Placental abruption: Where the placenta detaches from the uterine wall too early, sometimes leading to preterm birth or increased risk of problems.
- Cesarean delivery: In some situations, the placenta’s location may make a C-section slightly more likely, particularly if combined with other risk factors like multiple pregnancies or placenta praevia.
- Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: If complications lead to early delivery, a preterm birth may increase the risk of breathing difficulties for the newborn.
It’s worth noting that while these terms sound alarming, most women with an anterior placenta go on to have a healthy pregnancy outcome and normal delivery.
Monitoring your baby with an anterior placenta
Because an anterior placenta can sometimes make it harder to notice baby’s kicks or wriggles, your doctor or midwife may remind you to pay close attention once you start to feel baby movements consistently.
Some tips:
- Keep track of baby’s heartbeat during check-ups.
- Monitor patterns of baby movements from mid-pregnancy onward.
Delivery with an anterior placenta
For most women, an anterior placenta does not affect their ability to have a vaginal delivery. Your healthcare team will continue to monitor your placental location, and unless it’s combined with placenta praevia or other risk factors, you won’t need a planned cesarean delivery just because of an anterior placenta.
In rare cases where the placenta is very large, positioned unusually or if there’s a placental abruption, your care team may recommend a cesarean delivery to keep both you and your baby safe.
Different isn’t bad
Every pregnancy is unique and while medical terms like “anterior placenta” can sound worrying, most cases are completely normal and safe. With regular scans, good prenatal care and keeping track of your baby’s movements, you can feel reassured that your placenta is doing its incredible job, nourishing and protecting your baby until it’s time for delivery.
FAQs about anterior placenta
Q: Does an anterior placenta mean something is wrong with my pregnancy?
A: Not at all. It is simply a description of where your placenta has attached. It is not considered a medical problem on its own.
Q: Will I always feel baby movements later with an anterior placenta?
A: Many mums notice kicks a little later than expected, but by the third trimester, movements are usually strong and clear, even with the placenta at the front.
Q: Can the placenta move during pregnancy?
A: Yes. The placenta does not “crawl” around, but as your uterus expands with your growing baby, the placenta may appear higher or shift in position on later scans. This is why some mums are first told they have a low-lying placenta and later it “moves up” as the uterus grows.
Q: Does an anterior placenta affect labour or birth weight?
A: No, most babies grow normally and birth weight is not influenced just by the placental location. Labour usually progresses as expected unless there are other complications.
Q: Should I be worried about complications?
A: Most women with an anterior placenta go on to have a safe and healthy pregnancy outcome.
Read next: Hypertension in pregnancy and preeclampsia
Any advice given is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and must not be relied upon as such. Before beginning any new treatments or for any healthcare advice, always consult a healthcare practitioner.
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