What Is Anterior Placenta & How It Affects Your Pregnancy

Did you know? In up to 50% of all pregnancies, the placenta (organ connecting mom with her baby in the womb) forms on the front side. This is medically known as the anterior placenta. In general, the placenta usually forms on the back or top side of the uterus. But in this case, it forms on the front side, like a cushion between your belly and the baby.¹ Though usually not a cause for concern, it’s important to know about it, especially if you’re becoming a mom for the first time.

This blog will explain in detail about the anterior placenta including its causes, symptoms & risk factors if any. So read thoroughly!

What Is Placenta?

Placenta is a temporary organ that connects the mother & her unborn baby in the uterus via an umbilical cord. It’s a source of nourishment for the little one & also helps in the excretion of waste substances.

The placenta forms at a location where the fertilised egg attaches to the uterine wall. As mentioned earlier, the placenta attaches to the top, back, side, or front wall of the uterus, depending on where the fertilised egg implants itself. 

Now that you know what the placenta is, let’s learn more specifically about what it means when it forms on the front wall.

What Is An Anterior Placenta?

An anterior placenta is one that forms on the front wall of the uterus, just behind the belly.1  Though it is completely normal and not a cause for concern, it may take longer to feel your baby’s kicks later in pregnancy.  Often, you won’t even realise that you have an anterior placenta until it shows up during an ultrasound.¹

Why Do Some People Have An Anterior Placenta?

The scientific reason for this remains unclear. But it is to be noted that the anterior wall of the uterus is also a normal place for the fertilised egg to attach itself. And this position does not impact the placenta’s function to nourish the baby in any way.¹ 

Typical Placenta Location

In accordance with research, the placenta most commonly forms on the posterior (back) or fundal (top) side of the uterus. These positions are considered optimal because they allow easier monitoring during ultrasound and can make fetal movements more noticeable earlier in pregnancy.
 Other possible locations include:

• Anterior (front wall) — which is still normal but may alter some aspects of fetal monitoring.
• Lateral (left or right side) — which is also within the normal range.
• Low-lying — when the placenta forms near or covers the cervix (may require monitoring for placenta previa).

How Common Is An Anterior Placenta?

An anterior placenta is quite common and might affect 5 out of 10 pregnancies. A couple of studies conducted in this regard have shown that an anterior placenta is more common in:¹ 

• Women with O+ blood group 
• Women sleeping on their stomachs during conception

However, there isn’t sufficient evidence to confirm these findings.¹ 

What Is The Difference Between An Anterior And Posterior Placenta?

The major difference between an anterior and a posterior placenta is the location of its formation. While the latter forms towards the back side of your uterus, the former develops towards the forefront. And not just these, there are a few other positions where the placenta can form. These include:¹ 

• Low-Lying: It forms towards the lower part, covering the entire cervical region.
• Lateral: It forms on the sides of your uterus (left or right).
• Fundal: This one forms on the top of your uterus.

How Will An Anterior Placenta Affect My Pregnancy?

There are no extra benefits of an anterior placenta. Moreover, an anterior placenta also doesn’t cause any negative impact on you or your baby during pregnancy.¹  That said, it can make it difficult for you to feel your baby kick inside the womb, thereby causing some anxiety. For the same reason, it might also be difficult to locate your baby’s heartbeat in an ultrasound or conduct certain prenatal tests like ultrasound. In rare cases, it might lead to certain pregnancy complications (like placenta previa).¹ 

Symptoms Of Anterior Placenta

As the anterior placenta doesn’t cause any harm, there aren’t any symptoms as such. But the common signs that indicate an anterior placenta include:¹ 

• Difficulty finding the baby’s heartbeat during ultrasound: As the placenta is positioned between your belly & the baby in this condition, it becomes difficult to feel the heartbeat.
• Difficulty feeling your baby move or kick: The placenta forms a physical barrier between the belly & baby. Due to this, pregnant women having an anterior placenta start feeling kicks by the 20th week of pregnancy (unlike in posterior pregnancy where they start to feel the kicks around the 18th week itself). Even when they do feel a kick, it’s lighter & weaker.

Causes And Risks Of Anterior Placenta

There are no proven causes of the anterior placenta. While some say it’s more common in women with O+ blood groups, others blame their sleeping position when the baby was being conceived.¹ 

But you must know that there are a few risks of having an anterior placenta such as:¹ 

• Placenta Previa: This is the condition where the placenta covers your cervix fully or partially.
• C-Section: Placenta Previa might block your vagina, preventing normal vaginal birth. This increases the likelihood of a C-section during delivery.
• Back Labor: Anterior placenta increases the likelihood of your baby being born in the OP position. This is when the baby’s back is in the same position as your back, making labour longer & more difficult.

How Is An Anterior Placenta Diagnosed?

An anterior placenta is detected during the regular ultrasound procedure that’s done in the 18th-21st week of pregnancy. As the placenta is known to change position with time, it’s only until around 20 weeks that the anterior placenta gets diagnosed.¹ 

How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Having An Anterior Placenta?

You cannot control where your placenta will form. In other words, it depends on where your fertilised egg decides to attach itself to your uterine lining.¹ 

When Should I Call the Doctor about a Placenta Problem?

Although an anterior placenta is usually nothing to worry about, you should call your doctor right away if you experience any of these signs:³

• Vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester
• Severe cramps or sharp abdominal pain
• A sudden drop or absence of baby movements
• Contractions before 37 weeks
• Any early signs of labour.

These symptoms could signify complications such as placenta previa, placental abruption, or preterm labor, which need prompt medical attention.² 

Conclusion

In general, an anterior placenta is not something to worry about for pregnant women. But in a few conditions like placenta previa, it might cause some pregnancy complications. So it’s important to be aware & informed.

At the same time, pregnancy is also a crucial phase to pre-plan for your little one’s healthy & happy future. And a good way to ensure this is via cord blood banking. Preserving your newborn’s cord blood can offer protection to your entire family from the impact of 80+ deadly diseases in the future. 

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Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. 

FAQs

1. Is An Anterior Placenta Good For Pregnancy?

An anterior placenta is not harmful and usually doesn’t affect the baby’s growth or the overall pregnancy. It might make it a bit more difficult to sense the baby's movements early in the pregnancy or hear the heartbeat with an ultrasound, though. But there's no indication that it's better or worse than a posterior placenta.

2. Can An Anterior Placenta Be A Boy?

No, the position of the placenta has no impact on the baby’s gender. While myths may link placenta placement to predicting whether you’re having a boy or a girl, there’s no scientific backing for this. A baby can be either gender, regardless of placenta location.

3. What Is The Placenta Position For A Baby Boy?

No medically proven placenta position indicates you’re having a baby boy. The placenta can attach to any side of the uterus, regardless of the baby’s gender. Any claims linking placenta position to gender prediction are based on speculation, not science.

4. Which Is Better- An Anterior Or Posterior Placenta?

Both are normal and safe. A posterior placenta lets you feel baby kicks sooner and provides clearer ultrasounds. An anterior placenta might make it a bit harder to feel movements early on, but it does not harm the baby or affect their growth.

5. Which gender does the anterior placenta indicate?

The anterior placenta does not indicate the baby’s gender. There is no science-backed evidence to support the statement that a baby’s gender can be known from the position of the placenta. 

6. When can my husband feel the baby kick with an anterior placenta?

Most women feel kicks only after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This is because before 20 weeks, the baby’s movements may not be strong enough to feel through the placenta. Your husband may not be able to feel the baby’s kicks until a few weeks after the 20th week, when the baby grows bigger and the movements are more powerful.

7. Does the placenta have a heartbeat?

No, the placenta does not have its own heartbeat. While the placenta is responsible for nurturing and nourishing the baby in the uterus, with oxygen and nutrients exchanged between mother and baby, it does not have a heart of its own to pump blood. The pulsing sound heard near the placenta is actually the sound of the mother's blood flow or the fetal heartbeat. 

8. Can the placenta's position change during pregnancy?

Yes, the placenta’s position can change during pregnancy. As the baby grows and the uterus expands, the placenta may shift position, typically moving upwards and away from the cervix. Note that this movement does not indicate that the placenta has migrated itself, but a result of the uterus growing and expanding. 

9. Are there any risks associated with an anterior placenta?

While there is no major cause for concern for an anterior placenta, there might be some potential risks. The primary concern is that an anterior placenta makes it harder to feel the baby’s movements in the early weeks of pregnancy. This is because the placenta works as a cushion. An anterior placenta may also make it difficult to get accurate Doppler and ultrasound readings.