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 An Anterior Placenta?

An anterior placenta occurs when the placenta grows in the front of the uterine wall. The 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.¹ 

The placenta forms at a location where the fertilised egg attaches to the uterine wall. As mentioned earlier, this usually happens on the top or the posterior side. However, an anterior placenta is one that forms on the front side of the uterus.¹  

An anterior placenta is usually not a cause for concern. Often, you won’t even realise that you have an anterior placenta.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 

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 

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. 

Sounds too good to be true? Get in touch with our experts on 1800266553 for a free consultation to understand this better. For details, visit www.lifecell.in. 

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

FAQs

1. Is An Anterior Placenta Good For Pregnancy?

While an anterior placenta doesn’t generally cause any harm to your baby, there isn’t sufficient information to say that it’s good or better than a posterior placenta for pregnancy.¹ 

2. Can An Anterior Placenta Be A Boy?

No. There are equal chances of having a boy or a girl with an anterior placenta.¹ 

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

There is no known way to tell the specific placenta position of a baby boy.¹