What Is an Anterior Placenta?

An anterior placenta is one that is attached to the front of the uterus (womb). This is a common occurrence and usually does not pose any risk to you or your fetus. It may make it harder to detect early kicks and fetal heart sounds, however.

An anterior placenta is not a medical condition, but simply one of several possible locations the placenta—also called the afterbirth—can develop.

How Do You Know If You Have an Anterior Placenta?

A standard ultrasound is typically performed at 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy and can detect an anterior placenta. (Ultrasounds completed in the first trimester are not considered standard because it is too early in the pregnancy to see the full details of how the fetus is developing.)

Standard ultrasounds provide information such as:

• Position of the placenta
• Size estimation, position, movement, and heart rate of the fetus
• Amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus
• Number of fetuses

You will not be able to tell if you have an anterior placenta without an ultrasound.

How It Affects Your Pregnancy Experience

Having an anterior placenta can change your pregnancy experience at a few stages, making fetal movement harder to detect and exams a bit more difficult to conduct.

Delayed Detection of Fetal Movement

Women are typically expected to begin feeling fetal movement and kicking between 18 and 24 weeks. With an anterior placenta, this may take longer.

An anterior placenta essentially acts like a cushion that sits between your uterus and belly. This can muffle movements, making them more difficult to feel and even recognize as what they are.

Often, those with an anterior placenta don't begin to feel kicks until later on in pregnancy, when the fetus is larger.

When you start to feel your baby kick can vary based on the size of the fetus, its location in the uterus, and if you've been pregnant before.

More Challenging Exams

Physical exams are completed during the final trimester by your practitioner feeling your abdomen for the position your fetus is in.

An anterior placenta makes it a bit more difficult for your healthcare provider to identify the position and the different body parts of your fetus.

In addition, an anterior placenta can also impact the following tests used to monitor a pregnancy:

Fetal Doppler Ultrasound

A fetal doppler ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to check your baby’s heartbeat. A placenta that is in the front of the uterus can muffle these sound waves, which means your practitioner may need to spend more to get a result.

Amniocentesis

An amniocentesis (amnio) is a procedure that uses a needle to remove a small amount of amniotic fluid from the uterus test for testing or treatment. It is an optional test that is only recommended in certain situations.

An anterior placenta can make an amnio a bit more complicated because the needle may need to pass through the placenta in order for a sample to be collected. Given this, a practitioner may need to make a few attempts. This can also lead to some blood mixing in with the fluid.

Anterior Pregnancy and Normal Delivery

Having an anterior placenta usually doesn’t affect labor and delivery. You will likely still be able to have a vaginal delivery, as long as the placenta is not blocking the cervix and you do not have any pregnancy complications.

If you need a C-section and have an anterior placenta, your healthcare provider will be able to use an ultrasound to determine the safest location for the incision.

Some research shows that avoiding cutting into an anterior placement reduced the risk for mothers needing a blood transfusion—which is used to replace lost blood—following a C-section.

Risks of an Anterior Placenta

An anterior placenta doesn’t usually cause complications during pregnancy. However, some research suggests that an anterior placenta location could make it more likely to experience one of these pregnancy complications:

• Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
• Gestational diabetes
• Placental abruption
• Intrauterine growth retardation
• Placenta previa
  

Other Placenta Positions

Aside from an anterior placenta, it's also possible for the placenta to be in any of these positions:

• Posterior: Back of the uterus (toward the back of your body)
• Fundal: Top of the uterus
• Low-lying: Bottom of the uterus; can sometimes partially or fully cover the cervix
• Lateral: Left or right side of the uterus

A placenta may also shift locations during pregnancy as the uterus and fetus grow.

An anterior position is common, but the most common locations for the placenta to attach tend to be either toward the top or the back of the uterus. It's believed that this is because there are more blood vessels in those areas, making it easier for the placenta to transport nutrients to the fetus.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

With all pregnancies and placenta locations, you should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Severe back pain
• Pain, tightening, and cramping in the stomach
• Uterine contractions

These are not necessarily signs of an issue with your placenta, but they do warrant evaluation.

Summary

The placenta is a vital part of a healthy pregnancy, and it can nourish your baby from any spot in your uterus. With an anterior placenta, you are just as likely to have a healthy pregnancy as any other placenta location. You may not feel your baby’s kicks as earlier or as strong, but other complications are rare.

Follow up regularly with your healthcare provider for normal prenatal care to be sure that you are having a healthy pregnancy. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your provider to answer your questions and monitor the health of you and your baby.