Low-Lying Placenta

During pregnancy, the Reference placenta Opens New Window is normally attached to the upper wall of the Reference uterus Opens New Window. A placenta that develops low in the uterus without overlapping the Reference cervical Opens New Window opening is referred to as a low-lying placenta. A low-lying placenta is not a high-risk condition and often resolves as the pregnancy progresses.

If you have a low-lying placenta early in pregnancy, there is a good chance that as the lower uterus enlarges, the placenta's relative position will shift away from the cervix. But when the placenta does overlap the cervix, it is called Reference placenta previa Opens New Window, which can bleed heavily during labor. Fortunately, about 90% of placenta previa cases diagnosed before the 20th week no longer overlap the cervix by the end of the pregnancy.^{Reference 1}

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