Baby hiding behind placenta

Anterior placenta | Tommy's

What is the placenta?

The placenta is an organ that helps your baby grow and develop. It’s attached to the lining of the womb and is connected to your baby by the umbilical cord. The placenta passes oxygen, nutrients and antibodies from your blood supply to your baby. It also carries waste products from your baby to your blood supply, so your body can get rid of them.

What is an anterior placenta?

The placenta develops in the first few weeks of pregnancy, wherever the fertilised egg embeds itself. This could be along the top, sides, front or back wall of the uterus. If the placenta attaches to the front, this is called an anterior placenta.

People sometimes think that having an anterior placenta is linked to having a low-lying placenta but it is not. A low-lying placenta (also known as placenta praevia) is when the placenta attaches lower down and may cover a part of or all of the cervix (the entrance to the womb).

How will I know if I have an anterior placenta?

You’ll find out whether you have an anterior placenta during your second ultrasound scan when you are 18 to 21 weeks pregnant.

Can an anterior placenta cause complications?

This is very unlikely. The front wall of the uterus is a normal place for the placenta to implant and develop. An anterior placenta will still do its job of nourishing your baby, but there are some things to be aware of if you are diagnosed.

Feeling your baby’s movements

Most women usually feel their baby move between 18 and 24 weeks. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not notice your baby’s movements until you are more than 20 weeks pregnant.

Having an anterior placenta can make it a bit harder to feel your baby move because your baby is cushioned by the placenta lying at the front of your stomach. However, it’s very important that you never assume that having an anterior placenta is a reason why you can’t feel your baby move.

Get to know your baby’s movements and be aware of them throughout your pregnancy. Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed. It’s always best to get checked.

Some women may feel particularly anxious about their baby’s movements, especially if they’ve had difficult experiences in previous pregnancies. Talk to your midwife about how you feel. They may be able to reassure you or help you get more help and support, if you need it.

Find out more about your baby's movements.

Lower back pain

You may have lower back pain if you have an anterior placenta. Irritable back pain can be common in pregnancy and there are things you can do to try to ease it.

Screening and diagnostic tests

An anterior placenta can make it more difficult to perform certain tests, such as amniocentesis. Not all women are offered this test during pregnancy. You’ll only be offered this test if the results of your screening tests show that your baby has a high risk of certain conditions, such as Down’s syndrome.

The test involves inserting a long, thin needle through the stomach into the amniotic sac to remove a sample of cells so doctors can test for health conditions. Having an anterior placenta can make this more difficult, but doctors will use an ultrasound scanner to guide the needle and avoid the placenta. An ultrasound scanner is used to guide the needle, which significantly reduces the risk of injury.

There is a small risk of miscarriage after an amniocentesis test, regardless of where the placenta is. Having an anterior placenta does not increase this risk.

Your baby’s position in the womb

Having an anterior placenta increases the chances of the baby being in a back-to-back (occipitoposterior) position. This is when the baby’s head is down, but the back of their head and their back is against your spine.

If your baby is in a back-to-back position when you go into labour, it’s likely that your baby will turn into the best position for birth and you will have a normal vaginal delivery. But having a baby in a back-to-back position during labour does increase the chances of:

a longer labour
a more painful labour
a caesarean section
assisted birth.

Talk to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns about having an anterior placenta.

Can a Baby Hide on an Ultrasound? — Imaginatal

Ultrasound is a wonderful thing. Since the beginning of time, expecting mothers have wondered how their baby is growing inside them. With the magic of sound frequency waves, we’re lucky enough in the modern day to be able to take a look at the womb and peek at who’s inside. Even if they want to play hide and seek.

However, just like pregnancy itself, ultrasounds can be mysterious at times. Ultrasound technology has advanced greatly over time and ultra-detailed images can be created of your unborn baby, even in 4D! But there can still be times when it isn’t as easy to see your little one.

Although it’s rare, there’s the possibility that a baby can ‘hide’ on an ultrasound. As you progress further through your pregnancy, the images will become clearer and more accurate. If you don’t see the baby in a scan, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not there. Alternatively, if you can only see one baby, there may be the possibility that another is just out of sight! Keep reading to find out how a baby might be camera shy.

How do ultrasounds work?

Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to create an image. You can’t hear these waves, but they work by reflecting off objects they encounter. This creates a detailed image of what’s hidden inside a body. The baby’s form will bounce back from your womb when the ultrasound reaches it, forming a picture called a sonogram.

Do Ultrasounds always show babies?

Ultrasounds are extremely helpful pieces of technology and have a range of medical uses aside from pre-natal imaging. They are used to look for things like kidney stones and blood clots that can’t be seen externally.

But even pregnancy scans won’t always show a baby. Although it’s rare, there are occasions when a pregnant woman won’t be able to see the fetus in her sonogram. Most often, this is because it’s too early in the pregnancy for the baby to be visible. However, it might also be that you’re having an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that’s outside the womb) or have unfortunately had a miscarriage. This is a difficult outcome to think about, but in these cases, you might want to check in with your doctor for peace of mind.

It could be that you’ve counted your weeks wrong and you’re too early for your first scan. Usually, it’s best to wait until you’re six weeks along so the baby will come out clearly on your ultrasound.

What does it mean if an ultrasound is empty?

If your pregnancy is dated correctly and you are far enough along, an ultrasound that still doesn’t show a yolk sac could signify there are some complications. You might want to look into a rescan in order to determine if the pregnancy is feasible. This may be an upsetting and disappointing time. Remember that early miscarriages are common and try to keep a positive mindset. You’re never alone in your situation.

Can a baby ‘hide’ on an ultrasound?

Unless it’s too early in your pregnancy to see the baby (up to around 8 weeks), it’s unlikely the baby can be hiding from the ultrasound. The baby grows in its sac and can’t move outside of this. The scan can cover this area entirely, so it’s very unlikely that the baby can be out of view.

However, there’s a chance for a baby to conceal themselves if they have a ‘wombmate’ to hide behind!

Can a twin baby be hidden during an ultrasound?

We’ve all heard stories of unsuspecting women who are surprised (pleasantly or otherwise!) by a second baby after they delivered the first. Whilst this can technically happen, in reality, the advances in modern ultrasound scanning technology makes this situation less and less feasible.

Babies don’t have a lot of space to hide in. However, whilst uncommon, it’s possible that a twin baby can hide on ultrasound by hiding behind its sibling in the sac. If a baby’s feeling shy, they can go unseen if blocked by their sibling. This is more likely to happen in early scans of the first trimester around 10 weeks. However, after this point, you can be confident that any stowaway twins will be clearly in-frame.

What are the other signs of a twin pregnancy?

If you think you have a twin playing hide-and-seek with you, look out for some symptoms asosiated with a multiple pregnancy.

Some early signs of a second baby include severe morning sickness, breast tenderness, fast weight gain and a bigger appetite, and a bump that shows earlier than usual. You might also feel some movement in two separate parts of your tummy later on.

When should you have an ultrasound for the most accurate results?

Later ultrasounds will usually be clearer than early ones as the baby before 10 weeks is smaller than the size of a grape! However, that doesn’t mean that early scans aren’t accurate. Our early assurance scans are done from six weeks and are performed by qualified and experienced sonographers. These early scans are performed trans-vaginally rather than abdominally, and they pick up lots of tiny details of the baby’s development.

The 24- 34 week 4d scan provides our clearest and highest resolution image of what’s hiding inside, moving in real-time. At this point, babies are developed enough to see their features in extreme detail, down to each tiny toe. Towards 24 weeks is preferable for this scan since the placenta lies nearer the front of your tummy which gets us a clearer look.

You can come in anytime between 10- 40 weeks for our wellbeing and bonding scan for a highly accurate and detailed sonograph. All of our scanning services provided will give a very accurate result, but if you’re looking to see the tiny features of your baby, it’s worth holding out until you’re at least 20 weeks along.

What can affect the accuracy of a scan?

Other than a miscalculated pregnancy date, there are other factors that affect the results of your scan. These include:

Obesity

Being overweight is something that can make it more difficult to clear scan. Studies have found that obesity can reduce the chance of an accurate scan by up to 50%.

This is because the high-frequency soundwaves that bounce off the growing baby take longer to travel through increased body tissue. The baby will be further away from the transducer (the wand that conducts the scan), and this distance can make the image less accurate. Fat also absorbs the soundwaves, meaning the more that surrounds your abdomen, the harder it is to create a clear and sharp sonograph. However, the scan can also be conducted vaginally if the baby is difficult to see.

Equipment and Human Error

Occasionally, there may be mistakes in conducting the scan if the equipment is old or faulty with some wear and tear. Older machines will usually produce images that are lower quality or less sharp than modern ones. Our clinics have invested in state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging technology to ensure that the images created are highly accurate, and stunning quality so every little detail can be seen, even in 4D.

If your sonographer is inexperienced, they’re more likely to make mistakes that will affect the sonogram. Always ensure that the person conducting your scan is a qualified professional. Our Imaginatal team are experienced health professionals who will always ensure that your procedure is carried out to the highest quality. Have a chat with us here to get to know the team and what we can offer you.

How Imaginatal can Help

Ultrasounds are incredible machines, but if your ultrasound doesn’t quite go to plan or your baby can hide on an ultrasound, we can offer a rescan later free of charge. However, you can be assured that the large majority of scans will produce highly accurate, quality images. We offer a complimentary consultation so you can learn more about our scanning services.

It’s established that although it’s very rare, there is a small chance that a baby can hide from your ultrasound. Just as an early scan showing a baby doesn’t always mean it’s alone in the womb, an ultrasound that doesn’t show a baby doesn’t always mean the worst has happened. It’s always a good idea to consult your doctor to be safe and remember to keep a positive mindset.

10 questions from pregnant women about ultrasonography

The moment when an expectant mother can see her unborn baby on ultrasound is exciting, sometimes to tears. Also important are the quality of the examination and the personality of the doctor, who can both please and, if anything, reassure. Gynecologist Gunars Sergeants , who will soon celebrate his 70th birthday, has been working at Riga 1st Hospital since 1980. Thousands of grateful mothers and born babies! Today, an ultrasound specialist answers the questions that pregnant women ask most often.

1.When is it necessary to perform ultrasonography?
The very first sonography is usually performed between the fourth and sixth weeks of pregnancy, before the mother is registered. The task of the specialist during the examination is to establish whether the pregnancy has occurred, whether there is an ectopic pregnancy that should be terminated, whether the fetus has a heartbeat, or whether the pregnancy is multiple. The parameters of the child are also measured, which allow you to determine the week of pregnancy and the approximate date of birth.

The next sonography, which is also called the first trimester screening, is carried out at 11-13 weeks, when the fetus is 45-85 mm in size and already looks like a human. The doctor will check if all the internal organs are in order, how the arms and legs look, how the heart beats and the umbilical circulation system works.

Third sonography (second trimester screening) performed at 20-22 weeks. The doctor can see if the fetus has any pathologies. If so, will they be treatable while still in the womb or immediately after birth. Unfortunately, sometimes halfway through the journey, you have to make a decision to terminate the pregnancy.

2. What is screening? Why does it need to be done multiple times?
Screening and sonography are practically the same thing. The only difference is in the names. But, during screening in the first trimester, in addition to ultrasound, a blood test is done within 24 hours and, taking into account the results of both procedures, it is determined whether the baby has a risk of being born with Down syndrome.

Tests are no longer taken during the second trimester screening. On ultrasound, the doctor examines not only the baby, but also measures the amniotic fluid, looks at the bottom of the uterus, its density, and checks for placental abruption. If a woman has previously had a delivery by caesarean section, then the old suture is also examined during screening.

3. Why is the state-paid planned ultrasound not carried out in the third trimester as well?
Ultrasound can be performed as many times as needed. If the doctor needs to make sure that everything is in order with the baby, additional ultrasonographic checks are prescribed in both the second and third trimester. They are not prohibited, and, if necessary, the state pays for them. It is possible to carry out an ultrasound in the third trimester if the doctor wants to make sure that the baby is preparing for childbirth. If everything is in order with the child on the second ultrasound, then sonography is usually not prescribed in the third trimester.

After the 36th week, sonography can determine the approximate weight at which the baby will be born. Pay attention to how the child moves. If it seemed to the mother that the activity of the child had decreased, this is a reason for an additional ultrasound. After the 40th week, the doctor looks at how the baby feels, whether he is ready to be born on his own or needs stimulation. There are many situations when a sonographic examination is necessary in the third trimester.

4. At what time can the sex of the child be accurately determined by ultrasound? Are there any mistakes?
External sexual characteristics of the child begin to appear from the ninth week. But not so clearly to say for sure whether it is a boy or a girl. It can only be guesswork. In boys, the scrotum is not yet clearly visible, and a boy's penis can still be easily confused with a girl's clitoris. The sex of the child is determined after the 16th week of pregnancy. You can see the baby well, provided that the child does not spin and does not cover the “right place” with a pen or leg. The specialist is mistaken in rare cases.

5. Is it possible to determine with the help of ultrasound whether the child is developing correctly?
Possible. If the ultrasonography specialist during the screening sees that the development of the baby is normal, then there is no reason to doubt it. If the doctor suspects that the child has some kind of pathology, then additional examinations are carried out by a geneticist. Also, the doctor asks to do an ultrasound again - earlier than it should be. The ultrasound specialist and the attending physician talk to the pregnant woman about the possible pathology in the baby only when this possibility is really very high. The only thing that is difficult to determine one hundred percent is the specific date of birth. During sonography, the latest possible date of delivery is established, when the pregnant woman can already walk over. It is also difficult to determine the exact weight of the child. At a later date, the error can be 200 grams, because the baby is already "donkey" in the pelvic area and it is difficult to accurately measure it.

6. What, unfortunately, cannot be seen on ultrasound?
Any disease or pathology that develops only after the birth of a child. It is impossible to see the child's joints and determine how strong the internal ligaments of the foot will be. In a sonographic image, it is almost impossible to see what is happening with the child's skin, whether he will have birthmarks or moles.

7. Can the procedure be performed in the presence of the child's father?
Yes, it is allowed. For a man, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet a baby and the moment when he can realize: I will become a father. The first sonography is carried out at a very early stage, when the baby is not yet visible, and it is performed vaginally, which not all men are ready to look at, and the expectant mother may not feel comfortable. The best time when future parents can come to the ultrasound together is 20-22 weeks of pregnancy. The image of the child is very clear, besides, it is possible to determine its gender, which gives parents great joy. However, there is a request to the accompanying persons - do not stay in the office during the entire time of the inspection. Let the doctor and the expectant mother talk in private.

8. What does the baby feel in the mother's belly during the ultrasound?
Most often, the baby sleeps during ultrasonography, which proves that the procedure does not interfere with him. To better examine the baby, it is desirable that he spin. Therefore, it happens that we ask the pregnant woman to move, walk around, turn from side to side so that the child wakes up.

9. If ultrasonography is performed frequently, is it harmful to the child?
Sonography is not only accurate, but also safe. It is not true that he can somehow harm the child. A visit to an ultrasound specialist takes 40 minutes, but the process of examining a child lasts no more than 10 minutes. With such a duration of the ultrasound procedure, it is not harmful, even if it is done once a month. In addition, even at a monthly examination by a gynecologist, a pregnant woman is not looked at as carefully and for a long time as in an ultrasound room. The observing gynecologist, even if he uses an ultrasound machine, examines the most necessary things - whether the baby’s heart is working well, whether the size of the head corresponds to the size of the abdomen, whether fluid collects in the child’s head, whether the pregnant woman’s cervix opens.

One can say that sonography can supposedly warm up the amniotic fluid (there are such concerns) if the stomach is heated with the device for more than 40 minutes. But neither at the visit to the gynecologist, nor at the ultrasound specialist, the examination is carried out for such a long time.

10. Ultrasound in 2D, 3D and 4D - a tribute to fashion or a necessity?
Most pregnant women are traditionally examined with a two-dimensional image (2D) The picture on the screen is flat, and everything that is in the stomach is visible on it. Everything solid is white, liquid is black. With the help of 2D sonography, the doctor can clearly see both the baby and his organs. 3D sonography does not allow you to see the internal organs so well. It is used in order to better consider the face of the expected child. 3D ultrasonography helps to view the baby's body not in a flat image, but in a three-dimensional one. Usually 3D is used if the mother wants to get a clear photo of the baby in the stomach, close to the real one. In turn, 4D allows you to “catch” the movements of the baby. The image is the same as in 3D, but it is very clearly visible how the baby moves his arms, legs, fingers, how he smiles, and sometimes you can even see how he pees. Such a device is most often used to determine if a child has some kind of facial pathology.

You can have an ultrasonographic examination by Dr. Gunars Sergeants at the Riga 1st Hospital by registering at the reception by phone +371 67366323 or via the Internet

3D ultrasound during pregnancy: myths and reality

affecting all spheres of human activity. However, even today you can meet future mothers who believe that the 3D ultrasound procedure can be dangerous for the baby, like any radiation. At the same time, each of them wants to know how the baby feels, how it develops, whether everything is going right. A paradox that arose as a result of incorrect and narrow-minded ideas about the latest technologies in the field of fetal ultrasound, the so-called myths that we will try to dispel in this article.

What is 3D ultrasound during pregnancy?

Every modern person has a general idea of what an ultrasonic examination (ultrasound) is. Ultrasound is a sound that is in the high frequency range, which is not accessible to human recognition. Using a special ultrasound machine, ultrasound is converted into waves that penetrate the tissues of the mother's womb, displaying a black and white image of the baby on the screen.

3 D Fetal ultrasound creates a three-dimensional image, on which future parents can examine the appearance of their unborn child in as much detail as possible. The power of ultrasonic waves is in the same frequency range as with conventional ultrasound. Only the diagnostic time increases, which takes about 40-50 minutes.

In theory, there is an opinion about the existence of a potential risk of ultrasound diagnostics, but practice over the years has proven the opposite, that ultrasound technologies are absolutely harmless to the mother and unborn child, and are also the most effective in detecting various kinds of pathologies at an early stage.

Let's try to figure out where the myths about the dangers of 3D ultrasound during pregnancy come from and how justified they are?

MYTH FIRST. Ultrasound is bad.

A group of Swedish scientists has identified a pattern that mothers who have undergone ultrasound during pregnancy are more likely to have left-handed children. But is this fact a consequence of exposure to ultrasound? After all, other factors could also affect left-handedness: taking vitamin complexes, passing Doppler, climate change, finally. In addition, how carefully was this study carried out by scientists? As a rule, it takes more than one decade to reveal such a clear pattern. And the technology of ultrasound itself appeared relatively recently, and those people who underwent intrauterine examination, say, 15-20 years ago, did it on the old-style equipment, although it did not cause any harm to them.

Russian specialists in the field of gynecology and ultrasound technology have identified the need for a three-time 3 D ultrasound, which is necessary to do during the entire duration of pregnancy. This frequency of the procedure in no way harms the mother and baby. There is a competent opinion that it is not worth resorting to frequent ultrasound. Three planned studies are enough - once a trimester. But, when there is a threat of miscarriage or special instructions from a gynecologist, it is still worth going through the necessary examinations.

The effect of ultrasonic waves on a baby in the womb has not been 100% studied. This is a long process that requires thorough and close attention of scientists for several decades. One way or another, ultrasound is a wave that repels from the organs of the embryo, as a result of which a picture appears on the monitor. Therefore, it is not necessary to assert the complete neutral effect of this method of studying the fetus. Nevertheless, in the later stages, the parents of the future baby can receive a 3D image of the long-awaited baby, which is absolutely safe for him, since all the systems of the embryo have already been formed.

MYTH TWO. 3D-ultrasound has a negative effect on the well-being of the baby in the womb

It has been noticed that during the passage of 3D ultrasound, the baby becomes too active, mobile, or, on the contrary, “hides”, turning away from the device, and calms down. The opinion of doctors agrees that in many respects the behavior of the child during ultrasound diagnostics is due to the well-being and emotions of the mother, as well as the feeling of cool touches or, simply, the filled bladder, which slightly presses on the fetus.

MYTH THREE. 3D studies change and destroy the structure of DNA

There is an opinion that ultrasound, through thermal effects on tissues, can distort the DNA field, affecting the genome. How can this happen in theory? As a result of the received thermal radiation, tissues emit microscopic gas bubbles, which, collapsing, provoke a series of microexplosions, entailing the appearance of toxic free radicals, which are detrimental to DNA cells. In practice, these studies have not been confirmed either in the laboratory or in medical practice.

MYTH FOUR. 3D ultrasound is not scientifically based and is done for general practice

By and large, this is not a myth. Far-reaching medical technologies make it possible to quickly and safely detect fetal pathology at an early stage of examination of expectant mothers. In Russia, we recall that pregnant women are required to undergo at least 3 ultrasound examinations, regardless of whether they are healthy or at risk. However, if an ultrasound of the fetus is done at an early stage of pregnancy, this will reveal the pathology of the development of the baby in the womb in those mothers whose health condition did not arouse suspicion.

MYTH FIVE. 3D-ultrasound - contradicts the nature of the birth of babies

This opinion takes place due to the inconsistency of religious and other views. In fact, there is little "nature" left in the world around us. In theory, all technological progress is a continuous confrontation between man and nature. Every year, the number of women who can boast of an ideal and trouble-free pregnancy and childbirth is becoming less and less. Infant mortality during childbirth has been significantly reduced only thanks to the use of the latest technologies that “contradict” nature.

3D ultrasound. Time for new technologies. When is an ultrasound recommended?

First Ultrasound

Many women use 3D ultrasound to confirm their desired pregnancy as early as 2-4 weeks. Often this moment is accompanied by very joyful emotions, euphoria. A woman experiences true happiness, which can be immortalized by taking a 3D image of the fetus in the womb. Even if nothing is visible or understandable on it at all, but this is the first three-dimensional image of the future baby.

A full ultrasound examination is performed in the first trimester at 11-14 weeks. It is during this period that specialists identify possible genetic abnormalities, exclude ectopic pregnancy and many other pathologies that affect the health of the mother and the condition of the fetus. Ultrasound at this time, according to some obstetrician-gynecologists, is the only necessary examination that can detect serious deviations at the deadline for a possible artificial termination of pregnancy. The detection of pathologies at a later date will not affect the result in any way: the baby will be born as it is.

Second ultrasound.

Examination is recommended after pregnancy at 18-22 weeks. 3D technologies allow you to thoroughly study the condition of the baby in the womb, to examine the vessels, amniotic fluid and placenta in more detail. Based on the data obtained, the prescription of drugs for the expectant mother is adjusted in order to avoid possible ailments, if there are prerequisites for this.

Third ultrasound

The last ultrasound examination is performed in the third trimester at 30-34 weeks of gestation. During it, the results of previous ultrasounds are confirmed and specified, the position of the child in the uterus and the condition of the placenta are determined.

3D ultrasound already at the first procedure allows future parents to find out the sex of the child, see the number of fetuses, their shape and heartbeat. At a later date, with the help of 3D technology, you can inquire about the appearance of the baby, take unique pictures. For expectant mothers and fathers, the use of the latest technologies gives a sense of the reality of the baby, awareness of his presence in their lives.