The Having a Baby in Queensland Book Dec 2010 v1.0

3. To see what position a woman’s placenta is inWhile it is not usually offered for this reason, a first trimesterultrasound scan can be a way of finding out the position of awoman’s placenta. The placenta is an organ that connects tothe wall of the uterus and is also connected to the baby by theumbilical cord.For some women, the placenta is down low in the uterus and isnear to or covering the cervix. When a woman has a placentathat is near to or covering the cervix, she is said to have placentapraevia. When a woman has placenta praevia, the placenta canblock the baby coming out of the vagina during birth. Womenwith placenta praevia often have different considerations anddecisions than women who do not. If a care provider knows thata woman has placenta praevia, he or she can give the womaninformation and care more suited to her unique pregnancy.Frequently, a placenta that is down low in the uterus in thefirst trimester can change positions and move away from thecervix as the uterus grows during pregnancy. If a first trimesterultrasound scan shows that your placenta is low in the uterus,near to or covering your cervix, you may be offered anotherultrasound scan later in pregnancy to see if your placenta haschanged positions [4].4. To see whether a woman has a multiple pregnancyA first trimester ultrasound scan can be a way of finding out if awoman has a multiple pregnancy. A multiple pregnancy is whena woman is carrying twins, triplets or more babies. Women with amultiple pregnancy often have different considerations and decisionsthan women who are carrying one baby. If a care provider knowsthat a woman has a multiple pregnancy, he or she can give thewoman information and care more suited to her unique pregnancy.You may be able to find out whether you have a multiple pregnancyin other ways. For example, if your care provider listens to yourbaby’s heart beat during pregnancy, more than one heart beat maybe able to be heard. You might like to ask your care provider aboutthe accuracy of a first trimester ultrasound scan and other ways offinding out whether a woman has a multiple pregnancy.Important to you? Yes No UnsureYou can find out what position your placenta is in by having anultrasound scan later in pregnancy. You might like to ask yourcare provider about the accuracy of ultrasound scans done atdifferent times during pregnancy. You might also like to askyour care provider about your options if you find out that youhave placenta praevia.Important to you? Yes No UnsurePhoto courtesy of Little Posers Photography37