What is the effect of an anterior placenta on fetal positioning?
An anterior placenta means that the placenta is located on the front of the uterus. Most of the baby will be hidden behind it. Palpation (a hands-on exam through the skin) can be more difficult, whereas, an ultrasound can determine the baby’s position pretty well. It is a common belief that the anterior placement of the placenta causes the baby to be posterior. The fact that this is sometimes true doesn’t mean it is always true. Babies can be anterior with an anterior placenta. Abdominal tone, when loosened, can allow the baby to turn away from the placenta and face the mother’s back. In 1994, Gardberg studied the relationship between the placenta being located on the anterior wall of the uterus and the position of the baby near the due date. Journal: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 1994, Vol. 73, No.
