The placenta is an incredible organ, belonging to both you and your baby. It's the only transient organ in the human body, meaning that it grows and stays temporarily, leaving once it's fulfilled its purpose. Connected to your baby by the umbilical cord, it releases hormones which help your baby to grow, while also supplying them with nutrients and oxygen. The placenta is also responsible for carrying waste products, such as carbon dioxide, back to your bloodstream to be disposed of.

What does it mean to have an anterior placenta?

The placenta develops wherever the fertilised egg embeds into your uterus. Your sonographer will check the position of your placenta during your 20-week scan, to ensure its position won't affect your pregnancy. An anterior placenta simply means your placenta is attached to the front wall of your uterus, between the baby and your tummy. It's a completely normal place for it to implant and develop. It isn't connected to having a low-lying placenta (called placenta previa) and it shouldn't cause you problems.

What difference does it make to my baby's movements?

Most women first feel their baby move somewhere between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. It's common for anterior placenta mums to feel first movements later than those with a placenta elsewhere, as their placenta cushions those early wriggles. Regardless of placenta position, if you reach the 24th week of pregnancy without feeling movement, let your midwife know.

As your pregnancy progresses, it's important to get to know your baby's normal pattern of movement. If you have an anterior placenta try and focus on your sides and lower down, as this is where you're more likely to feel movement.

Although feeling movement can be trickier for anterior placenta mums, your baby should still develop regularity to their movement. If you feel as though your baby's movements have slowed down or stopped, it's important not to assume your placenta is the reason. Call your midwife or maternity unit straight away if you have any concerns.