Understanding your ultrasound
A folded edge and an extra lobe need different checks.
Learn what your scan means, which checks matter, and what to ask next.
The basics
The placenta supplies oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical cord.
Uterus: the womb where your baby grows.
Membranes: the thin sac around your baby, also called the bag of waters.
Cervix: the opening at the bottom of the uterus.
Two different findings
Circumvallate placenta
The membranes fold back at the placental edge, creating a raised rim.
Succenturiate lobe
A smaller piece of placenta is linked to the main placenta by blood vessels.
Circumvallate placenta
“Possible circumvallate placenta.”
An ultrasound can suggest a folded edge without proving the diagnosis.
Care during pregnancy
Usual prenatal visits may be enough.
Your team can arrange a growth scan and adjust care.
Get assessed promptly. Do not wait for the next scan.
Succenturiate lobe
The key question is how the connecting vessels relate to the cervix.
Color Doppler is an ultrasound method that shows blood flow.
A vaginal ultrasound gives a closer view of the cervix when checking for nearby vessels.
The team also checks both placental pieces and where the cord attaches.
Location matters
The baby’s exposed vessels pass over or very near the opening. They may tear if the waters break.
The placenta itself covers the opening. Either the main placenta or an extra lobe can be involved.
Planning birth
Vaginal birth may be an option.
The lobe alone does not require surgery.
Planned cesarean before labor or waters breaking.
Your specialist sets the timing.
Cesarean birth is needed for persistent placenta previa.
Your follow-up
There is no one extra-testing schedule for every placental variation.
Are the vessels and placental tissue clear of the cervix?
Is there a reason to check the baby’s growth again?
Have bleeding, leaking fluid, pain, or movement changes affected the plan?
When to get help
If you cannot reach your team, seek urgent medical care.
Bleeding, labor symptoms, or waters breaking need immediate hospital assessment.
Do not wait for your next appointment.
Vasa previa may have no symptoms. Ultrasound is still needed to check vessel location.
After birth
Make sure your birth team knows about the extra lobe.
A piece left in the uterus can cause bleeding. The team inspects the delivered placenta and assesses any concerns.
An extra lobe alone does not mean you need a procedure after birth.
What we know · what remains uncertain
A suspected folded edge
Ultrasound studies and studies confirming the shape after birth do not always agree.
One recent study found similar outcomes with and without a suspected folded edge. That does not prove there is no risk.
Confirmed vasa previa
Specialist guidance supports planned birth before labor or the waters break.
The timing and need for hospital care before birth are tailored to the pregnancy.
Three things to remember
Ask how certain the suspected folded edge is.
Check the connecting vessels when there is an extra lobe.
Base follow-up and birth on the actual findings.
Take these to your appointment
MFM means maternal-fetal medicine: care for higher-risk pregnancies.
Evidence & further reading
Your next step
Bring your questions. Ask what your scan shows and what it changes for your pregnancy.
This guide supports discussion with your maternity team. It does not diagnose a condition or replace individual medical advice.
Follow your team’s care plan and urgent-contact instructions.
Privacy: this presentation has no forms, analytics, or data storage. External source websites have their own privacy policies.