O44.43 Low lying placenta NOS or without hemorrhage, third trimester

ICD-10-CM Code O44.43: Low lying placenta NOS or without hemorrhage, third trimester

ICD-10-CM code O44.43 identifies a low-lying placenta without hemorrhage during the third trimester. A low-lying placenta is defined by the placental edge being located a specific distance from the internal cervical os. Clinical literature notes that while many low-lying placentas resolve by the third trimester, patients may still face increased risks during delivery. 1 2 3

Plain-language overview

A low-lying placenta is a condition where the placental edge is situated a short distance from the internal os of the cervix, distinct from placenta previa where the placenta overlaps the internal os. This proximity is assessed using ultrasonography to measure the distance between the placental edge and the cervical opening. 1 2

What this code represents

Code O44.43 specifically represents a low lying placenta NOS or without hemorrhage in the third trimester. This code is distinct from O44.53, which designates a low lying placenta with hemorrhage in the third trimester. 3

Coding details

The ICD-10-CM hierarchy for low-lying placenta includes codes for unspecified, first, second, and third trimesters. The O44.4x series is designated for cases without hemorrhage, while the O44.5x series is used for cases with hemorrhage. 3

Clinical context

Clinical sources define a low-lying placenta as having the placental edge located 1 to 20 mm from the internal os, or within 2 to 3.5 cm. Transvaginal ultrasonography is identified as the gold standard technique for accurately measuring this internal os distance. 1 2

According to clinical literature, nearly 90 percent of placentas identified as low-lying resolve by the third trimester. This resolution occurs through placental growth toward the fundus and atrophy of the distal portion, or by the growing lower uterine segment increasing the distance to the cervix. 1

Patients with a low-lying placenta that resolves before delivery remain at an increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage. One cited study reports a 14 percent rate of postpartum hemorrhage in women with resolved late third-trimester low-lying placentas. 2

Documentation considerations

The ICD-10-CM code set distinguishes low-lying placenta cases based on the presence or absence of hemorrhage and the specific trimester. The code O44.43 is listed in the provided coding reference for a low-lying placenta without hemorrhage in the third trimester. 3

What the sources add

The clinical literature establishes the diagnostic parameters and clinical risks associated with low-lying placentas, while the coding reference provides the specific alphanumeric ICD-10-CM codes used to classify these conditions based on hemorrhage status and trimester. 1 2 3

Sources

1. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
2. Association of Resolved Low-Lying Placentation With Risk of Postpartum Hemorrhage — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
3. ICD 10 — testmenu.com; accessed 2026-07-25.