Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms, Week by Week Pregnancy Guide

Placenta previa is a complication of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of your womb and it covers all or part of your cervix.

Placenta is the organ that helps in nourishing the developing fetus.

During early pregnancy placenta previa is not a problem, but if the condition occurs in the later pregnancy, it can cause bleeding, which leads to early delivery and also leads to other complications.

If you have placenta previa at the time of delivering your baby then you will need to undergo cesarean section.

If the cervix is covered by placenta completely then it is called as total or complete previa. If the placenta just covers the border of the cervix then it is called as marginal previa.

If the placenta edge just covers the cervix edge about 2cm but not at the border then it is called as low-lying placenta. Usually placenta location will be observed during your mid pregnancy ultrasound.

What happens after diagnosing with placenta previa?

Usually this depends on your pregnancy period. Don’t be panic! If placenta previa is recognized during the 2nd trimester then it migrates farther from your cervix and it will no longer be a problem.

If the previa discovered late during your pregnancy, then also it moves away from the cervix. About 10 percent of the women who are suffering from placenta previa still have it after their baby’s delivery.

Complications associated with placenta previa:

During the term, the true placenta previa may lead to serious complications.

Complications for the mother include:

• Cesarean delivery
• Increased risk of placenta accreta – the condition where placenta attaches directly to the uterine muscles
• Life threatening hemorrhage
• High risk of postpartum hemorrhage
• Increased risk of bleeding heavily during pregnancy or after the delivery

Complications for your baby include:

• High risk of congenital anomalies
• Secondary to acute blood loss
• Intrauterine growth restriction because of poor placental perfusion

Women who are at high risk of placenta previa include:

Most of the women who have the condition of placenta previa have not any risks. But if you have any of the below conditions, you are more likely to have this complication.

• Having placenta previa in your previous pregnancy
• Have twin or multiple pregnancies
• Having c-section in your previous pregnancy
• Have a habit smoking cigarette and use cocaine

Treating placenta previa:

The treatment options for placenta previa depends on many conditions such as, how much bleeding you had, your fetus position, number of births before you had given, is there the development of fetus sufficient in order to survive outside of the uterus, placenta covering the cervix to how much extent and you are in the labor or not.

If the placenta is covering your cervix or near to it, you need to take enough rest and reduce your activities. Participating in the intercourse and douching are strictly prohibited. Don’t place anything in the vagina.

Bleeding transfusion is recommended for those who have lost lot of blood. Medicines will be prescribed in order to prevent the pre-term labor. Pregnant women with placenta previa must deliver their baby only through c-section. This helps in reducing the mother and infant deaths.

So, call your practitioner whenever you experience bleeding during your pregnancy as placenta previa is dangerous to you and your baby.