Causes and risk factors Some of the possible causes and risk factors of placenta previa include: Low implantation of the fertilised egg Abnormalities of the uterine lining, such as fibroids Scarring of the uterine lining endometrium Abnormalities of the placenta Multiple babies, such as twins Multiple pregnancies - a woman who has already had six or more deliveries has a risk of one in Diagnosis methods A pregnant woman who experiences any vaginal bleeding should be admitted to hospital and tested.
Digital vaginal examinations should be strictly avoided It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between placenta previa and placental abruption. Treatment options vary Treatment depends on a number of factors, including: Whether the placenta previa is complete or partial The exact location of the placenta The amount of blood lost The gestational age of the baby The position of the baby The health of the baby The health of the mother.
Treatment during pregnancy Medical treatment aims to ease the symptoms and prolong the pregnancy. Options may include: Bed rest. Blood transfusion for the mother. Avoiding any activity that triggers uterine contractions or irritates the cervix, such as sexual intercourse or orgasms. Delivery Once the baby is old enough to be delivered, a caesarean section is usually performed.
Where to get help Your doctor Obstetrician Emergency department of your nearest hospital Always call an ambulance in an emergency Tel. Treatment aims to ease the symptoms and prolong the pregnancy until at least 36 weeks. Eds R. Berkow, M. Beers, A. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. Register Sign In. Hi Your dashboard sign out. Need help? Frequently asked questions Contact us.
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You've saved this page It's been added to your dashboard. In This Topic. What are the symptoms of placenta previa? How is placenta previa diagnosed? If a mother is near full term when she starts experiencing bleeding, the attending physician will likely perform a C-section delivery immediately. If the baby is premature, an immediate C-section may be necessary if the bleeding is heavy and uncontrollable.
In some cases, an attending doctor may have the mother remain in the hospital for observation until the bleeding stops. Any mother who shows signs of placenta previa during pregnancy requires careful monitoring and appropriate treatment. The consequences of unchecked placenta previa can be severe or even potentially life-threatening to both the mother and her baby.
If placenta previa demands early delivery of a premature baby, the baby can experience several negative effects including low birth rate and breathing problems that may cause brain damage and cerebral palsy.
When an attending doctor fails to monitor a pregnant patient properly, and her baby develops cerebral palsy or other birth defects as a result, the doctor may be liable for medical malpractice.
If you have placenta previa when it's time to deliver your baby, you'll need to have a cesarean section. The location of your placenta will be checked during your mid-pregnancy ultrasound exam usually done between 18 and 22 weeks. If you're found to have placenta previa, you'll have a follow-up ultrasound in your third trimester to recheck the location of your placenta.
Your healthcare practitioner may put you on "pelvic rest," which means no intercourse or vaginal exams for the rest of your pregnancy. Usually there are no symptoms. The most common symptom, though, is vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy. The bleeding happens when your cervix begins to thin out or open up even a little , which disrupts the blood vessels in that area.
Ten to 20 percent of women with placenta previa also have uterine contractions and pain. If you have bleeding or contractions, go to the emergency room immediately. By the way, if you have bleeding and you're Rh-negative , you'll need a shot of Rh immune globulin, unless the baby's father is Rh-negative, too. When it's time to deliver, you'll need a c-section. With a complete previa, the placenta blocks the baby's way out. And even if the placenta is only bordering the cervix, you'll still need to deliver by c-section in most cases because the placenta can bleed profusely as the cervix dilates.
When you deliver will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy, how heavy your bleeding is, and how you and your baby are doing. Your baby will need to be delivered immediately if he's not doing well or if you have heavy bleeding that doesn't stop. Otherwise, you'll be watched in the hospital until the bleeding stops. You may be given medication to speed up your baby's lung development and to prevent other complications in case he ends up being delivered prematurely.
If the bleeding stops for at least a couple of days — and you and your baby are in good condition and you have quick access to a hospital — you may be sent home. But it's common for the bleeding to start again at some point and, when this happens, you'll need to return to the hospital immediately.
If you and your baby continue to do well, you'll have a scheduled c-section at around 37 weeks. When making the decision, your medical team will weigh the benefit of giving your baby extra time to mature against the risk of waiting, with the possibility of facing an episode of heavy bleeding and the need for an emergency c-section. Heavy bleeding. Having placenta previa makes it more likely that you'll have heavy bleeding and need a blood transfusion.
This can even happen after the placenta is delivered because it was implanted in the lower part of the uterus, which doesn't contract as well as the upper part — so postpartum contractions aren't as effective at stopping the bleeding.
Placenta accreta.
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