Placenta previa is a complication during pregnancy in which the placenta in lying unusual in the lowest part of the uterus and covers the opening of the cervix completely or partly.
Three types of placenta previa:
Complete previa
The placenta covers the mouth of the uterus completely.
Marginal previa
The placenta is extended to the edge of the cervix but doesn’t cover the opening.
Partial previa
The placenta covers only a portion of the cervix.
This complication only occurs in 1 out of 200 pregnancies and more common in women who smoke and use cocaine, had cesarean sections, got pregnant with twins or more, have children at an older age, large placenta and abnormally developed uterus. The primary symptom of placenta previa is the sudden bleeding of the vagina after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bleeding will stop on it;s own but will start again weeks after.
Placenta Previa will correct itself during pregnancy but if it doesn’t happen there are still things that can be done to manage it. The treatment will be based on the amount of bleeding, the baby’s position and how much cervix is covered. Your doctor may recommend bed rest and frequent check-ups but vaginal exams are not recommended.
Placenta previa can be very dangerous to you and your baby so it’s best to consult your doctor if you have a vaginal bleeding.
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Placenta previa most commonly affects older pregnant women, women who smoke, those who have given birth many times before or are pregnant with multiples, or women who had placenta previa in an earlier pregnancy or have had previous uterine surgery, like a cesarean section or an abortion. Many women alert their caregivers to their placenta previa when they report painless bleeding in their second or third trimester. The bleeding may be light or heavy, and may stop suddenly, but generally reappears. Other common indications include premature contractions, an abnormal positioning of the baby, and the uterus measuring larger than normal. If these symptoms are present, your doctor does an ultrasound to identify or rule out placenta previa. Very rarely, a vaginal exam is performed, usually in an operating room, with a medical team at the ready to perform a cesarean section in case of hemorrhaging.