Placenta previa is a pregnancy complication that usually occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. This condition occurs when the placenta is implanted in the bottom of the uterus and obstructs the cervix.

It doesn’t sound very nice, right? And the inevitable question is: if it obstructs the cervix, then how can my baby be born naturally? Can I avoid this complication of pregnancy if I have early placenta previa symptoms and I go to my doctor?

If you have placenta previa, or in other words low lying placenta, then your baby most likely will have to be born by cesarean. Early signs of placenta previa typically can do nothing to prevent this condition; however, catching it early provides good opportunities for your baby to be born healthy and with no other complications during pregnancy.

For the record, women with placenta previa have successful deliveries in 99% of cases.

What are the different types of placenta previa?

There are three types of placenta previa:

Marginal: The placenta is located near to the margin of the cervix, but does not block it.
Partial: The placenta covers part of the cervix.
Complete: The placenta completely covers the cervix.

What are some placenta previa symptoms?

The main symptom of placenta previa is vaginal bleeding.

You should suspect that there is a placenta previa when there is bleeding after the 24th week of pregnancy.

It is also possible that you may not have the symptom of vaginal bleeding, even before birth, but the condition of placenta previa is there. About 7% to 30% of women with placenta previa will not have vaginal bleeding.

What are the causes of placenta previa?

In fact the causes are unknown. But you should not take risks; you have to do whatever is in your power to avoid complications in your pregnancy. Pay attention to placenta previa symptoms.

Are there any treatments if I have placenta previa?

placenta previa symptomsThough you definitely have good chances that your baby will be born healthy with placenta previa, there is a chance that the condition may lead to a serious problem called placenta abruption. This is the separation of the placenta from the uterus after 20 weeks gestation. This complication may lead to a miscarriage.

In many cases this complication of pregnancy is able to be corrected. Be sure to visit your doctor for regular checkups on your pregnancy. In more than 90% of women who have been diagnosed with placenta previa during the second trimester, the placenta has corrected itself by the end of the pregnancy.

However, your doctor must consider various factors before giving you the appropriate treatment. Among these factors are:

  • If the placenta is marginal or total.
  • The exact location of the placenta.
  • The amount of blood lost, so you have to observe continuously the placenta previa symptoms, bleeding, bleeding, bleeding has to stop.
  • The baby’s gestational age.
  • The baby’s position.
  • The health of the baby.
  • The health of the mother.

One of the recommendations of your doctor when you have placenta previa is bed rest and frequent visits to the hospital.

On occasions you may have to enter the hospital for close observation.

Your doctor may recommend blood transfusions to compensate the loss of blood from vaginal bleeding.

If the bleeding does not stop, your doctor may recommend going to the hospital immediately for a caesarean section, regardless of gestational age.