Placenta Previa: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Placenta previa is a medical condition in which the placenta is attached low in the uterus and tends to cover the cervix, partially or even fully. This result is early dilation of the cervix and sometimes the placenta detaches itself from the uterus when the cervix begins to dilate during labor.

How Common Is Placenta Previa?

Though placenta previa is not very common among women, statistics reveal that around 0.5% of women undergo this complication which restricts their movements while they are pregnant. There are a few cases where placenta previa is considered to occur, which are:

• The pregnant woman is more than 35 years old.
• The pregnant woman has undergone uterine surgeries like fibroids etc.
• The pregnant woman is carrying twins or triplets.
• The pregnant woman has more than 4 children.
• The pregnant woman has had placenta previa in previous pregnancies
• The pregnant woman is a smoker or takes alcohol.

However, depending on health conditions, a woman having no such conditions can also develop placenta previa during her pregnancy.

What Are The Placenta Previa Types?

The low-lying placenta can be of three different kinds, which are as follows:

• Complete placenta previa: This condition occurs when the placenta is very low and completes the entire opening of the cervix. This condition is more severe because the cervix may start dilating before time, which may cause an early delivery of the child through C-Section.
• Partial Placenta Previa: This condition occurs when the placenta is lower enough to cover a substantial portion of the cervix but not the whole. This is also considered to be a complication as it might hinder the normal delivery of the child.
• Marginal Placenta Previa: This is a condition where the placenta extends only up to the edge of the cervix. This is considered to be less complicated in comparison to the other two.

What Causes Placenta Previa?

The exact cause of placenta previa is not known, however, there are some probable assumptions for the same, which are:

• If the mother is old, more than 35-40 years of age.
• If the mother has uterine abnormalities.
• If the pregnancy is multiple with twins and triplets.
• If the mother has undergone several pregnancies and miscarriages.
• If the mother is under substance abuse, smoking, or alcohol.
• If the pregnancy has taken place using artificial methods like IVF and IUI.

Symptoms Of Placenta Previa 

Slight to heavy bleeding during pregnancy is one of the most significant symptoms of placenta previa in pregnancy.  The blood would be bright red in color and bleeding will not be continuous but occasional only which will continue for several weeks. There are several symptoms that a pregnant woman might notice in case she has a low-lying placenta. They are:

• Severe or mild cramps in the lower abdomen
• Bleeding after sex
• Excessive bleeding in the second trimester

What Is The Treatment For Placenta Previa?

The exact position of the placenta is usually understood by the radiologist during the first-trimester screening of the fetus. If a woman is diagnosed with a low-lying placenta, she needs more care than a woman without it. The treatment varies from woman to woman depending on the type of placenta previa in the pregnant woman. The usual advice are:

• If the bleeding is light and near to spotting, medical practitioners usually recommend complete bed rest for the woman. In this case, complete avoidance of intercourse as well as heavy exercise is also strongly advised to reduce further complicacy.
• If the bleeding is heavy, then the woman might be admitted to the hospital for further diagnosis through ultrasound and recommending medicines as per the reports.
• In case the bleeding doesn’t stop, the doctor might deliver the baby with an emergency c-section procedure, even if the full term is not covered.

So if a pregnant woman is diagnosed with placenta previa, there is nothing to worry about. After all, every child born is a miracle, and motherhood is bliss, one should enjoy every phase of it.

FAQ’s

1. Does Placenta Previa Affect a Boy or a Girl?

A larger risk of placenta praevia is posed to pregnant mothers who are expecting a male child.

2. Is Placenta Previa High Risk?

Yes. The bleeding that occurs during labor due to placenta previa might be fatal. You’ll probably need to undergo a C-section to deliver your baby. Extra bleeding and the necessity for a blood transfusion are two potential complications of placenta previa.

3. Can You Deliver a Baby With Placenta Previa?

Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta implants below the cervix or very near to it, making a vaginal birth impossible for the mother.

4. How Long Does Placenta Previa Last?

The majority of placenta previa will resolve on its own. By 20 weeks, the placenta is normally positioned thanks to the uterus’s upward pull. It’s great to know that a high percentage of complete placenta previa and marginal placenta previa resolved on their own at a relatively early gestational age of 28.6 ±5.3 weeks.

5. Is Placenta Previa High Risk?

Yes. Blood veins attaching the placenta to the uterus may rupture if you have placenta previa and your cervix starts to thin down (efface) and open up (dilate). This might put both you and your baby at risk due to excessive bleeding during labor.

6. Which Week Is Best For Delivery With Placenta Previa?

Patients with stable (no bleeding or little hemorrhage) placenta previa should have a planned cesarean section between 36+1 and 37+6 weeks gestation.