Placenta Previa – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Placenta Previa – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Furthermore, Placenta Previa is the abnormal implantation of the placenta during opening to the cervix in the later stages of pregnancy .

There are four categories of Placenta Previa : complete (where the opening is entirely covered); Partial (where a portion of the opening is covered); Marginal (where the edge of the placenta meets the edge of the cervix); And low (where the placenta is implanted close to the cervix but does not reach).

Causes of Placenta Previa: These are the main causes and risk factors for Placenta Previa :

• The fertilized egg implants too low in the uterus, causing the placenta to form near or over the cervical opening.
• The lining of the uterus (endometrium) has abnormalities such as fibroids or scarring (previous prior, incisions, cesarean sections, or miscarriages).
• The abnormally formed placenta.
• The pregnancy  is multiple (ie, twins or triplets). The chances of developing Placenta Previa are doubled for these pregnancies.
• The mother may have had several previous pregnancies. The chances of developing Placenta Previa are increased to 1 in 20 for women who have had 6 or more pregnancies.
• The mother smokes or uses cocaine. Tobacco and cocaine use can increase the risk of this condition.
• The mother is older. The risk of developing Placenta Previa is 3 times higher in women over 30 years of age, as in women under 20 years of age.
• The pregnancy was conceived with the help of assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization.

Symptoms of Placenta Previa: Bleeding is the main symptom of Placenta Previa and occurs in the majority (70%-80%) of women with this condition. Occasional, light bleeding may occur during the first and second trimester of pregnancy .

The blood color may be bright red and may start and stop, then restart after several days or weeks. Sudden and excessive bleeding can occur in the third trimester of pregnancy . Bleeding  is usually not accompanied by pain, although uterine cramping may occur at the time of bleeding in  some women. In 7% to 30% of women, there may be no bleeding .

Bleeding occurs  because, as the pregnancy  progresses, the placenta separates from the uterine walls. In the third trimester, the uterine walls become thinner and spread out to accommodate the growing fetus. If placenta previa is present, the placenta is attached too low to the uterine wall. This thinning causes the placenta to stretch and pull away from the uterine wall, leading to bleeding .

Diagnoses of Placenta Previa: An ultrasound exam is used to establish the diagnosis of Placenta Previa . Either a transabdominal (using a probe in the abdominal wall) or transvaginal (with a probe inserted into the vagina , but away from the cervical opening) transabdominal (using a probe into the abdominal wall) or transvaginal (using a probe inserted into the vagina, but away from the cervical opening) ultrasound evaluation may be performed, depending on the location of the placenta. Sometimes two types of ultrasound examination are needed.

It is important that ultrasound examination be performed prior to a physical examination of the pelvis in women with suspected Placenta Previa , as the pelvic physical examination can lead to increased bleeding .

Placenta Previa Treatments: Once diagnosed, Placenta Previa usually requires bed rest for the mother and frequent visits to the hospital. Depending on the gestational age, steroid shots may be given to help thebaby’s lungs mature.

If the mother experiences bleeding that cannot be controlled, an immediate cesarean delivery is usually done regardless of the duration of the pregnancy . Some marginal previews can be delivered vaginally, although full or partial previews would require a cesarean section.