Doctors always do a C-section when there is a placenta previa at the time of delivery. A vaginal delivery could disturb the placenta and cause severe bleeding.
If your bleeding can be slowed or stopped, your doctor may delay delivery and monitor you and your baby closely. The doctor may do fetal heart monitoring to check your baby's condition. If your newborn is premature, your baby may be treated in a neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.
Premature babies need to stay in the hospital until they can eat, breathe, and stay warm on their own. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Placenta Previa. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is placenta previa? The mother may lose a lot of blood, which can be dangerous for both her and her baby. The placenta may separate too early from the wall of the uterus.
This is called placenta abruptio , and it can cause serious bleeding, too. The baby may be born too early premature , at a low birth weight, or with a birth defect.
What causes placenta previa? Have had a previous C-section cesarean delivery. Have had five or more pregnancies. Are age 35 or older. Have had placenta previa before. Risk factors you can control include: Smoking during pregnancy. Not all women with placenta previa have vaginal bleeding. In some cases, your provider may use a transvaginal ultrasound instead. Placenta previa found in the second trimester fixes itself in most cases. Treatment depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy, the seriousness of your bleeding and the health of you and your baby.
The goal is to keep you pregnant as long as possible. Providers recommend cesarean birth c-section for nearly all women with placenta previa to prevent severe bleeding. If you are bleeding as a result of placenta previa, you need to be closely monitored in the hospital. If tests show that you and your baby are doing well, your provider may give you treatment to try to keep you pregnant for as long as possible. If you have a lot of bleeding, you may be treated with blood transfusions. A blood transfusion is having new blood put into your body.
Your provider also may give you medicines called corticosteroids. Your provider may want you to stay in the hospital until you give birth. If the bleeding stops, you may be able to go home.
If you have severe bleeding due to placenta previa at about 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, your provider may recommend an immediate c-section. At 36 to 37 weeks, your provider may suggest an amniocentesis to test the amniotic fluid around your baby to see if her lungs are fully developed.
If they are, your provider may recommend an immediate c-section to avoid risks of future bleeding. At any stage of pregnancy, a c-section may be necessary if you have dangerously heavy bleeding or if you and your baby are having problems.
However, you may be at higher risk for placenta previa if:. But you may be able to reduce your risk by not smoking and not using cocaine. The more c-sections you have, the greater your risk of placenta previa.
Get expert tips and resources from March of Dimes and CDC to increase your chance of having a healthy, fully-term pregnancy and baby. Sign up for our emails to receive great health information and join us in the fight for the health of moms and babies. March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. This condition can cause severe bleeding before or during labor.
This sac-like organ provides the developing baby with food and oxygen. During pregnancy, the uterus stretches and grows. As the pregnancy continues and the uterus stretches, the part of the uterine the placenta was stuck to moves, usually away from the cervical opening.
By the third trimester , the placenta should be near the top of the womb. This position allows the cervix, or the entrance to the womb at the bottom of the uterus, a clear path for delivery. When the placenta covers the cervical os during the last months of pregnancy, the condition is known as placenta previa.
Most pregnant people with placenta previa will require pelvic rest. This typically includes abstaining from having sexual intercourse, limiting any procedures like an obstetrical check for dilation, and possibly restricting any exercises that may strain the pelvic floor. The main symptom of placenta previa is sudden light to heavy bleeding from the vagina. Any bleeding can be representative of problems with the placenta and needs investigation by a physician.
Specific symptoms may include:. Pregnant people who are smokers, who are older than 35, or who are of Asian descent are also at higher risk of developing placenta previa. Usually, the first signs of placenta previa will show up during the routine week ultrasound. These initial signs are not necessarily a cause for worry, since the placenta is often lower in the uterus during the early part of a pregnancy.
The placenta usually corrects itself. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists , only 10 percent of people with low-lying placenta at 20 weeks will have a low-lying placenta at their next ultrasound. If you experience any bleeding in the second half of your pregnancy, doctors will monitor the position of the placenta using one of these preferred methods:. For cases of placenta previa with minimal or no bleeding, your doctor will likely suggest pelvic rest.
This means refraining from putting anything into your vagina during pregnancy in order to prevent medical complications.
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