Placenta Previa Symptoms
Pregnancy Complications

Placenta previa symptoms are also signs of complications during pregnancy.

Perhaps the word Placenta is familiar to you, right? However what it means Previa?. Does it mean a good or bad thing?

Should I worry if my doctor says that I have a placenta previa?

What is placenta previa?

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 immediately go to my doctor?

In fact if you have a condition of placenta previa with a complete obstruction of the cervix, then your baby has to be born by cesarean. At least it is the safest way for your baby to be born without any problems. Early signs of placenta previa do not prevent this condition; it only gives good opportunities for your baby to be born healthy and with no other complications during pregnancy.

But do not worry; women with placenta previa have successful deliveries in 99% of cases.

There is a remote possibility of attempting a natural birth, only if the cervix is not completely blocked and the bleeding is very slight. But this decision has to be taken by your doctor. It is considered that 3 out of 4 women with placenta previa must have a cesarean delivery.

What are the different 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 the placenta previa symptoms?

You should suspect that there is a placenta previa when there is bleeding after the 24th week of pregnancy. But do not be alarmed, the bleeding is of maternal origin, this means that your baby is fine.

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 will not have vaginal bleeding.

What are the causes of placenta previa?

Are there any treatment if I have placenta previa?

You definitely have good chances that your baby is born healthy, even with a placenta previa. But also you have to know the bad side of this complication; it may lead to a serious problem called placenta abruption, which is 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 corrected by itself. How does this happen? 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 been 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 a placenta previa is bed rest and frequent visits to the hospital.

On occasions you have to enter the hospital for close observation. Pelvic exams must be avoided.

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

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

Observing placenta previa symptoms is your first priority during your pregnancy. When you start the visits with your doctor, you should mention any historical problem with your health. Although placenta previa is not preventable, it is very important for your doctor to know if you have had other cesareans, abortions, uterine surgery, or some other complication that you had before your pregnancy.

If you have had placenta previa before, it is very likely to have it in your next pregnancy, and your doctor may recommend you cesarean section by default.

Cesarean is strictly needed when you have a complete placenta previa. For your peace of mind, you can read about unnecessary cesareans.

Read about other complications during pregnancy:

Bleeding | Miscarriage | Ectopic Pregnancy | Cholestasis | Premature Labor