Some women may even remain undiagnosed until delivery, especially in cases of marginal placenta previa. Painless bleeding from the vagina during the third trimester of pregnancy may also indicate the condition. In many cases, a diagnosis of placenta previa in the early weeks usually before Week 20 may correct itself as the pregnancy progresses. In other cases, placenta previa may be missed if the placenta is located behind the baby's head.
If you have been diagnosed with placenta previa, your doctor will avoid digital which means using the fingers examination of the vagina and the cervix, as this could cause the placenta to tear and lead to heavy bleeding. In addition to painless vaginal bleeding, other signs that your doctor may look for to confirm a diagnosis of placenta previa include:. Placenta previa is a condition that cannot be prevented. However, if you are at high risk, talk about this with your health care provider to avoid complications.
The treatment for placenta previa is usually aimed at minimizing symptoms and ensuring the pregnancy completes 36 weeks. The goal of this treatment is safe delivery of the fetus as close to term as possible by caesarean section. The treatment will therefore depend on answers to the following questions:. Once placenta previa has been diagnosed, further bleeding and complications may be avoided by ensuring the mother has complete bed rest, sometimes in the hospital.
Also, pelvic examinations or any sexual activity that may lead to irritation of the cervix or the uterine walls should be avoided. Once the pregnancy comes to term, or if the bleeding is excessive, the baby will be delivered by caesarean section, especially in cases of complete placenta previa. Vaginal delivery for women with placenta previa might result in placental tear and hemorrhage, putting the mother and the baby at risk.
Vaginal delivery may be possible for a woman with a low-lying placenta. Placenta previa happens in about 1 in pregnancies. However, it can cause serious bleeding and other complications later in pregnancy. Normally, the placenta grows into the upper part of the uterus wall, away from the cervix. It stays there until your baby is born.
During the last stage of labor , the placenta separates from the wall, and your contractions help push it into the vagina birth canal. This is also called the afterbirth.
During labor, your baby passes through the cervix into the birth canal. If you have placenta previa, when the cervix begins to efface thin out and dilate open up for labor, blood vessels connecting the placenta to the uterus may tear. This can cause severe bleeding during labor and birth, putting you and your baby in danger. The most common symptom of placenta previa is painless bleeding from the vagina during the second half of pregnancy.
Call your health care provider right away if you have vaginal bleeding anytime during your pregnancy. If the bleeding is severe, go to the hospital. 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. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Placenta previa Open pop-up dialog box Close. Placenta previa The placenta is a structure that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Lockwood CJ, et al.
Placenta previa: Epidemiology, clinical feature, diagnosis, morbidity and mortality. Accessed April 28, Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ Bleeding during pregnancy. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Lockwood CJ, et al. Placenta previa: Management.
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