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What is placenta previa and is it dangerous to mum and bub?


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  • Placenta previa, or low-lying placenta, occurs when the placenta covers part or all of the cervix during the last months of pregnancy. This condition can cause severe bleeding before or during labor.

    The placenta develops in a woman’s uterus during pregnancy. This sac-like organ provides the developing baby with food and oxygen. It also removes waste products from the baby’s blood. The placenta is also referred to as “afterbirth” because it exits the body after the baby is born.

    During pregnancy, the placenta moves as the uterus stretches and grows. It’s normal for the placenta to be low in the uterus in early pregnancy. As the pregnancy continues and the uterus stretches, the placenta typically moves to the top of the uterus. 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.

    If the placenta attaches instead to the lower part of the uterus, it can cover part or all of the cervix. When the placenta covers part or all of the cervix during the last months of pregnancy, the condition is known as placenta previa, or low-lying placenta. Most women with this condition will require bed rest.

    The main symptom is sudden light to heavy bleeding from the vagina, but if any of the symptoms below occur, you should seek immediate medical attention:

    cramps or sharp pains
    bleeding that starts, stops, and begins again days or weeks later
    bleeding after intercourse
    bleeding during the second half of pregnancy

    Doctors will decide how to treat your placenta previa based on:

    the amount of bleeding
    the month of your pregnancy
    the baby’s health
    the position of the placenta and the baby

    The amount of bleeding is a doctor’s main consideration when deciding how to treat the condition.


  • It’s when the placenta attaches at the bottom of the uterus, close to or covering the cervix. If it is blocking bubs exit, it can cause complications.


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