Placenta previa is a condition of pregnancy in which the placenta covers all or part of the cervix. Some causes of placenta previa include uterine scarring, an abnormally shaped uterus, multiple gestation and previous c-section delivery. Placenta previa is usually diagnosed during pregnancy. One of the earliest symptoms is painless vaginal bleeding in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Hemorrhage
A common complication of placenta previa at birth is hemorrhage. When the cervix starts to open in preparation for labor, the placenta is detached, which can trigger severe vaginal bleeding, reports Mayo Clinic. Bleeding may be mild or severe. In mild cases additional iron supplementation is necessary. In severe cases, you may require a blood transfusion. If you are admitted to the hospital for bleeding prior to 37 weeks, doctors may try to hold off your labor and treat you with medications and transfusions. If hemorrhage is severe, an emergency c-section will need to be preformed.
Pre-Term Birth
Pre-term birth is a complication of placenta previa. In severe cases, maternal hemorrhage is so critical that emergent c-section delivery of the baby is needed. This may lead to pre-term birth if the baby is less than 37 weeks gestation. In these cases, you may be given corticosteroids to speed your baby’s lung development, reports Mayo Clinic. These medications can dramatically improve your baby’s lung function after delivery in as little as 48 hours. Infants born prematurely are at risk for impaired breathing, difficulty feeding and deficiencies in growth and development.
Cesarean Section
A complication of placenta previa is a cesarean section (c-section) birth. The placenta is covering the opening of the uterus (cervix) so the baby will need to be delivered through an incision in the uterus. Many cases of placenta previa will require a c-section delivery. Complications of a c-section include infection, wound complications, heavy blood loss and a lengthened healing time.
About this Author
Laura Candelaria is a family nurse practitioner and assistant professor of nursing and nutritional science. Her experience includes neonatal and pediatric intensive-care, women’s oncology, gynecology, obstetrics, lactation, nutrition, and infertility. She has been published in “Nursing Spectrum,” “Newsday,” and LIVESTRONG Health.
