What Is Placenta Previa?

Why on earth do I mention about this medical condition after haven't posting anything on the blog for the past of two long months. Well, I haven't get my GROOVE yet! To tell you all the truth, I'm practically exhausted on everyday. In my fourth month of pregnancy, I noticed something different with this one. I feel lethargy most of the time. Nak jalan pun rasa berat semacam, as if I'm already eight months pregnant. Then, last two weeks I had a diarrhoea and I noticed some blood spotting. After my regular check up, my gynae confirmed that I have a LOW LYING PLACENTA. On my next appoinment, on 28weeks, my gynae will rule out wether I'm having placenta previa or not.

Taken from Mayoclinic

Definitions

Placenta previa is an uncommon pregnancy complication that can cause excessive bleeding before or during delivery.

Soon after conception, the placenta begins to form. This oval, flat organ provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby and removes waste products from your baby's blood. It attaches to the wall of your uterus, and your baby's umbilical cord arises from it, forming a vital connection between you and your baby.

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower part of your uterine wall, partially or totally covering your cervix. When the cervix starts to open in preparation for labor, the placenta is detached, which can trigger severe vaginal bleeding. Thankfully, placenta previa is nearly always detected before a woman or her baby is in significant danger.

Complications

If you have placenta previa, your health care provider will monitor you and your baby carefully to reduce the risk of these serious complications:

• Bleeding. One of the biggest concerns with placenta previa is the risk of severe vaginal bleeding (hemorrhage) during labor, delivery or the first few hours after delivery. The bleeding can be heavy enough to cause maternal shock or even death.
• Premature birth. Severe bleeding may prompt an emergency C-section before your baby is full term.
• Placenta accreta. If the placenta implants too deeply and firmly into the uterine wall, the placenta may not spontaneously detach from the uterus after delivery — an uncommon condition known as placenta accreta. This can result in severe bleeding and, often, the need for surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).

Symptoms

Painless, bright red vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy is the main sign of placenta previa.

Although some women have light bleeding or spotting during the first trimester or early second trimester, bleeding associated with placenta previa usually occurs near the end of the second trimester or the beginning of the third. The amount of bleeding may range from light to heavy. And it usually stops, but it nearly always recurs days or weeks later. Some women who have placenta previa experience contractions with the bleeding.

Types of placenta previa
There are three specific types of placenta previa:

• Total placenta previa. In total placenta previa, the placenta completely covers the cervix.
• Partial placenta previa. In partial placenta previa, the placenta partly covers the cervix.
• Marginal placenta previa. In marginal placenta previa, the placenta approaches the edge of the cervix.

Low-lying placenta is a term used to describe a placenta that lies low in the uterus but isn't quite close enough to the cervix to qualify as marginal placenta previa. This condition usually doesn't cause signs or symptoms during pregnancy, but it may cause bleeding after delivery.

When to see a doctor
If you're pregnant, seek regular prenatal care. If you experience any vaginal bleeding during your second or third trimester, call your health care provider right away. Your health care provider will likely do an ultrasound to determine the source of the bleeding.

If you've been diagnosed with placenta previa, make sure that any health care provider you see during pregnancy is aware of the condition. Examining the cervix can lead to heavy bleeding.