The placenta previa is one of the most common placenta complications. The placenta is a vital organ in pregnancy, it is responsible for transmitting to the baby the oxygen and nutrients necessary for its growth, as well as to secrete essential hormones during pregnancy and filter out harmful substances.
Its optimal functioning is very important for the development of the baby, but depending on the place where it is implanted, we can talk about two types of placenta: normal placenta and previous placenta.
Normal placenta and placenta previa
In most pregnancies the placenta is located on the anterior or posterior aspect of the uterus. In the first weeks of gestation, it is implanted in the lower part of the uterus and as it grows, it moves and rises towards the bottom of the uterine cavity, usually towards one of the walls of the uterus (anterior, posterior or lateral).
However, when it is implanted over the internal cervical opening, in the lower part of the uterus, it is called the placenta previa.
In turn, the placenta previa can be divided into two types: partial occlusive placenta previa, when it does not completely obstruct the cervical opening and complete occlusive placenta previa, when it obstructs it completely. Depending on the type of placenta previa, the delivery will be vaginal or by caesarean section.
The placenta previa is not detected until around the 24-26 week of pregnancy, since before the placenta grows and can still move. As the uterus grows, the placenta can move away from the cervical opening and allow the baby to leave.
What happens if there is placenta previa?
That is why it is diagnosed only in the third trimester. The most frequent sign that placenta previa exists is the bleeding without pain, although not always. An ultrasound will confirm the diagnosis, and if so, in case of mild bleeding, it is recommended to monitor and wait until week 36 to perform a C-section.
Rest will be indicated, avoid sexual intercourse, vaginal touch and any kind of effort.
In case the hemorrhage is abundantThe mother will be hospitalized and a C-section will be evaluated if the baby is mature. Otherwise, you may need transfusions to compensate for blood loss and corticosteroids to ripen the baby's lungs.
The women with the greatest predisposition to placenta previa are those over 35, multiparous women, those who have had more than one previous caesarean section and a history of placenta previa. Also those who have had a high number of previous pregnancies or abortions, both spontaneous and induced.
