Subscribe to RSSPlacenta Previa is not a tropical island
During my ultrasound earlier this week my husband and I were thrilled to find out that we were having a little girl. In addition to that news we also found out that I have Placenta Previa which despite how the name sounds is not a nice place to visit.
The ultrasound started out as the normal routine. “This is the baby.” “This is the heart.” “This is the brain.” “The baby looks good.” “This is the labia, Congratulations it’s a Girl.” Then the ultrasound technician asked me to strip from the bottom down for a vaginal ultrasound. That is when I knew there was some bad news with our great news. For those of you not familiar with a vaginal ultrasound let me give you a brief word picture. This device looks like a 30 inch long dildo complete with condom and heavily lubed (definitely not the highlight of my appointment).
After being violated by the ultrasound technician I was sent to another room to discuss my results with my OBGYN. My OBGYN was very matter of fact about explaining what Placenta Previa is and what it means for me. Turns out that my placenta is covering my cervix which prevents me from having a vaginal delivery, it also increases my risk of bleeding and preterm labor. At this stage of my pregnancy Placenta Previa means I need to watch for bleeding, call the doctor if bleeding occurs and wait for my next ultrasound at 28 weeks to see if my placenta has moved.
What is Placenta Previa? http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/placenta-previa/DS00588
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 circular, flat organ provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby and removes waste products from your baby’s blood. It attaches both to the wall of your uterus and to your baby’s umbilical cord, forming a vital connection between you and your baby.
Early in pregnancy, the placenta may implant in the lower part of the uterus. As the uterus grows, the placenta usually moves up and away from the opening of the uterus (cervix). If it doesn’t, the cervix may be blocked. This is known as placenta previa.
If you have placenta previa, the placenta will detach from the lower part of the uterus as the cervix begins to open in preparation for labor. This can cause severe vaginal bleeding. Thankfully, placenta previa is nearly always detected before a woman or her baby is in significant danger.
Signs and 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 may stop, but it nearly always recurs days or weeks later. Some women who have placenta previa experience contractions with 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.
One Person has left comments on this post
Apr 28, 2008 - 01:04:54Is it complete or is it partial? They don’t think it will move? I am sorry to hear this. The good news is, C-sections aren’t nearly as hard as they seem like they would be.