Placenta previa is a complication experienced by pregnant women where the placenta gets attached to the wall of the uterus covering the cervix area. It usually occurs in the second and third trimester though it is possible that in some cases it might begin to show even in the first trimester. No definite cause has been found that leads to placenta previa. But, it has been seen that an abnormal vascularisation, scarring from a previous injury or an infection that was experienced earlier might lead to a placenta previa. In the third or the last trimester of pregnancy, the isthmus of the uterus unfolds and forms the lower part. If you are experiencing a normal pregnancy, the placenta would not lie over the isthmus hence you would experience no bleeding. However as is the case in placenta previa, when the placenta does lie over the isthmus, it may shear off causing some bleeding.
There are four kinds of placenta previa which you can experience and this depends on where exactly the placenta is placed. TYPE 1 placenta previa is also called low lying placenta previa. In this case the placenta encloses the lower part of the uterus but does not close the cervical os. TYPE 2 placenta previa is also called marginal placenta previa and in this case even though the placenta does touch the top of the cervix it does not cover it. TYPE 3 placenta previa also called partial placenta previa is understood to take place when the placenta covers the top of the cervix partially and the last kind which is TYPE 4 placenta previa also known as complete placenta previa where the placenta covers the top of the cervix wholly. Placenta previa often leads to what we know as placenta accreta.
There are some risk factors that lead to placenta previa. Previous cases of placenta previa, abortion or caesarean delivery might lead one to suffer placenta previa. Women who have gotten pregnant more than once without much space between two pregnancies stand a higher chance of suffering placenta previa as well. Women aging below 20 and women aging above 30 stand tremendous chances of suffering the same. If a woman is carrying more than one child at a time, then also she might experience placenta previa. Those women who smoke, use drugs, and of late as studies show even women from Asia and Africa stand greater risk in experiencing placenta previa than others.
If you are diagnosed with placenta previa, an assessment of both mother and child is necessary. Then you will be advised as to whether you should go in for a caesarean section after which the placenta previa will be dealt with or whether they can deal with your placenta previa before the delivery itself. Depending on the suggestion given to you by your doctor and your own opinion, a suitable method to treat your problem will surface that should relieve you. Not many cases of failed placenta previa are known of. So do not worry. Of course it will cause you some pain but it can be taken care of.
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