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Placenta previa is a complication of pregnancy, which in a medical diagnosis can also be read under the Latin name placenta praevia. This is a problem found after the 20th week of pregnancy and is the misplacement of the placenta in the uterus. It nestles very close to the inner mouth of the cervix. The placenta can be positioned so low in various ways – there are four subtypes of this complication, such as the placenta previa completely (the most dangerous situation – the placenta directly above the cervix), partially, marginal or lateral. The doctor diagnoses the placement of the placenta primarily on the basis of an ultrasound examination. He may also order an additional MRI scan for more detailed diagnostic imaging.
What are the causes of misalignment of the placenta during pregnancy?
A leading bearing is an infrequent complication, it is found in 0,1-1% of deliveries. Nevertheless, there are some risk factors that increase the likelihood of placental implantation. One of causes a complication may be prior curettage of the uterine cavity (e.g. as a result of a miscarriage or termination of pregnancy). Also, when a previous pregnancy has ended by caesarean section, the risk of misalignment of the placenta increases. It is also important which pregnancy it is and whether there have been multiple pregnancies before, which may also contribute to the development of this complication. Also, in the case of problems with becoming pregnant, when it occurs as a result of in vitro fertilization, complications may occur more easily. Cause there may also be birth defects of the fetus, as a result of which it develops bearing advancing. Besides, the problem leading bearingsif it has occurred once, it may occur in subsequent pregnancies. These risk factors cause changes in the structure of the uterine mucosa – this may result in the placenta implanting in the wrong place. Even conditions such as inflammation of the endometrium that a woman may not even know about can contribute to later development leading bearings Pregnant.
What are the symptoms and risks of placenta previa?
The most common symptomthat something is wrong is vaginal bleeding, though bearing advancing it doesn’t have to give it symptom. If bleeding occurs in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, most often it is caused by it the leading bearing. There is also a risk of hemorrhage. Bleeding or haemorrhage can also occur during childbirth. Both the fetus and the mother of the child are at risk, so it is very important to recognize the problem quickly and to appropriate medical care during pregnancy and childbirth. However, don’t panic because bearing advancing this is not a sentence – with proper care and compliance with medical recommendations, a woman has a good chance of delivering and giving birth to a healthy child without additional complications.
Medical recommendations for placenta previa
Pregnant, diagnosed bearing advancing, she should focus primarily on taking care of herself and strictly following medical recommendations. This requires a series of changes in everyday life. First of all, it may be necessary to go on a sick leave and resign not only from work, but also from any burdensome housework. Therefore, in the case of this complication, support and help from the family is very important. Appropriate support and understanding on the part of the partner will also be important, because another activity that should usually be abandoned in this case is sexual intercourse.
Depending on the type leading bearings In the first trimester of pregnancy, it may also be necessary to lie down, including even a stay in hospital, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. If necessary, drugs that inhibit uterine contractions (so-called tocolytic drugs) are also used. Weak uterine contractions, harmless with a correctly positioned placenta, if leading bearings they can cause bleeding that is dangerous to the mother and the fetus, and may result in fetal hypoxia, the development of sepsis, premature birth, and even death of the fetus and mother. Natural childbirth is too risky in this case and doctors choose to terminate the pregnancy by caesarean section. Therefore, it is very important to be under constant medical supervision and to choose the appropriate doctor in charge of the pregnancy, a competent specialist who will make decisions to ensure the safety of the mother and baby.