women s health issues
Placenta Previa
Symptoms of Placenta Previa
Placenta previa can cause painless bleeding from the vagina that suddenly starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The blood may be bright red. Bleeding may become profuse, endangering the life of the woman and the fetus. Some women also have contractions. Placenta previa can cause problems for the fetus, such as the following: The fetus may be in an Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation) . The fetus may not grow as much as expected ( Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) Newborns ). The membranes around the fetus may rupture too soon ( Prelabor Rupture of the Membranes (PROM) ). Blood vessels connecting the umbilical cord and placenta may block the fetus's exit through the opening of the cervix ( Vasa Previa ). If women have had a cesarean delivery, placenta previa increases the risk that the placenta will be too firmly attached to the uterus ( Placenta Accreta ). Placenta accreta belongs to a group of disorders called the placenta accreta spectrum. These disorders differ in how firmly the placenta is attached to the uterus. 