If the placenta has attached to the uterine wall in the lower segment, partially or fully covering the opening of the cervix, it is diagnosed as placenta previa. A classic symptom of placenta previa is vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester that is essentially painless. Any bleeding during pregnancy must be reported to your doctor. If you have placenta previa, he will monitor your pregnancy closely. There are some common complications of placenta previa.
Hemorrhage
One of the biggest concerns with placenta previa is the risk of severe vaginal bleeding (hemorrhage) during labor, delivery or the first few hours after delivery, reports the Mayo Clinic. If bleeding is severe, you may require a blood transfusion. If you are experiencing heavy bleeding during your pregnancy, additional iron supplementation may be necessary. Your obstetrician will closely monitor your blood levels to make sure that you are not losing too much blood.
Premature Delivery
In rare cases, your baby may need to be delivered early to reduce the risk of additional complications. Your physician will try to prolong the pregnancy as long as possible to ensure proper lung maturity of the infant. You may receive medicines to prevent premature labor and help the pregnancy continue to at least 36 weeks, states MedlinePlus. Once you are past 36 weeks, it may be beneficial to deliver the baby via C-section. If there is concern that your baby's lungs may be immature, you may be given doses of a steroid called betamethasone prior to delivery to help optimize your infant's lung function.
Placenta Accreta
If the placenta implants too deeply and firmly into the uterine wall, the placenta may not spontaneously detach from the uterus after delivery---an uncommon condition known as placenta accreta, states the Mayo Clinic. In very severe cases, hemorrhage may occur, and a hysterectomy may be necessary. According to the American Pregnancy Association, placenta accreta is present in 5 to 10 percent of women with placenta previa. There is nothing that you can do to prevent placenta previa or placenta accreta.
