During a healthy pregnancy, the placenta--an organ that develops within the uterus--provides oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the developing fetus. Placenta previa occurs if the placenta becomes abnormally implanted at the base of the uterus (cervix) during pregnancy. This condition occurs in approximately 1 out of every 200 births, reports the Tufts Medical Center in Boston. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss the symptoms of placenta previa with your obstetrician.
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Typically, the only placenta previa symptom a pregnant woman experiences is abnormal vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks of gestation. In normal pregnancy, the base of the uterus spreads out and becomes thinner as the fetus grows and develops, explains Better Health Channel, an informational health website provided by the Australian government. When the placenta is abnormally implanted to the bottom of the uterus, this natural expansion of the uterus can lead to placental tearing, which causes bleeding. Vaginal bleeding typically occurs suddenly and can vary in severity from mild to severe (hemorrhage). Symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding due to this condition can occur sporadically throughout your pregnancy and should be immediately reported to your obstetrician.
Uterine Cramping
If you have placenta previa, you can experience uterine cramping in additional to abnormal vaginal bleeding, warns Medline Plus, an informational medical website provided as a service of the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine. Uterine cramping can cause painful contractions of the muscular uterine wall and can be uncomfortable. If you experience uterine cramping at any point during your pregnancy, contact your obstetrician immediately for further evaluation and care.
Premature Labor or Delivery
Women who develop placenta previa are at an increased risk of experiencing premature labor or delivery. In women with placenta previa, the abnormally implanted placenta can become damaged or torn during normal fetal development. In healthy women, placental breakage normally occurs immediately before the onset of labor. If your placenta breaks abnormally early due to placenta previa, you begin experiencing labor symptoms, which can increase your risk of delivering your baby prematurely. Pregnant women with who develop placenta previa must be monitored by an obstetrician to limit the risk of potentially life-threatening medical complications.
