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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have placenta previa, your health care provider will monitor you and your baby carefully to reduce the risk of these serious complications:
- Bleeding. 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. The bleeding can be heavy enough to cause maternal shock or even death.
- Premature birth. Severe bleeding may prompt an emergency C-section before your baby is full term.
- 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. This can result in severe bleeding and, often, the need for surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).
References
- Lockwood CJ, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of placenta previa. http://www.uptodate.com/hom. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Sakornbut E, et al. Late pregnancy bleeding. American Family Physician. 2007;75:1199.
- Zeltzer JS. Vaginal bleeding in late pregnancy. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/132444171-3/831220627/1621/508.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50256-9_4080. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Lockwood CJ, et al. Management of placenta previa. http://www.uptodate.com/hom. Accessed April 17, 2009.
