Placenta previa occurs when a baby's placenta partially or totally covers the mother's cervix — the

outlet for the uterus. Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and delivery.

Symptoms

Bright red vaginal bleeding without pain during the second half of pregnancy is the main sign of placenta
previa. Some women also have contractions.

In many women diagnosed with placenta previa early in their pregnancies, the placenta previa resolves.
As the uterus grows, it might increase the distance between the cervix and the placenta. The more the
placenta covers the cervix and the later in the pregnancy that it remains over the cervix, the less likely it
is to resolve.

Causes

The exact cause of placenta previa is unknown.

Treatment

There is no medical or surgical treatment to cure placenta previa, but there are several options to
manage the bleeding caused by placenta previa.

Management of the bleeding depends on various factors, including:

 The amount of bleeding

 Whether the bleeding has stopped
 How far along your pregnancy is
 Your health
 Your baby's health
 The position of the placenta and the baby

If placenta previa doesn't resolve during your pregnancy, the goal of treatment is to help you get as
close to your due date as possible. Almost all women with unresolved placenta previa require a cesarean
delivery.

Complications

If you have placenta previa, your health care provider will monitor you and your baby to reduce the risk
of these serious complications:

 Bleeding. Severe, possibly life-threatening vaginal bleeding (hemorrhage) can occur during
labor, delivery or in the first few hours after delivery.
 Preterm birth. Severe bleeding may prompt an emergency C-section before your baby is full
term.

Prevention
Placenta previa usually cannot be prevented. In some cases, risk factors can be eliminated (such as
smoking cessation). Bleeding from placenta previa can be reduced in many cases by bed rest, limitation
of activity, and/or avoiding sexual intercourse.

Nursing Interventions

 Assess fetal heart sounds so the mother would be aware of the health of her baby.
 Allow the mother to vent out her feelings to lessen her emotional stress.
 Assess any bleeding or spotting that might occur to give adequate measures.
 Answer the mother’s questions honestly to establish a trusting environment.
 Include the mother in the planning of the care plan for both the mother and the baby