Treatment and Prevention
Placenta previa is a condition that cannot be prevented, however, if you are at high risk, do talk about this with your health care provider to avoid complications.
The treatment for placenta previa is usually aimed at minimizing symptoms and ensuring the pregnancy completes 36 weeks. Safe delivery of the fetus as close to term as possible by cesarean section is the goal of this treatment. The treatment will therefore depend on answers to the following questions:
- What is the extent or amount of abnormal bleeding?
- How much of the placenta is covering the cervix?
- What is the position of the fetus in the uterus?
- Is the fetus developed enough to survive outside the uterus?
- How many births has the mother previously had?
- Has labor commenced?
Once placenta previa has been diagnosed, further bleeding and complications may be avoided by ensuring the mother has complete bed rest, sometimes in the hospital. Also, pelvic examinations or any sexual activity that may lead to irritation of the cervix or the uterine walls should be avoided.
Once the pregnancy comes to term, or if the bleeding is excessive, the baby will be delivered by cesarean section, especially in cases of complete placenta previa. Vaginal delivery for women with placenta previa might result in placental tear and hemorrhage, putting the mother and the baby at risk.
With early and more accurate diagnosis of placenta previa, this condition is no longer as big a threat to the mother and the baby as it once was. The biggest danger remains premature delivery of the baby because of the heavy bleeding.