However, placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta adheres itself to the uterus near or covering the cervix. Often, the placenta moves to the upper half of the uterus during pregnancy requiring no treatment. When the placenta does not move and remains in the lower half of the uterus, the condition is called placenta previa. This type of placental complication occurs in one in every 200 deliveries and occurs more often in women who have scarring of the uterine wall from previous pregnancies, in women who have fibroids or other abnormalities in the uterus, or in women who have had previous uterine surgeries. Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding that is bright red and not associated with abdominal tenderness or pain.
Diagnosis is confirmed by performing a physical examination and an ultrasound.
Depending upon the severity of the condition and the stage of pregnancy, modification of activities or bedrest may be ordered. The baby usually has to be delivered by cesarean section, to prevent the placenta from detaching early and depriving the baby of oxygen during delivery. Eclampsia is the more severe form of this condition, which can lead to seizures, coma, or death. The cause of preeclampsia is unknown, but it is more common in first pregnancies, affecting about five percent of all pregnant women. Treatment will vary according to the severity of the condition and the stage of the pregnancy.