Diagnosis is usually confirmed by performing a complete physical examination and an ultrasound. Women are usually hospitalized for this condition and may have to deliver the baby prematurely. Normally, the placenta is located in the upper part of the uterus. 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. 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. It affects about seven to ten percent of all pregnant women.