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Pregnancy anxieties, placenta previa and a birth mantra

After my 20-week ultrasound a while back, my doctor called to say oh-so-nonchalantly that I had a “low lying placenta.” In her voicemail, she said we’d just monitor it on ultrasound and it was likely to resolve.

But I heard, “You’re at high risk and should panic immediately and often.”

Before calling her back, I turned to Google, which diagnosed me with placenta previa, where part or all of the placenta is covering the cervix. Nine times out of ten, the placenta migrates as the uterus grows and it’s not a big deal.

But in some cases, it doesn’t move, which is bad news for lots of reasons, mainly that you can’t attempt a vaginal birth with a bloody placenta in the way.…

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Featured

 The troubling epidemic of unnecessary C-sections around the world, explained

The C-section rate has almost doubled in less than a generation.

Articles of Interest

Effect of site of placentation on pregnancy outcomes in patients with placenta previa

The site of placental attachment in patients with placenta previa has an important influence on the pregnancy outcome. When the placenta is located on the anterior wall, clinicians should pay attention to the adverse pregnancy outcomes and the possibility of massive postpartum hemorrhage.

Kelli’s story – Placenta Previa

My first pregnancy ended at 39 weeks with the birth of a perfect, almost 9 pound beautiful baby girl. My second pregnancy, while easy to begin with, turned into a nightmare at 27 weeks, with my son being born at 34 weeks.

Placenta Previa and Prior Cesarean

A transvaginal ultrasound is by far the best method of checking placental placement if previa is suspected. Research shows that a number of previas suspected with abdominal ultrasound are able to be ruled out with transvaginal ultrasound.

Placenta Previa Symptoms and Treatment

If you've heard the word, you have probably figured out just from the word alone that it has something to do with the placenta. You are exactly right. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches in the lower portion of the uterus instead of in the normal position in the upper more muscular portion of the uterus. Placenta previa is a frequent cause of bleeding during the second and third trimester of pregnancy

What every woman should know about placenta previa

The good news is that the placenta usually moves upward as the pregnancy progresses and about 90 percent of placenta previa cases will resolve by the time the woman is full term.

What High-Risk Pregnant Women Need To Hear

Long story short, I was not only diagnosed with a complete placenta previa, which would require a Cesarean birth when the time came, but we later found that I also had a rare condition called vasa previa. It’s complicated...

Resources

International Vasa Previa Foundation

The International Vasa Previa Foundation aims to eliminate infant death from vasa previa by raising awareness and providing evidence-based information to the general public and health care professionals about the detection and management of this potentially fatal obstetric condition.

Placenta Previa

First: I AM NOT AN EXPERT. I am just a woman who was diagnosed with previa. I obsessively researched the condition on peer reviewed journal articles and decided to share what I found. I don’t understand all of what is written in every abstract.

What To Expect

Most cases of placenta previa, a pregnancy complication, are detected early and managed well — resulting in a normal (if surgical) delivery.