{"id":1431,"date":"2023-09-15T11:58:46","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T11:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drseragyoussif.com.au\/?page_id=1431"},"modified":"2025-01-16T06:36:50","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T20:36:50","slug":"low-placenta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.drseragyoussif.com.au\/?page_id=1431","title":{"rendered":"Low Placenta"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Placenta Praevia Low Placenta<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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General<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Placenta links the baby with the mother’s blood system and provides the baby with its source of oxygen and nourishment. The placenta is delivered after the baby, and is also called the afterbirth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Placenta Praevia is a complication of pregnancy. The placenta develops in the lower segment of the uterus and may reach or covers part of or all cervix i.e. neck of the womb. Four to five every 1000 pregnant women have low placenta.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bleeding may occur in the second half of pregnancy. The lower part of the uterus stretches and the placenta may separate from the uterus, causing vaginal bleeding which may be severe and this may threaten the health and life of the mother and baby.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Grade I<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The placenta is low in the uterus but does not reach the cervix.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Grade II<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The lower edge of the placenta reaches the opening of the cervix, but does not cover it.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Grade III<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The placenta partially covers the cervix.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Grade IV<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The placenta partially covers the cervix.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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References<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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  • The first two Grades are more common and the baby may be delivered vaginally. <\/span><\/li>\n
  • In the third and fourth Grades birth of the baby will be by Caesarean section.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • An Ultrasound scan in early pregnancy may show the placenta to be close, or even covering the cervix. It is reassuring to know that most will not be low placenta as the baby grows and uterus enlarges the placenta will be pulled away from cervix. A low-lying placenta at 20-week scan, may not present a problem near full-term. An extra ultrasound at 34-36 weeks, in the majority of cases, will show that the placenta is no longer low<\/span><\/li>\n
  • If the placenta stays low in the womb, the baby may still be lying breech i.e. bottom first or transverse i.e. lying across the womb around the time of birth. <\/span><\/li>\n
  • Women with placenta praevia usually need a caesarean section and may need a blood transfusion.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rarely, the bleeding is so severe that the only way it can be controlled is by removing the womb (a hysterectomy). <\/span><\/li>\n
  • If there is a lot of bleeding before the baby is due to be born, you may have your baby by caesarean section. The earlier the baby is born before the due date, the higher the risk of health problems. The risk is greatest if the baby is born very early, that is, before 31 completed weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies may have problems with feeding and breathing, and they are at greater risk of infection and jaundice. Because of this, early delivery by caesarean section is only considered if the bleeding is severe enough to cause risk to the mother or baby.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rarely, placenta praevia may be complicated by a problem known as placenta accreta. This is when the placenta is attached to the womb abnormally, making separation at the time of birth difficult. Placenta accreta is more commonly found in women with placenta praevia who have previously had a caesarean section. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Risk Factors of Having Placenta Praevia<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    • Most have no obvious risk factor<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Second or third baby<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Previous Placenta Praevia<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Previous Caesarean section<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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      Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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      • A low-lying placenta is often suspected during a 20-week ultrasound scan.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • One in ten of these women will go on to have placenta praevia<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Occasionally placenta praevia may be picked up later in pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \t1. If the baby is found to be lying as breech or transverse lie<\/span><\/p>\n

        \t2. If you have been bleeding. <\/span><\/p>\n

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        • In most case placenta praevia is diagnosed in the second half of pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Transvaginal ultrasound is best to confirm placenta praevia<\/span><\/li>\n
        • If you have placenta praevia you may be offered additional ultrasound scans to investigate and monitor the pregnancy. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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          Management of the Pregnancy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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