Placenta previa is implantation of the placenta over or near the internal os of the cervix. Typically, painless vaginal bleeding with bright red blood occurs after 20 wk gestation. Diagnosis is by transvaginal or abdominal ultrasonography. Treatment is bed rest for minor vaginal bleeding before 36 wk gestation, with cesarean delivery at 36 wk if fetal lung maturity is documented. If bleeding is severe or refractory or if fetal status is nonreassuring, immediate delivery, usually cesarean, is indicated.

Placenta previa may be total (covering the internal os completely), partial (covering part of the os), or marginal (at the edge of the os), or the placenta may be low-lying (near the os without reaching it). Incidence of placenta previa is 1/200 deliveries. If placenta previa occurs during early pregnancy, it usually resolves by 20 wk as the uterus enlarges.

Risk factors: Risk factors include the following:

• Multiparity
• Prior cesarean delivery
• Uterine abnormalities that inhibit normal implantation (eg, fibroids, prior curettage)
• Smoking
• Multifetal pregnancy
• Older maternal age

Complications: For patients with placenta previa or a low-lying placenta, risks include fetal malpresentation, preterm premature rupture of the membranes, fetal growth restriction, vasa previa, and velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord.

Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms usually begin during late pregnancy. Then, sudden, painless vaginal bleeding often begins; the blood may be bright red, and bleeding may be heavy, sometimes resulting in hemorrhagic shock. In some patients, uterine contractions accompany bleeding.

Diagnosis

• Transvaginal ultrasonography

Placenta previa is considered in all women with vaginal bleeding after 20 wk. If placenta previa is present, digital pelvic examination may increase bleeding, sometimes causing sudden, massive bleeding; thus, if vaginal bleeding occurs after 20 wk, digital pelvic examination is contraindicated unless placenta previa is first ruled out by ultrasonography. Placenta previa frequently cannot be distinguished from abruptio placentae except by ultrasonography. Transvaginal ultrasonography is an accurate, safe way to diagnose placenta previa.

In all women with suspected symptomatic placenta previa, fetal heart rate monitoring is indicated. Unless the case is an emergency (requiring immediate delivery), amniotic fluid is tested at 36 wk to assess fetal lung maturity and thus document whether delivery at this time is safe.

Treatment

• Hospitalization and bed rest for a first episode of bleeding before 36 wk
• Delivery if mother or fetus is unstable or if fetal lungs are mature

For a first (sentinel) episode of vaginal bleeding before 36 wk, management consists of hospitalization, bed rest, and avoidance of sexual intercourse, which can cause bleeding by initiating contractions or causing direct trauma. If bleeding stops, ambulation and usually hospital discharge are allowed.

Some experts recommend giving corticosteroids to accelerate fetal lung maturity when early delivery may become necessary and gestational age is < 34 wk. Typically for a 2nd bleeding episode, patients are readmitted and kept for observation until delivery.

Delivery is indicated for any of the following:

• Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
• Nonreassuring results of fetal heart monitoring
• Maternal hemodynamic instability
• Fetal lung maturity (usually at 36 wk)

Delivery is almost always cesarean, but vaginal delivery may be possible for women with a low-lying placenta if the fetal head effectively compresses the placenta and labor is already advanced or if the pregnancy is < 23 wk and rapid delivery is expected.

Hemorrhagic shock is treated (see Shock and Fluid Resuscitation: Hemorrhagic shock). Prophylactic Rh₀(D) immune globulin should be given if the mother has Rh-negative blood.

Last full review/revision February 2010 by Antonette T. Dulay, MD

Content last modified February 2010