Low lying placenta is a terms which is use when baby implants at the lower part of uterus.
Lower part of uterus, is not the right area for placental implantation, because it is poor in blood and so in nutrients and oxygen.
In contrast, the upper part of placenta is much better and so it is more preferable that the embryo implants at the upper parts of uterus, rather than lower parts.
When fetus implants at the lower part of the uterus, the name of this complication process is “low lying placenta.”
It is causing a complication because as we know the lower parts of placenta has no good blood circulation.
Whenever this problem occurs, embryo will not receive enough nutrients and oxygen and also it will not have enough space to grow.
Therefore, risk of preterm labor will be higher.
Normal Position of Placenta
The normal position of placenta is the upper and back section of uterus.
Anterior low lying placenta forms in the front side of uterus, whereas posterior condition occurs at the back side of uterus.
When a low lying placenta is diagnose by the doctor during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
There is always a possibility of that placenta moves up and finds its normal position.
However, if placenta is still at the lower part of uterus on the third trimester of pregnancy and after 28 weeks, there is a low probability of moving up and having a normal position.
Low Lying Placenta Symptoms
- Vaginal bleeding is the most important problem.
- Bleeding is bright red and occurs during the last stages of pregnancy.
That type of abnormal bleeding is painless and noncontinuous.
Therefore, it occurs sometimes, and comes and goes and the bleeding is not continuously at all the time.
Reasons for Bleeding During the Last Stages of Pregnancy
1- The reason of bleeding during the last stages of pregnancy is because of the changes in the lower parts of uterus to make the uterus ready for labor.
Therefore, because placenta is not flexible, it disconnects from uterus at the edges and as a result the pregnant woman starts bleeding.
Moreover, bleeding is one of the most important low lying placenta symptoms.
2- Mother can have uterine spasm and cramping during the bleeding as well.
3- Vaginal bleeding can be heavy during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Placenta Accreta – How to Deal with Placenta Accreta
The serious pregnancy complication such as Placenta accreta occurs when placenta attaches to the uterus wall too deeply and strongly.
Normally in order to receive nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s blood, placenta has to attach into the uterus wall.
However, when this attachment is too deep, it is called placenta accreta.
Additionally to the, low laying placenta and placenta previa , there are some other problems relevant to placenta and its position inside the uterus.
1- What is Placenta Accreta?
In 75% of all cases, placenta attachment to uterus is too deep, however, the uterus muscles are intact and placenta has not attached to them too.
This is called placenta accreta.
Also, in 15% of the cases, placenta goes even deeper and attaches to the uterus muscles too.
It is usually call placenta increta which is the deeper shape of placenta accreta.
Moreover, in less than 5% of the cases, placenta passes through the uterus wall and attaches even to the other organs like bladder.
The worst case of this dangerous pregnancy serious condition is: Placenta percreta which is in fact the dangerous version of placenta accreta.
How to Deal with Placenta Accreta?
Since this is an unknown pregnancy complication disease, we can not prevent it.
Dealing with such a complication is very difficult and the patient and the doctor have to be very careful.
Regular monitoring the pregnant woman and the child or children (in case of twins).
The doctor may end the pregnancy if he/she feels that the placenta is keeps moving to the other organs.
To prevent it’s deeply attachment to pass the uterus and get into the other organs, the surgery is necessary.
2- Causes of Placenta to Have Such an Abnormal and Unusual Attachment to Uterus Wall and Makes this Condition
The real cause of placenta accreta is unknown.
However, placenta previa and also the previous Cesarean sections can be the reasons and risk factors.
Many of the placenta disease cases are seen with mothers who already had several Cesarean sections.
Women who already been diagnosed with this condition with their previous pregnancy.
Therefore when a mother is diagnose with placenta previa during her pregnancy, through ultrasound or MRI, it has to be follow up with caution.
It’s to make sure that there is no sign of placenta accreta or the other worse occurrences of placenta accreta like increta and percreta happens.
“In some of the cases hysterectomy is necessary to prevent any damage to the other organs.”
3- Placenta Accreta Symptoms:
Vaginal bleeding during the last trimester:
However, placenta accreta symptoms may not be just the bleeding.
Women who already suffers from the placenta previa:
For that has already been confirm through ultrasound or MRI are the symptoms indicating that a placenta accreta is also possible.
The women who already have the history of such a complication.
Miscarriage:
Premature delivery and its following problems is the most important concern for the mothers who are suffering from placenta accreta.
Hemorrhaging during the delivery:
This occurs while the doctor detaching of the placenta from the uterus wall and it is a life threatening.
Also can cause the long term problem for mothers with placenta accreta and more complicated cases like placenta increta and percreta.
4- Placenta Accreta Treatment:
The Placenta accreta happens by itself and there is no way to prevent it.
Accordingly there is no special treatment for it too.
However, as it damages uterus wall, you may facing some difficulties for the next pregnancies.
Those who wants to get pregnant again have to ask their doctors for the proper surgery to save most part of the uterus as much as possible.
Pregnancy after placenta accreta is possible, but it depends on the damage of the uterus as a result of previous placenta accreta.
Sometimes more hysterectomy is also necessary with or without saving the baby, because the mother’s life is the more concern in this case.
Hysterectomy sometimes is necessary which makes the next pregnancy impossible.
What is Placenta Previa?
Placenta previa is also a placenta position problem, with little more complication than the low laying placenta.
The difference is: placenta previa is that in addition to move into lower part of the uterus, placenta previa also blocks and covers the cervical opening as well.
Therefore, the placenta previa is low lying placenta too, but a low lying placenta is not necessarily a placenta previa.
Causes of Low Lying Placenta
The reason for the low lying placenta’s causes are unknown.
It can be occur in some of the pregnancies, usually in one percent of the total pregnancies.
Since the causes are unknown, it is not possible to prevent it too.
Most probably it is genetic and that is the most common reasons for any unknown diseases.
Precautions Low Lying Placenta
As low lying placenta does not cover the cervical opening, a vaginal delivery is possible and there is no serious risk.
However, the diagnose should be very carefully to make sure about the possibility of if the placenta is covering the cervical opening or not.
This is something that ultrasound also might miss diagnose it.
So the doctor should do other diagnostic methods to make sure if he/she is right.
Diagnose should be confirm with certainty, specially after the 28 weeks of the pregnancy.
It is because the doctor has to make sure about the cervical opening blockage (placenta previa).
If placenta previa occurs, the mother will have a serious and life-threatening bleeding, in case of vaginal delivery.
Therefore, the delivery has to be done through Cesarean section (C section) only.
Furthermore, in general there are no serious risks in low lying placenta.
There will be no risk, unless it covers the cervical opening and in this case, C section will be a safe way of delivery and vaginal delivery should be avoided.
Note: Exercise can intensify and aggravate the bleeding in women with ow lying placenta.
Mothers who are diagnosed with low lying placenta should be very careful and consult their specialist before doing any exercise.
Placenta Previa Disorder – Tips and Warnings
The disorder condition of placenta previa can have different signs and symptoms.
Pregnant women need to be careful because besides the regular signs like no symptoms, painless bleeding, contractions or cramping.
The other signs of this problem may include low hemoglobin count, i.e. anemia.
Woman may experience weak pulse, skin begins to turn paler, and she experiences difficulty breathing, and complains of low blood pressure.
If the mother’s cervix is completely blocked by the placenta at the time of delivery, she will undoubtedly undergo for a cesarean section.
Is Placenta Previa Disorder Genetic?
The genetic can have a significant rules in that type of pregnancy complications.
It should be brought to the knowledge of the woman suffering from placenta previa, her partner and family members that this problem can also result in placenta abrupttion.
Woman going into labor before-time, hemorrhaging, sudden loss of blood and blood count.
So that everyone associated with her and concerned for her safety along with baby’s will co operate as much as possible.
Chance of Premature Baby in Placenta Previa
The mother should be mentally and emotionally ready and know that if they have placenta previa it is likely that they will have a premature delivery.
In this condition, labour may sometimes begin with a few days of heavy bleeding.
Women who have had a history of delivering in placenta previa condition, should immediately see the doctor and inform him/her.
If pregnant woman suspects any problem with her pregnancy, she should not in the least be indecisive to inform of the same to medical care provider as soon as possible.
Placenta Previa can be Risky
Be aware of consequences & complications.
It’s a dangerous complication and can lead even more dangerous outcomes if not taken care of.
Some of them are as follows;
1- Woman going into labour and delivery before reaching her full term;
2- Woman may suffer placental abrupttion;
3- Placenta accrete is another likelihood;
4- Mother may lose blood and may need transfusion;
The child may suffer defects at birth or may suffer immunity problems as it is not fully grown and has been given shots for fast lung growth etc.
Medical Research about Placenta Previa
As observed by medical researchers, woman diagnosed with this problem, and history of multiple Cesarean deliveries, are at the higher risk of being operated with obstetric hysterectomy.
When it comes to maternal and neonatal result for different placenta previa conditions
It was found that the type of previa had no impact whatsoever on maternal and neonatal results.
This condition can make serious problems both for the mother and baby.
Take it serious!
