What to do if the placenta is low

Some pregnant mothers will have B-ultrasounds during pregnancy. For some reasons, some pregnant mothers will have a low placenta, and they will start to get scared that the baby will have a difficult delivery. This problem troubles many pregnant mothers. So today I will tell you what to do if the placenta is in a low position.

Pregnant women do not need to panic if they find placenta previa in the early stages of pregnancy, because some of the placenta may be pulled upward as the gestational age increases and the lower segment of the uterus is formed, and it is not a true placenta previa. Pregnant women can regularly observe changes in the position of the placenta, be careful not to engage in strenuous activities, and refrain from sexual intercourse.

As the pregnancy progresses, the placenta will move up as the entire uterus grows, but all strenuous exercise, such as running, jumping, etc., should be avoided, and some movements are absolutely inappropriate. For example, squatting. It is recommended to observe closely and deal with any abnormal symptoms in time.

After 28 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta attaches to the lower part of the uterus, and the lower edge of the placenta even reaches or covers the internal os of the cervix. Its position is lower than the presenting part of the fetus, which is called placenta previa. Placenta previa is a serious complication of late pregnancy and a common cause of heavy bleeding in late pregnancy and during delivery. When diagnosing placenta previa by B-ultrasound, the gestational age must be taken into account.

In the second trimester of pregnancy, before 28 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta occupies half of the area of ​​the uterine wall, so there is a greater chance that the placenta is close to or covers the internal cervical os. In the late pregnancy after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the area occupied by the placenta is reduced to 1/3 or 1/4 of the uterine wall. The formation and extension of the lower uterine segment increases the distance between the internal cervical os and the edge of the placenta. Therefore, the placenta originally in the lower uterine segment can move upward with the uterine body and change into a placenta in a normal position.

Therefore, many scholars believe that if placenta previa is found during B-ultrasound examination in mid-pregnancy, it should not be diagnosed as "placenta previa" but should be called "placenta previa state". B-ultrasound should be checked every 4 weeks or so. If there is vaginal bleeding, B-ultrasound should be checked in advance so that the doctor can make appropriate treatment in time.

If placenta previa is diagnosed and there is no vaginal bleeding or only a small amount of vaginal bleeding, the gestational age should be extended to 36 weeks as much as possible while ensuring the safety of the pregnant woman. Because after 35 weeks of pregnancy, the frequency of uterine physiological contractions increases, and the bleeding rate of placenta previa increases significantly, the risk to pregnant women and fetuses increases. Therefore, doctors will detect fetal lung maturity at 36 weeks of pregnancy in pregnant women with placenta previa and choose cesarean section to terminate the pregnancy when appropriate.

Cesarean section can deliver the fetus in a short period of time, then separate the placenta as quickly as possible, use uterotonics to strengthen uterine contractions, observe the bleeding on the placental separation surface in the lower part of the uterus under direct vision, and use drugs or surgical methods accurately to stop bleeding and prevent heavy bleeding during and after delivery.