Placenta previa

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Anatomy of a normal placenta	Cesarean section	Placenta	Placenta
Placenta previa	Ultrasound, color - normal umbilical cord	Ultrasound, normal fetus - arms and legs	Ultrasound, normal relaxed placenta
Ultrasound in pregnancy

• Spotting during the first and second trimesters
• Sudden, painless, and profuse vaginal bleeding in pregnancy during the third trimester (usually after 28 weeks)
• Uterine cramping occurring with onset of bleeding

Note: Bleeding may not occur until after labor starts in some cases. Labor sometimes starts within several days after initial heavy, vaginal bleeding.

The uterus is usually soft and relaxed. The infant position is oblique ( // ) or transverse ( == ) in about 15% of cases. Fetal distress is not usually present unless a cord accident occurs, or vaginal blood loss has been heavy enough to induce maternal shock or placenta abruptio.

An abdominal ultrasound performed during the second trimester indicates low positioning of the placenta. Transvaginal or transperineal ultrasound can help physicians determine the position of a low-lying placenta.

Review Date: 08/19/2005
Reviewed By: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Fellow, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.