Placenta Previa
Home Treatment
If you are pregnant, be alert for any vaginal bleeding. Sudden, painless vaginal bleeding may be the only symptom of placenta previa, a placenta that partially or fully covers the cervix.
Call your health professional or go to the closest emergency room immediately if you have:
- Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding during the first trimester.
- Severe vaginal bleeding means soaking more than one pad in 1 hour (you should not be using tampons).
- Moderate vaginal bleeding means soaking more than eight pads in 24 hours.
- Any vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimesters.
Call your health professional today if you have mild vaginal bleeding (soaking fewer than eight pads in 24 hours) during the first trimester of pregnancy.
If you have had placenta previa
You may have questions about a future pregnancy once you have experienced placenta previa. Based on the nature of your condition, your doctor will be able to answer your questions and address your concerns.
In very rare cases, placenta previa causes a stillbirth or newborn death. Should you experience such a loss, allow yourself time to grieve. Expect that your partner, children, and other family members may also be deeply affected. Consider meeting with a support group, reading about the experiences of other women, and talking to friends, a counsellor, or a member of the clergy to help you and your family cope with your loss. For more information, see the topic Grief and Grieving.
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| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: May 15, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine William Gilbert, MD - Perinatology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Topic Overview | |
| Symptoms | |
| Examinations and Tests | |
| Treatment Overview | |
 | Home Treatment |
| Other Places To Get Help | |
| Related Information | |
| References | |
| Credits | |