Many expectant mothers engage in some physical activity during pregnancy in order to have a natural delivery, but some are not so lucky. They may be restricted from exercising and even have to lie in bed throughout the entire pregnancy because they have encountered placenta previa. Under mild activity or external stimulation, they may pose a danger to themselves or their baby. To ensure that pregnant mothers and babies can safely pass the tenth month of pregnancy, expectant mothers should be vigilant and actively cooperate with doctors when encountering placenta previa to ensure the safety of both mother and baby. So, as a expectant mother, what do you need to know when encountering placenta previa?
1、 What is placenta previa?
The placenta can be located in any part of the uterus, including the posterior wall, anterior wall, bilateral walls, and uterine floor, all of which are relatively safe. If after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta attaches to the lower segment of the uterus, or even the lower edge of the placenta reaches or covers the cervical opening, and is located below the fetal presentation site, it can be considered placenta previa. According to domestic reported data, the incidence of placenta previa is 0.2% -1.5%, and pregnant women should be aware that the anterior placenta is not placenta previa. If the position of the placenta in the uterus is too low and blocks the cervix, the fetus may be difficult to deliver vaginally, or during vaginal delivery, due to placental abruption before the fetus is delivered, the fetus may lose maternal blood supply and be life-threatening, or die due to suffocation. If the placenta completely crosses the cervical opening, it is clinically referred to as complete placenta previa. If it partially covers the cervical opening or is close to the cervix, it is called partial placenta previa and marginal placenta previa, respectively.
2、 What are the risk factors for placenta previa?
For the danger of placenta previa, clinical findings mainly involve the following aspects: (1) the presence of endometrial damage or lesions (history of multiple uterine cavity operations, advanced age, scarred uterus, infection); (2) Abnormal placental morphology (multiple pregnancies, accessory placenta, membranous placenta, etc.); (3) Implement assisted reproductive technology; (4) Delayed development of the trophoblast layer in fertilized eggs.
3、 How to accurately and quickly detect placenta previa?
When facing placenta previa, expectant mothers need to detect it in a timely manner and actively undergo examinations. The main contents are as follows: (1) In the late stage of pregnancy or during labor, sudden and painless vaginal bleeding without cause is a typical symptom of placenta previa in clinical practice. (2) Suspected cases of placenta previa combined with placental implantation and adhesions may require further systematic examination. (3) Transvaginal ultrasound examination is the gold standard for clinical diagnosis of placenta previa. Once suspected of having placenta previa at any stage of pregnancy, transvaginal ultrasound can be used for diagnosis.
4、 What are the hazards of placenta previa?
1. Hazards to pregnant mothers. Excessive maternal blood loss can cause hemorrhagic shock, which requires timely rescue. Moreover, due to the developmental abnormalities in the lower segment of the uterus caused by placenta previa, which may even be accompanied by placenta implantation, the risk of postpartum hemorrhage is greatly increased. In addition, due to the low detachment surface of placenta previa near the vagina, the risk of postpartum infection is also high.
2. Hazards to the baby. After a large amount of maternal bleeding, it can lead to acute fetal distress and even death in the uterus, so sometimes it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy in advance. Premature infants have incomplete organ function development, low survival rate, and relatively higher risk of death compared to the perinatal infants. In addition, due to the fact that placenta previa is often accompanied by abnormal fetal position, the fetus is prone to birth injuries during delivery.
Given the harm of placenta previa to both the mother and the baby, our pregnant mothers need to do the following: (1) go to a regular hospital to register, undergo timely prenatal check ups, and ensure early detection of abnormal placental position; (2) Avoid vigorous exercise to prevent bleeding. The principle of exercise is to keep the stomach not swollen, tight, or falling, and to avoid sexual activity during pregnancy; (3) Maintain a positive and optimistic attitude; (4) Pay attention to a reasonable diet during pregnancy and maintain smooth urination and defecation; (5) Regularly undergo prenatal check ups and seek medical attention promptly if any discomfort occurs.