Placenta Previa Causes
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Definition
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The placenta is the life support system for a fetus; it connects the growing fetus to the mother and supplies nutrients and oxygen and removes waste. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches low in the uterus and may partially or completely cover the opening of the cervix. It occurs in about 1 in 200 pregnancies. In early pregnancy, a low-lying placenta is common, but as the pregnancy progresses and the uterus stretches and grows, the placenta should move up in the uterus, so that by the end of the pregnancy, it sits near the top of the uterus. If the placenta does not move out of the lower part of the uterus, complications may arise.
Complications
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In the later stages of pregnancy, placenta previa may cause excessive, painless bleeding, an obstruction of the baby's exit through the cervix during delivery and premature birth. Heavy bleeding is caused by the placenta detaching from the uterus, as the cervix prepares for labor by thinning and stretching. It is a serious complication of pregnancy that needs immediate treatment, as it may be life threatening to both mother and baby. Women with a diagnosis of placenta previa may be admitted to hospital in the later stages of pregnancy for observation and most will be encouraged to deliver by cesarean section. The cause of placenta previa is unknown and there is no way to prevent it, but it is more common in women with certain risk factors.
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Risk Factors
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Placenta previa is more common in women that smoke cigarettes or use cocaine, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Those aged over 30 years of age are three times more likely to develop a placenta previa than those under the age of 20 years old. Women who have had one or more pregnancies are also at greater risk. Women who have had previous uterine surgery such as a myomectomy, a procedure that removes uterine fibroids, a cesarean section or a D and C (dilatation and curettage), which can cause uterine scarring, have a greater chance of having a placenta previa. Those carrying twins, triplets or more multiples have a higher risk of this complication. For those women that have had a previous placenta previa, there is a 4 to 8 percent chance of it occurring again. According to the Mayo Clinic, placenta previa is also more common among Asian women. Those women with an abnormally developed uterus or an abnormally formed or large placenta may also be at a higher risk of placenta previa.
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