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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Placenta Praevia?
Question: I recently went to the hospital after I discovered bleeding and clotting when I went to the bathroom. I was diagnosed with placenta previa. The bleeding stopped within the hour of noticing. My regular doctor said to continue activity as normal and scheduled me to havea vaginal ultrasound to measure my cervix (two days after the bleeding). Before that appointment I was still having brown spotting and did not feel comfortable doing the ultrasound. I am still having brown spotting-some of what I read other women said their doctors put them on bedrest. Is this something I need to do? Also should I do the ultrasound? I read any "trauma" vaginally can cause problems.
Brief Answer:
bed rest is important
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,welcome to healthcare magic.
I understand your concern.
In my opinion if you are diagnosed with placenta praevia and ultrasound showing low lying placenta
then you need to follow the below things like:-
1)Avoid physical strain of any types even prolonged standing.
2)Bed rest with bathroom privileges.
3)Avoid intercourse.
4)Avoid any vaginal examinations as they might exacerbate or provoke the bleeding.
Placenta praevia is painless recurrent bleeding seen in the antenatal period.
Usually placenta praevia seen in early pregnancy subsides spontaneously at 24 weeks because placenta moves to upper segment in 90% of cases.
So you can check it by serial ultrasound.But till that is confirmed utmost care is to be taken.Take iron rich food like dates,zaggery,figs,green leafy veggies and liver along with iron supplements to counteract anemia caused due to bleeding.
Dont worry many such type of cases might progress normally till term and will have good outcome.
Abdominal ultrasound can be done .
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to ask any more queries.
bed rest is important
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,welcome to healthcare magic.
I understand your concern.
In my opinion if you are diagnosed with placenta praevia and ultrasound showing low lying placenta
then you need to follow the below things like:-
1)Avoid physical strain of any types even prolonged standing.
2)Bed rest with bathroom privileges.
3)Avoid intercourse.
4)Avoid any vaginal examinations as they might exacerbate or provoke the bleeding.
Placenta praevia is painless recurrent bleeding seen in the antenatal period.
Usually placenta praevia seen in early pregnancy subsides spontaneously at 24 weeks because placenta moves to upper segment in 90% of cases.
So you can check it by serial ultrasound.But till that is confirmed utmost care is to be taken.Take iron rich food like dates,zaggery,figs,green leafy veggies and liver along with iron supplements to counteract anemia caused due to bleeding.
Dont worry many such type of cases might progress normally till term and will have good outcome.
Abdominal ultrasound can be done .
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to ask any more queries.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you for your response. In your professional opinion is a vaginal ultrasound to measure my cervix (due to previous LEEP and scar tissue) something I should do now? Can it affect the placenta or harm anything?
Brief Answer:
vaginal USG is accurate to measure cervix length
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.Iam sorry for your condition.
In my opinion previous history of LEEP and scar tissue is one of the causes for cervical incompetence which is in turn a cause for 2 nd trimester abortions and preterm labors.Upon confirming the cervical incompetence cervical stich is put to avoid above said complications.
Transvaginal ultrasound(TVS USG) accurately measures the length of cervix.
Abdominal ultrasound also measures length of cervix but not that accuratey.
TVS USG can be done in those with suspected short cervix like LEEP ,any previous history of mid trimester abortions etc.
In your case also it can be done as you have past history suggestive of LEEP but as you have placenta praevia better to avoid that.
Its not that it harms anything but the thing is as placenta is in lower segment even slight movement or touch by any means might provoke bleeding.
In order to prevent that there is need to avoid vaginal examinations, vaginal ultrasound and also intercourse.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to ask any more queries.
Best regards...Dr.srilatha
vaginal USG is accurate to measure cervix length
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.Iam sorry for your condition.
In my opinion previous history of LEEP and scar tissue is one of the causes for cervical incompetence which is in turn a cause for 2 nd trimester abortions and preterm labors.Upon confirming the cervical incompetence cervical stich is put to avoid above said complications.
Transvaginal ultrasound(TVS USG) accurately measures the length of cervix.
Abdominal ultrasound also measures length of cervix but not that accuratey.
TVS USG can be done in those with suspected short cervix like LEEP ,any previous history of mid trimester abortions etc.
In your case also it can be done as you have past history suggestive of LEEP but as you have placenta praevia better to avoid that.
Its not that it harms anything but the thing is as placenta is in lower segment even slight movement or touch by any means might provoke bleeding.
In order to prevent that there is need to avoid vaginal examinations, vaginal ultrasound and also intercourse.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to ask any more queries.
Best regards...Dr.srilatha
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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