Placenta previa

Topic: Maternity

A placenta implanted in the lower uterine segment whose edge reaches or covers the internal cervical os; one whose edge lies less than 2 cm (20 mm) from the os without covering it is called low-lying. The classic sign is painless, bright red vaginal bleeding; sudden, severe abdominal pain points instead to placental abruption. Diagnosis is by ultrasound. Never perform a vaginal examination, because it can provoke hemorrhage; monitor blood loss, maternal vital signs and the fetal heart rate, and prepare for cesarean birth.

Also known as:

Placenta praevia

In Turkish:

Plasenta previa