Placenta praevia is said to occur when a placenta is situated in the lower uterine segment. There are degrees of abnormality associated with increasing need for a caesarian section instead of SVD; these are:
- 1st - just reaching the lower segment (minor praevia)
- 2nd - reaches the internal cervical os
- 3rd - crosses the os (major praevia)
- 4th - completely crossing the os
The degree of placenta praevia is also dependent on the extent of cervical dilatation at the time of examination.
It occurs in about 0.5% of pregnancies, and it is associated with maternal antepartum haemorrhage.
Uterine contractions result in the shearing off of the placenta from the myometrium and the decidua. As a result, the closer to term, the larger the amount of bleeding.
NICE suggest that (1):
- because most low-lying placentas detected at the routine anomaly scan will have resolved by the time the baby is born, only a woman whose placenta extends over the internal cervical os should be offered another transabdominal scan at 32 weeks. If the transabdominal scan is unclear, a transvaginal scan should be offered
Reference:
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