The first trimester of every pregnancy involves thorough medical examinations where a complete medical history is taken down and a list made of all ailments former and current that the mother is suffering from. The gynecologist usually looks for hypertension, diabetes, anemia, epilepsy, hereditary diseases and analyses all medication past and present of the young mother to be.
Risk factors for placenta previa are advanced age of the mother, placenta previa in previous births, caesarean in the previous birth and if the mother has had several children earlier.
Placenta previa in the first trimester is symptomized by bleeding from the vagina that is not heralded by any abdominal pain or tenderness. The blood is bright red in color and although the other symptoms vary from woman to woman they can easily be mistaken for any other pregnancy related problem. Abdominal premature contractions and a breech or transverse lie of the fetus are other symptoms. The placenta in the first trimester is usually shown as low-lying in the ultrasound. It is rare for women to develop placenta previa and as the uterus grows, the placenta sometimes migrates from the cervix and moves upwards. Apart from the bleeding, this condition can also lead to preterm birth, a slow development of the fetus, birth defects, an abnormal implantation of the placenta and infections in the mother post delivery. Once the extent of placenta previa is diagnosed, the doctor takes into consideration other factors such as your overall health, medical history, the extent of the condition, your reaction to specific medication and so on.
Depending on a variety of factors such as the position of the placenta, the amount of bleeding, the stage of gestation, the position and condition of the fetus, the baby might have to be delivered. A caesarean is the common course but since this is the first trimester, the doctor will weigh your options. The mother is usually prescribed complete bed rest and must only get up to eat and use the toilet. Eating wholesome nutritious meals and resting well will allow the baby to grow healthily and it will push the placenta away from the cervix in time. Nettles which are a rich source of Vitamin K are known to help with the bleeding and spotting. It is best to avoid intercourse during pregnancy and the mother may be given steroid shots to help the baby’s lungs mature rapidly in case of an early delivery. Uncontrollable bleeding, however, will result in a caesarean delivery regardless of the stage at which the baby is.
