Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta partially or completely covers the internal opening of the cervix.
Because the placenta blocks the baby’s normal path through the birth canal, placenta previa can cause serious bleeding during pregnancy or labor. Most women with complete placenta previa require delivery by cesarean section.
QUICK FACT
The placenta does not normally detach simply because it is low-lying early in pregnancy; its apparent position can change as the uterus grows.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Placental abruption: premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, typically associated with painful bleeding and uterine tenderness.
- Low-lying placenta: placenta positioned close to the cervix but not necessarily covering the cervical opening.
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