What does complete placenta previa mean and how is it dangerous during pregnancy?

For the full development of the baby, "living" during pregnancy in my mother's tummy, a mandatory supply of oxygen and nutrients is required. This is directly involved taking the placenta.

Placental tissue is a particular specific organ that appears in the female body only during pregnancy. He begins to actively function by the beginning of the second trimester and persists until the birth. The main function of the placenta is to protect the child from the effects of the external environment, as well as to participate in providing the necessary blood flow for its growth and development.

The placental tissue contains many different blood vessels through which important substances enter the body of the fetus. From what structure the placenta has, and where it is located depends largely on the intensity of fetal intrauterine development.

Typically, placental tissue is formed in the immediate vicinity of the implantation site of the fertilized egg. In most pregnancies, implantation occurs in the area of ​​the uterus - its bottom. As a rule, the fertilized egg is attached to the back wall, where the best blood flow occurs. However, this situation is not always possible. Sometimes it also happens that the attachment of a fertilized egg occurs much lower - in the lower sections of the uterus. In this case, the placental tissue is formed and is quite close to the internal fallopian pharynx.

If the placental tissue "comes" on the area of ​​the internal uterine pharynx, then this pathology is already called previa. In order to assess the presence of this pathology, physicians must estimate the distance between the internal uterine throat and the placenta itself. In each segment of pregnancy, the rate of this indicator is different. In the second trimester, the placenta should be normally 5 cm above the uterine mouth. In the third trimester, this value increases to 7 cm.

Presentation may be different. Doctors use special classifications, which include several clinical options. One of the rather unfavorable options is the complete placenta previa. In this case, almost all of the placental tissue overlaps the uterine throat. In this situation, the placenta is located critically low in relation to the external female genital organs. In this case, the risk of adverse pregnancy complications increases many times over.

The development of full presentation can lead a variety of causal factors. Chronic diseases of the female genital organs most often contribute to this pathology. Pathologies that occur with the development of persistent inflammation are accompanied by damage to the inner mucous membrane of the uterus. Changes in the structure of the mucous membranes contribute to the fact that the fertilized egg simply can not attach to the uterine wall in the area of ​​its bottom.It begins to descend into the lower divisions, which leads to the formation of placenta previa.

One of the predisposing factors for the development of this pathology can be transferred to earlier surgery on the reproductive organs. Scraping the uterine walls, removal of myoma nodes and various neoplasms are risk factors for the development of placenta previa. Doctors note that this pathology is more common in women who give birth to second and subsequent babies.

At present, locate the placenta is quite simple. This can help doctors as usual vaginal examination, and conducting an ultrasound test. Ultrasound is certainly a more accurate method for diagnosing this pathology. Modern devices, with the help of which survey data are carried out, allow to calculate the distance between the placenta and the uterine throat with an accuracy of a centimeter fraction. Full placenta previa is a pathology that necessarily requires dynamic monitoring by doctors. To this end, specialists usually designate the expectant mother to undergo several ultrasound examinations with a certain frequency.

To assess the localization of the placenta with full previa, doctors often use transabdominal ultrasound. Transvaginal examinations and vaginal examinations may be fraught with bleeding.

When establishing the diagnosis of placenta previa, more careful and attentive attitude of doctors is required. For the future mother, individual recommendations are made for the correction of her lifestyle, which she must perfectly follow. It is important to remember that during the course of such a complicated pregnancy at any time there may be life-threatening conditions for the fetus.

Usually the first unpleasant symptoms appear in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. With the full presentation of the placenta, they can develop in the 3rd trimester, as well as disturb the woman almost to the birth. In this case, it is important to be sure to monitor the well-being of the mother and child, and also not to allow possible dangerous states for their life.

Pregnancy, complicated placenta previa, often proceeds not quite smoothly. Only in rare cases, carrying a baby does not cause any discomfort to the expectant mother. As a rule, a pregnant woman exhibits various complications that aggravate the course of pregnancy. The most dangerous of them are the following:

1. development of bleeding from the genital tract;
2. placental abruption from the uterine wall;
3. violation of the fetal development of the fetus due to impaired blood flow through the uteroplacental vessels;
4. development of fetal hypoxia.

These clinical conditions usually develop in combination. The severity of adverse symptoms depends largely on how pronounced placenta prevailing. With full previa these symptoms develop quite often. The course of this pathology is difficult to predict. The development of complications can lead a variety of reasons.

Bleeding from the genital tract is one of the most common and unfavorable complications. The appearance of blood in underwear is usually noticed by the expectant mother herself. Blood clots in this case may have a different color: from dark brown to bright red.

In pregnancy, complicated by full placenta previa, it is very important to remember that when blood appears from the genital tract, you should immediately seek medical help. If the bleeding does not stop within a few hours, and the state of health of the pregnant woman worsens, then in such a situation an ambulance team should be called in immediately.

The arriving doctor can assess the general condition of the expectant mother and, if necessary, refer her to hospital for hospitalization.

During the hospital stay, the expectant mother will be treated to improve her well-being. In this case, doctors will definitely appreciate the general condition of the fetus. If the threat to life for the child is too great, and the gestation period is already sufficient for the delivery, then in such a situation, it is likely that a decision will be made about urgent surgical obstetric care.

Frequent bleeding from the genital tract is dangerous development for the future mother and her baby is extremely unfavorable condition - anemia. An anemic condition is characterized by a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood. Anemia has a negative effect on the intensity of intrauterine development of the fetus, and also significantly worsens the general well-being of a pregnant woman. To compensate for any violations that occurred, the future mother is prescribed medications containing iron.

Another dangerous complication of presentation is placental abruption. It usually develops after any mechanical action. Placental abruption may be insignificant or very massive.

Because of how much the placenta has detached from the uterine walls, the severity of this pathology will depend. In some cases, the placenta exfoliates so much that the fetal blood supply is also impaired rapidly. In this case, the child may experience hypoxia - this is oxygen starvation of the internal organs.

Tactics of pregnancy, complicated by full placenta previa, always individual. Over the entire period of carrying a baby, the general condition of the mother and the fetus may change several times. It is very important that at this time an experienced and qualified doctor, who may in time suspect the development of various complications, observe the pregnant woman.

With full placenta previa, caesarean section is the best choice for obstetrics. In this case, the possible risk of traumatic injuries and heavy bleeding during independent vaginal births is minimized.

It is very important to keep the pregnancy as long as possible. The later the child is born, the greater the chance that he will be adapted to life in a new habitat. If the course of a pregnancy complicated by full presentation can be controlled, then the doctors can determine the future date of the upcoming cesarean section.

That it is necessary to do, if the doctor has revealed full presentation of a placenta, look further.