🧬 Reproductive🟢 BasicPlacental Disorders

Placenta Praevia

A placenta that lies low in the womb, covering or close to the outlet, causing painless bleeding late in pregnancy.

Key points

In placenta praevia the placenta is attached low in the womb, over or near the opening of the cervix.
As the lower womb stretches and the cervix begins to change, the placenta partly separates and bleeds.
The classic sign is painless, bright-red vaginal bleeding in the later part of pregnancy, often without warning.
Because the placenta blocks the way, the baby often lies in an abnormal position and a normal vaginal birth may be unsafe.
A vaginal examination is avoided until the placenta's position is known, because it can provoke severe bleeding, so ultrasound is used to locate it.

Memory trick

Placenta praevia is a low placenta over or near the cervix: painless bright-red bleeding late in pregnancy, often an abnormal lie; avoid vaginal examination (severe bleeding), locate it with ultrasound.

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🧬 Reproductive🟢 BasicPlacental Disorders

Placenta Praevia

A placenta that lies low in the womb, covering or close to the outlet, causing painless bleeding late in pregnancy.

Key points

In placenta praevia the placenta is attached low in the womb, over or near the opening of the cervix.
As the lower womb stretches and the cervix begins to change, the placenta partly separates and bleeds.
The classic sign is painless, bright-red vaginal bleeding in the later part of pregnancy, often without warning.
Because the placenta blocks the way, the baby often lies in an abnormal position and a normal vaginal birth may be unsafe.
A vaginal examination is avoided until the placenta's position is known, because it can provoke severe bleeding, so ultrasound is used to locate it.

Memory trick

All of Obstetrics & Gynaecology More Reproductive