Avoiding Placenta Previa: When Premature Birth is Beneficial

If you are at risk for premature delivery of your infant, there are some benefits to consider in early delivery. If you are pregnant, there is no doubt you are familiar, to some extent, with the risks and complications that may be present should you experience vaginal bleeding while pregnant. For many women, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can represent a variety of complications. But, for those women who experience vaginal bleeding in the late stage of pregnancy, there is great cause for concern as, often, this is attributed to a complication of the placenta.

Hemorrhage is a common concern among women who experience bleeding late in pregnancy. When bleeding is evident, it is important to seek the advice of a healthcare professional to determine not only the cause and origin of your pregnancy complication but also to monitor and manage the amount of blood lost. Without proper medical intervention, a pregnant woman's health can be compromised, resulting in extremely low blood pressure, known as hypotension, and irregular heart beat.

So, what could be the causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy? For some women the cause of vaginal bleeding may be attributed to minor movements or even examination by your healthcare professional. However, in most cases, this vaginal bleeding is relatively minor. When bleeding of a significant amount is present, the complication may involve a condition known as placenta previa, or the presence of a low lying placenta, which is commonly diagnosed during the second trimester.

The signs of complications associated with placenta previa usually begin as vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester with many women reporting a significant amount of blood loss after sexual intercourse. While blood loss of this nature is normally not indicative of an immediate health risk, women who experience post sexual vaginal bleeding while pregnant should seek the advice of their obstetrician immediately.