Placenta Previa Effects on Your Baby

The placenta is a critical organ that develops during pregnancy to nurture a growing fetus. The umbilical cord supplies essential nutrients and oxygen to the baby throughout pregnancy. It also carries away the baby’s waste. Unfortunately, issues with the placenta can put the health of both the mother and baby at risk.

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches lower in the uterus than usual, which can block the cervix. This condition is associated with maternal bleeding that can often be life-threatening. It can also cause birth injuries due to preterm birth and/or lack of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. This may include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, vision loss, behavioural issues, and more.

At the Birth Injury Lawyers Alliance (BILA), we are dedicated to advocating for families who have experienced birth injuries related to medical negligence. Many birth injuries are preventable with the proper care, monitoring, and intervention. If your baby has been diagnosed with a birth injury, reach out today to schedule a free consultation with a birth injury lawyer in your province.

What Is Placenta Previa?

During pregnancy, an organ – the placenta – develops in a mother’s uterus. Its role is to deliver nutrients and oxygen to a developing fetus while removing waste through the umbilical cord. The placenta typically attaches to the top or side of the uterus. 

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta attaches low in the uterus. This can cause part of the placenta to cover the cervix, which is the opening to the uterus. Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding in the mother during pregnancy and during, and/or after labour and delivery.

There are three types of placenta previa:

1. Complete placenta previa occurs when the cervix is completely covered by the placenta.
2. Partial placenta previa occurs when only part of the cervix is covered by the placenta.
3. Marginal placenta previa is when the placenta extends just to the edge of the cervix.

The main symptom of placenta previa is vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks of pregnancy. There is usually no pain to accompany the bleeding. The blood will be bright red.  Other potential symptoms include the baby being in a breech position, the uterus measuring longer than it should, and the mother experiencing premature contractions.

Bleeding from placenta previa may be triggered by pre-labour contractions, sex, or a pelvic exam. It also may not begin until labour starts. Sometimes, there is no clear cause of the bleeding.

The cause of placenta previa is not known. However, certain risk factors have been identified. This condition is more common in women who:

• Have previously had a baby;
• Have had a previous C-section delivery;
• Had placenta previa in a prior pregnancy;
• Are pregnant through an assisted reproductive technology like IVF;
• Have scars on their uterus from a previous procedure or surgery;
• Are aged 35 or older;
• Have a multiple pregnancy (carrying more than 1 baby);
• Smoke; and/or
• Use cocaine.

Placenta previa can sometimes correct itself during pregnancy. However, if a mother has this condition, then doctors should closely monitor her to lower the risk of serious complications. This may include severe bleeding (hemorrhage), a preterm birth, placental abruption (where the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus), or placenta accreta (a condition where the placenta grows into or through the wall of the uterus).

Placenta previa is diagnosed through an ultrasound. If a mother has placenta previa, then an obstetrician should typically order more frequent ultrasounds to monitor changes in the placenta. This may include the use of a transvaginal ultrasound in addition to or instead of an abdominal ultrasound.

If the condition does not resolve on its own, then the medical team should schedule a C-section delivery. An emergency C-section may be necessary in cases involving extreme blood loss and/or health risks to the mother and/or baby. While the goal is to postpone labour and delivery for as long as possible to give the baby’s lungs a chance to fully develop, it may be necessary to deliver a baby early to save the life of the mother.

Vaginal bleeding at any point after 20 weeks of pregnancy is considered a medical emergency. If an expectant mother experiences bleeding, then they will be admitted to the labour and delivery unit for monitoring. If the blood loss is significant, then a transfusion may be necessary. If the bleeding resolves, then an expectant mother may be discharged from the hospital but may be put on bed rest with restrictions. A mother may also be given steroid shots to help the baby’s lungs mature.

Mothers with placenta previa who have not experienced bleeding may be advised to avoid any activity that could trigger bleeding. This includes having sex, pelvic exams, travel, using tampons, standing for too long, lifting heavy objects, and any type of exercise. The goal in this situation is to get the mother as close as possible to their due date. Even without any bleeding during pregnancy, a mother with placenta previa will likely be scheduled for a C-section delivery between 36 and 37 weeks.

How Can Placenta Previa Affect Your Baby?

The primary concern with placenta previa, particularly during the third trimester, is that the mother will experience life-threatening blood loss. However, placenta previa also presents a serious risk of birth injuries for the baby.

Placenta previa is associated with preterm birth. When a mother experiences severe bleeding during pregnancy, a doctor may perform an emergency C-section before 36 weeks of pregnancy. Any birth before the 37th week of pregnancy is considered a preterm birth.

Premature babies tend to have serious health problems. In the short term, this can include breathing difficulties, heart problems, intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), difficulty regulating their body temperature, digestive issues, jaundice, hypoglycemia, and a weaker immune system. Long-term, premature babies are more likely to be diagnosed with:

• Cerebral palsy, which is a group of disorders that can affect movement, muscle tone, and/or posture;
• Learning disabilities;
• Vision problems due to a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity;
• Hearing loss;
• Dental issues;
• Behavioural and/or mental health problems; and/or
• Ongoing health issues, such as asthma.

Placenta previa also increases the risk of placenta accreta. This poses a risk of severe vaginal bleeding. When an expectant mother is at risk of hemorrhaging, her care team will likely perform an early C-section. As such, the baby will likely be born preterm, which raises the likelihood of the issues noted above.

Another common condition that occurs with placenta previa is placental abruption. When the placenta separates from the uterus, it can decrease or block the baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients. This can cause a range of issues, including restricted growth, brain damage due to lack of oxygen, premature birth, and stillbirth. Babies who are deprived of oxygen during pregnancy or labour and delivery may be diagnosed with a range of conditions such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), neonatal encephalopathy, seizure disorders, microcephaly, and/or cerebral palsy (CP).

The risk of an expectant mother suffering significant blood loss – and potentially dying – is high with placenta previa. This condition can also harm a baby due to premature birth or a lack of oxygen and nutrients. A baby who is impacted by preterm birth or oxygen deprivation during birth may be diagnosed with a disability that requires a lifetime of care.

Placenta previa isn’t always preventable. However, doctors should perform tests to check for this condition during pregnancy. If a mother is diagnosed with placenta previa, then doctors must carefully monitor her and intervene if necessary. 

A failure to appropriately monitor and intervene may be a sign of medical negligence. It may include:

• Attempting a vaginal delivery;
• Failure to order an ultrasound to diagnose placenta previa;
• Failure to order regular ultrasounds after a placenta previa diagnosis;
• Performing a pelvic exam on a mother with placenta previa;
• Failure to continuously monitor fetal health; and/or
• Failure to perform a timely C-section delivery.

Any of these failures may lead to serious complications, including maternal death or a permanent disability for the baby. If you or your family has been affected by birth injuries related to medical malpractice, you may be able to pursue legal action.

Contact BILA for Help

A healthy placenta is crucial for the health of both the mother and baby. Placenta previa might not be preventable, but medical negligence is. If a doctor fails to appropriately monitor, treat, and/or intervene with an emergency C-section when a mother has been diagnosed with placenta previa, the health of the mother and baby might be at risk.

If your baby has been diagnosed with a birth injury that you believe was caused by medical negligence, a birth injury lawyer can advise you of your legal options. For assistance with birth injuries related to placenta previa or other types of birth injury claims, call BILA today at 1-800-300-BILA or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer in your province.