Pharmacologic management of placenta previa?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

This is a homework question, of course, but kind of confused. Not sure what exactly they're going for here. All I can think of is betamethasone for fetal lung maturity and possibly tocylitics to hault premature labor, and maybe RhoGAM for Rh incompatibilities. I've referenced several books now and honestly don't get the question. It's not like there is a medication to treat placenta previa. Thoughts?

Probably better to ask in the OB nursing section for details, but as a general rule I think your approach is correct. There may or may not be one med for PP as a treatment/cure/prophylaxis, but there may be several that the nurse should anticipate to treat a gravid female who has it.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Can I just take a minute to THANK and APPLAUD the OP for not just asking us to do his/her homework but actually putting some thought into potential answers before posting?

Those kind of questions I NEVER mind helping with.

PS: I know nothing about OB - so no help for you in particular.....

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

OB is SO NOT my forte....You are on the right track as far as I know. Thread moved for best response

Probably better to ask in the OB nursing section for details, but as a general rule I think your approach is correct. There may or may not be one med for PP as a treatment/cure/prophylaxis, but there may be several that the nurse should anticipate to treat a gravid female who has it.

Thank you. I kind of think that is what they are going after. It's more a study prep question versus a graded assignment anyway. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something big I was missing.

The only other things I can think of are iron supplements for anemia and stool softeners to combat constipation (caused by the iron supplements and immobility [although current research states that bedrest is not helpful in preventing further bleeding]).

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

So, let's think about placenta previa. We know labor is contraindicated, so that could be the direction they're trying to go. So perhaps a tocolytic, as you suggested. I also liked your idea on BMZ, but we generally don't give it unless it appears that delivery seems imminent (and not after 34 weeks, but there is research being done currently on the benefits of BMZ in late preterm deliveries).

I think you're on the right track. Good job. :)

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