Placenta Previa

Is there anything a woman can do prenatally about a low-lying placenta? Anything to help it grow upwards?

[finallyRN]

natalieboo-

There is nothing a woman can do to fix this condition. Sometimes it will migrate upwards as the uterus expands.

[SmilingBluEyes]

nothing. one hopes the placenta "migrates" upward as the uterus expands w/pregnancy. It is a random thing of bad luck to have previa, is all I have learned.

[LasVegasRN]

I was on bedrest for 8 weeks to assist with repositioning. It worked.

[mother/babyRN, RN]

Nope. I had a complete previa and it , unfortunately, never migrated, however, we have had a few people with marginal previa who did partially resolve into a low lying placenta. We never do vaginal exams without reading the results of the last ultrasound, if available. No one wants to put their finger through a placenta...Doesn't preclude you from a safe vaginal delivery, however...( the COMPLETE one does)

[at your cervix]

There is nothing that can be done to prevent it. However, if you have a client that has one, it is important that she is compliant with her doctors instructions. She will be placed on bedrest toward the end of her pregnancy. Nothing in her vagina. this includes no sexual intercourse at end of pregnancy (her md will tell her when), She needs to be sure to tell nurses right away when she goes to hospital that she has a previa so they don't check her. If she starts bleeding, she needs to go directly to hospital, do not pass go, do not collect $200. If she starts bleeding, it is life threatening to her baby and to her!!!

You would never want to alarm pt's, however FYI and to at least let them know, there are a fair amount of times that a pt ends up with a hysterectomy during their c-section because of the previa. Often times they are also an acreta (when the placenta grows into the uterus). But, this is not always the case.