Understanding placenta previa & associated risks

David Miller, MD Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, explains what placenta previa is, the risks associated with it during pregnancy
Placenta Previa and Associated Risks During Pregnancy
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Understanding placenta previa & associated risks

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Now what is placenta previa? How is it detected? How can it be a problem? And what do you do about it? Well a placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta, commonly referred to as the afterbirth, covers the opening of the womb. Sometimes called the mouth of the womb, but in medical terms called the cervix. If that is diagnosed early in pregnancy, it probably will resolve later in pregnancy, but if it persists after the first half of pregnancy, it can lead to a few problems. One of the most common problems is vaginal bleeding, and if that occurs, you'll need to make sure that you inform your doctor immediately. If placenta previa persists to the end of pregnancy, to full term, most likely it will require a Cesarean Section.

David Miller, MD Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, explains what placenta previa is, the risks associated with it during pregnancy

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David Miller, MD

Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

David A. Miller, MD, is Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.  He is the Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Director of the CHLA-USC Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, a unique alliance of medical leaders from Children's Hospital Los Angeles and USC, specializing in interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of complex fetal abnormalities.  Dr. Miller graduated from USC, attended medical school at the University of Arkansas, did his internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and came back to USC for fellowship training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Perinatology).  He has been a researcher, clinician and educator at USC for more than 20 years.  Dr. Miller has published extensively in the area of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and has won numerous awards and honors including Best Doctors in America from 2001-present.

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Transcription: 
Now what is placenta previa? How is it detected? How can it be a problem? And what do you do about it? Well a placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta, commonly referred to as the afterbirth, covers the opening of the womb. Sometimes called the mouth of the womb, but in medical terms called the cervix. If that is diagnosed early in pregnancy, it probably will resolve later in pregnancy, but if it persists after the first half of pregnancy, it can lead to a few problems. One of the most common problems is vaginal bleeding, and if that occurs, you'll need to make sure that you inform your doctor immediately. If placenta previa persists to the end of pregnancy, to full term, most likely it will require a Cesarean Section.