If you have placenta previa, it means that your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, next to or covering your cervix. The placenta is the pancake-shaped organ, normally located near the top of the uterus, that supplies your baby with nutrients through the umbilical cord.
Placenta previa is usually not a problem early in the pregnancy. But if it persists later into the pregnancy, it can cause bleeding, which may require you to deliver early and can lead to other complications. Many cases of placenta previa in the later stages of the pregnancy result in a c-section.
If the placenta covers the cervix completely, it’s called a complete or total previa. If it’s right on the border of the cervix, it’s called a marginal previa. If the edge of the placenta is within 2 centimeters of the cervix but not bordering it, it’s called a low-lying placenta. The location of your placenta will be checked during your midpregnancy ultrasound exam.
