What Is Placenta Previa?

Being pregnant, giving birth, and making plans to raise a child are supposed to be happy and joyous times in a person’s life. However, when pregnancy complications emerge, it can be difficult to enjoy these moments.

It is your medical provider’s job to keep an eye out for any risks or potential complications as well as ensure that you and your new baby continue to thrive and be healthy during your pregnancy as well as labor and delivery. If they fail to do this, placenta previa may arise, which is a dangerous and life-threatening birth injury that could severely impact you and your baby’s life.

Defining placenta previa

According to the Mayo Clinic, when a person has placenta previa, “the placenta attaches lower in the uterus.” This can cause the placenta to develop too low and start to grow over the cervix. As a result, an individual with this condition may experience bleeding while pregnant or giving birth. Sometimes, the placenta will change throughout the pregnancy, leading to the condition fixing itself. However, if this does not happen, the pregnant mother will be required to deliver the infant by undergoing cesarean section (C-section) surgery.

What are the signs and symptoms of placenta previa?

If you are concerned that you may have placenta previa but are not completely sure, there are a few different signs and symptoms that you can keep an eye out for, including:

• Light blood or spotting during pregnancy
• Heavy bleeding
• Contractions or pain before time to deliver/ your due date

Sometimes, women with placenta previa will experience bleeding with no pain at all. Other times, they may have severe pain that feels like contractions. If you notice any type of bleeding, whether heavy or light, it is crucial that you notify your doctor and get medical assistance right away.

Are there certain factors that can increase the chances of an individual developing placenta previa?

There are several different factors that may increase your chances of developing placenta previa. Some of these factors include:

• Have given birth to other children
• Have been diagnosed with placenta previa previously
• Had a C-section surgery before
• Have present scars from other conditions, surgeries, or medical procedures
• 35 years of age or older
• Had fertility assistance or had reproductive technology assistance
• Pregnant with multiples
• Currently smoke or do drugs

When is placenta previa most dangerous?

While placenta previa can be dangerous at any time, there are certain instances that indicate that the complication has become very serious, and you need to contact your physician immediately. These instances include:

• You begin going into labor before it is time: Placenta previa can become very dangerous when it sends your body into preterm labor. This means that your body starts to have contractions, and you go into labor before your baby’s due date. Unfortunately, if this happens, your baby may have severe complications as their lungs, heart, and other important body parts or organs may not be fully developed yet.
• You experience a lot of blood loss: If your doctor cannot get your bleeding under control, you may experience too much blood loss. This can be very dangerous and even deadly. Due to placenta previa, heavy vaginal bleeding can occur while pregnant, giving birth, or even several hours after the baby is born. Your doctor will need to keep a close eye on you for an extended period of time after you deliver the baby.
• You develop placenta accreta spectrum: While placenta previa is already a serious condition, it can develop into something even more serious called placenta accreta spectrum. When a person has placenta accreta spectrum, this means that the placenta has started growing on or inside the uterus wall. As a result, the risk of bleeding throughout the pregnancy or during labor and delivery increases.

If an individual’s placenta previa isn’t treated correctly or in a timely manner, the result may be a stillbirth, needing a hysterectomy, fetal distress, death of the mother, and more.

When can I sue for medical malpractice for placenta previa?

If you learned that you had placenta previa during or after your pregnancy, there is a good chance that you are curious to know if you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, you must be aware of the fact that simply being diagnosed with placenta previa is not enough to qualify for a medical malpractice lawsuit. What directly causes this condition is still unknown.

Therefore, your doctor likely did not do anything to cause you to get placenta previa, but if you believe that you were not listened to or treated properly/promptly by your doctor, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice suit. Here are six scenarios that indicate that you may be a victim of medical malpractice and need to speak with a Little Rock medical malpractice lawyer about pursuing a claim as soon as possible:

1. Your doctor did not run any tests or do an ultrasound when you explained that you were bleeding.
2. You do not feel like you or your baby were monitored properly or enough throughout your pregnancy.
3. Even though the doctor knew you needed a C-section, they kept putting it off.
4. You were told to go through a natural birthing process even though the placenta was covering your cervix.
5. You were not offered or provided with any treatment options after being diagnosed with placenta previa.
6. After your placenta previa diagnosis, your physician was not careful and still did exams or procedures on you that led to serious blood loss and preterm labor.

If you believe that your doctor mishandled your placenta previa and you or your child suffered as a result of their actions, Bailey & Greer, PLLC, is here to legally assist you. Our Little Rock medical malpractice attorneys will listen to your experience, find evidence to support your side of the story, and stand up and fight for your right to the compensation you deserve. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation and start discussing your potential legal options today.

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