QOD: What happens if I have a placenta previa?
If you have a placenta previa, you will need serial ultrasounds to see if it persists or resolves. If it persists, you will need to deliver by C-section. While pregnant, you shouldn’t have sex or exercise vigorously, and you’ll need to keep an eye out for any bleeding.
If a previa is seen, your provider will likely recommend that an ultrasound is repeated around 32 weeks of gestation to see if it is persistent or if it has resolved. If it is still there, another ultrasound is usually done around 36 weeks of pregnancy. If you have a persistent placenta previa, you will need to deliver via Cesarean section, typically around 36 weeks gestation though this timing may vary. One exception is a low-lying previa that is more than 1 centimeter away from the cervix; usually vaginal deliveries are acceptable in this group.
To decrease the chance of any bleeding, your provider will advise you to not put anything in the vagina and to limit strenuous aerobic exercise.
Reviewed by Dr. Jen Lincoln, April 2020
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