Health Information
Placenta Previa
Symptoms
Symptoms of placenta previa include one or both of the following:
- Sudden, painless Reference vaginal bleeding that ranges from slight to heavy. The blood is often bright red. Bleeding can occur as early as the 20th week of pregnancy but is most common during the third Reference trimester Opens New Window.
- Symptoms of preterm labor, such as regular, menstrual-like cramps, or a feeling of pressure in your lower abdomen. The bleeding from placenta previa can cause the uterus to contract.
Bleeding from
Reference placenta previa Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window may taper off and even stop for a while. But it nearly always
starts again days or weeks later.
Some women with placenta previa do not have any symptoms. In this case, placenta previa may only be diagnosed by an Reference ultrasound Opens New Window done for other reasons.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference February 3, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference William Gilbert, MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine |
|
© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
