Tell your mom with the C/S scheduled for a placenta previa that she
shouldn't worry so much! Not to treat this lightly, but it's pretty common
and doesn't usually cause a problem. I understand that she's apprehensive
about the C/S, but no, there should not be a particularly large amt. of
blood loss.

Perhaps she has heard about & is confusing it with placental *abruption*,
which happens when the placenta separates prematurely from the uterus and is
a true obstetric emergency. Placenta previa just means that the placenta
appears to be attached low in the uterus, fully or partly blocking the
pelvic outlet. Often, as the baby/uterus/placenta grow, the position of
placenta may even shift so that by time of delivery it's no longer a problem
at all. Clearly, when you think about it, the site of placental attachment
is a very vascular area and has the potential for heavy bleeding if it's
torn or ripped away, but the C/S will just bypass that whole problem, so it
won't be a danger.

And, since she & her OB already know that there is a previa, if she should
happen to go into labor spontaneously before her C/S, they will act fast to
get the baby delivered safely - it's when you don't know about these that
they can cause trouble. Plus if her baby is already 34 wks., odds are high
that it would be OK even if it were delivered tomorrow.

Cathy Bargar RN IBCLC Ithaca NY

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