Low-Lying Placenta & Placenta Previa: Understanding Risks & Safe Activities

Question
Hello-I am 31 years old and have 2 children who were both delivered by c-section. I am 16.5 weeks pregnant. I just had an ultrasound to determine the cause of some bleeding. I have been given the results by a student nurse practioner. She stated that I have a low-lying placenta/placenta previa,(the placenta is directly over my cervix right now) but that I shouldn't worry about it right now. I have done my homework and everything I have read is worriesome. I am wondering what activities I should avoid or steps to take so that I don't aggravate this situation. Thanks for your help

Answer
If the placenta is directly over your cervix, it is a placenta previa and not a low lying placenta. However, at 16 weeks gestation, the placenta usually migrates away from the cervical opening within a few weeks. For now, you should avoid intercourse,or heavy lifting or straining. You should repeat the sonogram at 20 weeks and again at 24 weeks. By then, the placenta may have migrated away from the cervix and you can resume all your activities. If the placenta only migrates a little bit away from the cervix, it is called a Low Lying placenta. This should not cause any bleeding nor should it cause any problems. If you had two previous cesarean sections, you probably will have a repeat cesarean section when you are ready to deliver. If the placenta remains as a previa, you will be asked to have the cesarean section as soon as the baby is mature enough to exist in the outside world (around 37 weeks gestation). If you start bleeding while the baby is immature, the blood will be replaced and you will be placed on bedrest. If the bleeding is so heavy that the doctors are seriously worried about the baby, you will be delivered earlier (by cesarean). If the placenta is only low lying, there should not be any problem. If, of course, the placenta moves completely away from the cervix, there is nothing else to do.