Low Baby Position in Pregnancy: Risks, Causes & What to Do

Question
Greetings. My girl friend is pregnat with my child. She is from Thailand, so the language barrier is sometimes a problem. Her doctor is telling her that the baby is sitting too low, and that if she were to bleed, she would need to go to the hospital immediately. Also, any sexual activities should immediately be stopped, as it probably would end the pregnancy. He told her as well that she will need a "C" section,(I think that's how you spell it), and that he saw possible complications when she is due to deliver. He also advised her that, if she were to have another child, she could possibly lose her life. I have tried to understand why, but given the language barrier, I am not able to understand what they are referring to. What would you suggest, or typically, what would seem to be the problem? The baby is due july the 3rd. That's when they will cut to deliver the child.  
Thank you in advance for any information you may provide me with.
Frederic Bailloux in Phoenix Arizona.

Answer
From your description, the baby is not low, but the placenta is either a "low-lying" placenta or a "placenta previa" where the placenta is covering the cervical opening. If the cervix starts to dilate, and the placenta is covering the opening of the cervix, your girlfriend can bleed to death and lose the baby. For this reason, we try to limit activities (no heavy lifting, no sex, etc) to avoid the effects of gravity and exercise on the cervix. If she starts to bleed, the baby may have to be delivered early. If she does reach term, and the placenta is still covering the cervix, she will need to have a cesarean section to avoid bleeding. However, very often, the placent will eventually move away from the cervical opening and the problem will resolve. Therefore, she should have another sonogram in a few weeks to see if the placenta has moved away.  If it is merely a "low lying" placenta, it may only partially cover the cervix or just be near the cervix, which does not present as serious a problem. This is a common situation and is usually handled quite safely. Don't worry.