Marginal placenta previa is a milder form of placenta previa where the placenta attaches lower than usual, near the cervix. It usually corrects itself as the pregnancy progresses, but bed rest and frequent doctor’s appointments are recommended, and vaginal bleeding is a common symptom. Complications include anemia, hemorrhage, and placental abruption. Risk factors include multiple pregnancies, previous placenta previa, uterus surgery, cesarean section, smoking, and age.
Marginal placenta previa describes a condition in which the placenta attaches lower than usual, near the cervix. This is a milder form of complete placenta previa, in which the placenta completely covers the cervix. The condition usually corrects itself as the pregnancy progresses, because the stretching of the uterus forces the placenta away from the cervix. Up to this point, bed rest and frequent doctor’s appointments are usually recommended, as are steroid shots to develop the baby’s lungs in the event of preterm labor and delivery. The main symptom of marginal placenta previa is vaginal bleeding, usually caused by broken blood vessels, starting in the second trimester.
In most pregnancies, the placenta attaches itself to the strong upper area of the uterus. When women have placenta previa, the placenta attaches to the lower area, which is thinner and, therefore, weaker. As the cervix elongates during pregnancy, the underside becomes even thinner, which often results in bright red blood from ruptured blood vessels. Marginal placenta previa is the mildest form, because the placenta attaches close to the cervix without covering it. The placenta covers part of the cervix in partial placenta previa and covers the entire cervix in complete placenta previa.
Some of the possible complications of marginal placenta previa include anemia and hemorrhage, which is why women with the condition are often observed closely after labor and delivery. Doctors can also measure the hemoglobin levels of both the mother and the baby after delivery, allowing anemia to be treated immediately if present. Placental abruption, in which the placenta separates from the uterus, is another risk of marginal placenta previa. This condition can lead to the death of the fetus because, without the placenta, it no longer receives oxygen or nutrients from the mother. One risk of placenta previa is preterm labor, which is why doctors may offer pregnant women steroid injections to help the baby’s lungs develop if the problem hasn’t corrected itself by the third trimester.
The cause of marginal placenta previa has not been determined, but some risk factors are known. For example, mothers who carry multiple babies in one pregnancy and those who gave birth earlier have a higher risk of this condition. Women who have had placenta previa, uterus surgery, or a cesarean section are also at increased risk for placenta previa. Women who smoke and those who are younger than 20 or older than 35 are also at increased risk of this condition.
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