PLACENTA COMPLICATIONS

Placental complications can result in excessive bleeding, cause a lack of blood, oxygen, and nutrients reach to the fetus, and may stall fetal development. Premature birth and complicated deliveries can result from placental complications. All these factors increase the likelihood of a child developing cerebral palsy.

The most common signs of placental problems are vaginal bleeding and pain. Most cases are diagnosed by ultrasound and can be detected in the second and third trimesters.

The placenta is a pancake-shaped organ that develops during pregnancy to transfer blood, nutrients, and waste to and from the fetus. The placenta attaches to top of the uterine wall in the womb while the umbilical cord connects the placenta to the fetus. Placenta complications include:

PLACENTA COMPLICATIONS

Placental Abruption (Placenta Abruptio)

Placental abruption, which occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in about 1% of pregnancies, takes place when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall prior to delivery. Severe cases of complete abruption necessitate an immediate delivery, most likely through caesarian.

Milder cases of partial abruption are treated based on severity and gestational period. Whenever possible, pregnancy will be carried to term, but monitored as high-risk. Women with partial abruptions may be placed on bed rest or be required to stay in a hospital to ensure the abruption is monitored.

Doctors will attempt to determine whether the abruption will result in a premature delivery. When this is suspected, corticosteroids may be administered to speed lung development in the fetus.

PLACENTA COMPLICATIONS

Placenta Previa

Placenta Previa occurs in roughly one of every 200 pregnant women when the placenta blocks the cervix. This condition can be very serious for both mother and child, potentially blocking blood flow to the fetus and restricting intrauterine growth. For the mother, risks include excessive hemorrhaging and placenta accreta (attachment to uterine muscle), complications that may necessitate caesarean delivery. In some cases, placenta previa diagnosed in the second trimester will resolve by the time of delivery.The condition, however, must be monitored by a doctor.

Placenta Previa is divided into three types based on the amount of cervical blockage; complete, partial, and marginal. A diagnosis can be made with an ultrasound. Warning signs for pregnant women include:

  • Painless bleeding in the third trimester
  • Premature contractions
  • Severe back pain
  • Enlarged uterus related to gestation age

Cerebral Palsy Risk Factors

There are ten common risk factors. To learn more about them, click one of the following:

The presence of one or more risk factors does not ensure a child will develop cerebral palsy; it means chances are higher than if that risk factor was not present. Likewise, the absence of risk factors does not ensure that a child will not develop cerebral palsy. Risk factors merely identify possible cause for concern. Avoiding risk factors will help prevent a child from developing cerebral palsy; any exposure to risk factors prior to conception and during pregnancy should be discussed with a doctor in order to effectively treat and manage risk. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive; other risk factors may contribute to the development of cerebral palsy, as well.