The main organ in the female body during pregnancy is the placenta. It ensures the vital activity of the fetus, metabolizes between mother and baby, protects it from infections, supplies oxygen. Finally, the child's place (also called the placenta) is formed by the end of the first trimester.
Proper attachment and functioning of the placenta directly affects the normal course of pregnancy and its successful resolution. Normally, the placenta should be attached to the bottom of the uterus (the uppermost wall). But there are cases when the attachment point is located below 6cm from the uterine throat, this position is called low attachment of the placenta.
Causes of low attachment of the placenta
Low attachment of the placenta may occur as a consequence:
- early surgical operations on the uterus (miscarriages, abortions);
- uterine fibroids ;
- Caesarean section;
- multiple pregnancy;
- smoking;
- conducted studies with penetration into the uterine cavity.
Nevertheless, it is not necessary to panic if at the 20th week of pregnancy with the help of ultrasound a low attachment of the placenta was determined. A child's place can be called a migrant organ. With the increase in the period of pregnancy, it can change its location. And if, for example, at 20 weeks you had a low attachment of the placenta, then at 22 weeks it may already be normal. In most cases, only 5% of women with low placental attachment remain in this position for up to 32 weeks. And where that one third of those 5% remains up to 37 weeks.
And yet, a low attachment of the placenta in the 22nd week of pregnancy should encourage the expectant mother to be especially attentive to her health and the health of her baby.
Low placentation has several variations:
- When the placenta is simply low, but does not overlap the uterine pharynx;
- When the placenta is located low and partially blocks the pharynx - this is called incomplete presentation;
- and in the case of complete overlap of the uterine throat, we have a complete placenta previa .
What should I do with a low attachment of the placenta?
Treatment of low attachment of the placenta at this stage in the development of our medicine does not exist. Low attachment of the placenta means that you need to follow the pregnancy more closely. Check the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. When there is pain or spotting, immediately call an ambulance, because detachment of a child's place is possible. In case of complete presentation, the possibility of an independent delivery of a woman is excluded. It is uniquely prepared for caesarean section. Since such a low location of the placenta can threaten a woman with nothing else than a life-threatening blood loss.