Placenta previa is typically described with which bleeding pattern and fetal status?

Placenta previa is typically described with which bleeding pattern and fetal status?

• A. Placenta previa
• B. Placental abruption
• C. Vasa previa
• D. No placental pathology

Answer: (A)

Placenta previa presents with painless vaginal bleeding in the third trimester, occurring without uterine tenderness or contractions. Because the placenta sits low in the uterus near or over the cervical os, bleeding tends to be mild to moderate and not associated with painful contractions. The fetus is typically in a reassuring state, with a normal or stable heart rate, because the placenta is not abruptly separating from the uterus as it is in placental abruption. This contrasts with placental abruption, which is usually painful bleeding with a tender, rigid uterus and potential fetal distress, and with vasa previa, which involves bleeding that is often fetal in origin and can lead to rapid fetal compromise. No placental pathology would not account for the painless third-trimester bleeding pattern seen in placenta previa.

Placenta previa presents with painless vaginal bleeding in the third trimester, occurring without uterine tenderness or contractions. Because the placenta sits low in the uterus near or over the cervical os, bleeding tends to be mild to moderate and not associated with painful contractions. The fetus is typically in a reassuring state, with a normal or stable heart rate, because the placenta is not abruptly separating from the uterus as it is in placental abruption. This contrasts with placental abruption, which is usually painful bleeding with a tender, rigid uterus and potential fetal distress, and with vasa previa, which involves bleeding that is often fetal in origin and can lead to rapid fetal compromise. No placental pathology would not account for the painless third-trimester bleeding pattern seen in placenta previa.