Which of the following statements concerning placenta previa is true?
A. Its incidence decreases with maternal ageB. The initial hemorrhage is usually painless and rarely fatal
C. Its incidence is unaffected by parity
D. Management no longer includes a double setup
The
answer is b.
The initial hemorrhage in placenta previa is usually painless and rarely fatal.
If the fetus is premature and if hemorrhaging is not severe, vaginal
examination of a woman suspected of having placenta previa frequently can be
delayed until 37 weeks gestation; this delay in the potentially hazardous
examination reduces the risk of prematurity, which is often associated with
placenta previa. Vaginal examination, when needed to determine whether a low-
lying placenta is covering the internal os of the cervix, should be performed
in an operating room fully prepared for an emergency cesarean section.
Increasing maternal age and multiparity are associated with a higher incidence
of placenta previa.
