Can I get pregnant again after placenta previa?

For women who have had placenta previa in their pregnancy, you may be worried about your reproductive health. Not a few then wondered whether they could get pregnant again after previously experiencing placenta previa. Will future pregnancies have the same problem or not? Come on, see the following explanation.

What is placenta previa?

Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta covers part or all of the cervix. The cervix is the baby's birth canal, which is located at the top of the vagina. This condition can occur in 1 in 200 pregnancies.

If you are detected with this condition early in pregnancy, it is usually fine. However, if left untreated, this disorder can result in heavy bleeding before or during labor.

During pregnancy, the placenta will grow according to the development of the baby. In a pregnancy where the placenta is normal, the placenta is in a low position in the uterus and will move up and to the side of the uterus as the baby grows. In the case of placenta previa, the placenta will still grow in the lower part of the uterus and then close the cervical opening and will remain like that until just before delivery.

When labor arrives, your baby will pass through the birth canal. If you have this placental disorder, when the cervix starts to dilate and opens for delivery, the blood vessels that connect the placenta to the uterus may be torn. This in turn causes heavy bleeding during labor and delivery, threatening the safety of both you and your baby.

You can still get pregnant again after experiencing placenta previa

If you have a previous history of placenta previa, you still have a 2-3 percent chance of having this condition again in the next pregnancy. The risk is even greater if you previously had a C-section and uterine surgery such as curettage or removal of fibroids.

But take it easy, your hope to get pregnant again after placenta previa will still be there. If you want a normal delivery, then it's best not to rush it. Give it a gap of about 18-24 months before trying to get pregnant again. This time lag is needed for your uterus to return to normal work again.

If you have certain concerns, you should immediately consult with your obstetrician when it is possible to try another pregnancy after experiencing placental problems in a previous pregnancy.

Prevent placenta previa when you get pregnant again

Actually there is no known exact way to prevent a woman from avoiding placenta previa. However, you can reduce your risk of developing placenta previa by observing the following:

Do not smoke
Do not take illegal drugs
Maintain the health of the womb, for example regularly check up and maintaining a balanced diet
Only have a Caesarean section if it is very medically necessary

As previously mentioned, one of the risks for having a placental disorder is that you have had a history of having a Caesarean section. Therefore, it is recommended that if your pregnancy is healthy and there is no medical reason to do a Caesarean section during delivery, you should let the labor run normally. The more Caesarean sections you have had, the greater your risk of getting placenta previa.