A low lying placenta occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower side of the uterus or it covers the cervix completely. Even if you have been diagnosed as having a low-lying placenta, there is hope. Many women start out with a low lying placenta, but then as the baby and the placenta grow; it sort of migrates up out of the way of the cervix. It may be a slow process, but don't be too surprised if at your next ultrasound your placenta is now anything but low-lying. Most women will experience a dramatic change in the area in which the placenta resides, though .5-1% of women will experience little or no change. It is commoner is the early stages of pregnancy and as the pregnancy progresses the chances are that the placenta "goes up". To explain in simple terms the uterus grows during pregnancy and this the placenta moves further up. To give a simple example one can mention a deflated balloon with a mark in the lower section. As one inflates the balloon the mark goes up and this applies to placenta praevia. However if it is completely covering the cervix this usually remains so until the end of pregnancy.

If you experience no change, your doctor will keep a close eye on your progress. If you experience heavy bleeding, you may be hospitalized until delivery so that you don't lose too much blood, risking your life and the life of your baby. While staying in the hospital under observation might not be your idea of fun, it's the best way for your doctors to determine if your baby needs to be delivered sooner rather than later.

If you arrive at your due date with a low lying or partially covered cervix, you'll be scheduled for a cesarean section. This might be a blow to your plan for delivery, but in the end it's the only way to safely deliver your baby because your placenta covers your cervix.

Treatment of placenta previa depends on how far along your pregnancy is and how much bleeding you are experiencing. If it is diagnosed after the 20th week of your pregnancy, and you are not experiencing any bleeding, you may be simply asked to cut back on your activities, and increase the amount of time you spend in bed. You should, however, be alert for any bleeding in which case you will be put on bed rest, be told to refrain from sexual intercourse and be monitored more closely by your practitioner. This is because up to 90% of complete previas will resolve by term. However, if you are found to be bleeding you may be hospitalized until both you and your baby are stabilized, and even then you may be told to stay in bed as much as possible until the baby is ready to be delivered.

Every mother with a low lying placenta has different expectancies and with regards to exercise and sexual intercourse it would be ideal to discuss it with your obstetrician as he/she would be able to give advice according to your degree of placenta praevia.