Placenta previa means the placenta is low in the womb and partly or completely covers the opening of the cervix.
The most common symptom is painless vaginal bleeding in later pregnancy, though some women are diagnosed on routine scan before any bleeding happens.
Ultrasound helps show where the placenta is lying and whether it is still covering or close to the cervix as the pregnancy grows.
Ultrasound is the main way to diagnose and follow placenta previa and helps maternity teams plan delivery safely.
Management depends on the bleeding, the stage of pregnancy, and the placenta position, and may include close monitoring, hospital admission, and planning for delivery by caesarean section.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
