Placenta praevia is not usually dangerous for the mother or the baby: a far greater risk prevails for abruption of the placenta. Postpartum haemorrhage is more common with placenta praevia because of the reduced ability for the lower segment to retract.
Over 50% of patients are close to term when bleeding occurs, and the majority of these are managed conservatively. Generally, it is the mothers with excessive haemorrhage, and more rarely premature labour, that must be delivered.
Premature babies are more common within a placenta praevia population than in the general population, and they have a greater morbidity and mortality.
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