It should be done at 32–34 weeks of gestation for women with twins.

The recommended time of testing is 3–5 weeks prior to the anticipated delivery date- therefore  35–37 weeks of gestation in singleton pregnancies with no risk factors for preterm delivery.

In the event of an intrauterine death (IUD), where no sample can be obtained from the baby, an appropriate dose of prophylactic anti-D Ig should be administered within
72 h of the diagnosis of IUD, irrespective of the time of subsequent delivery.

Routine ultrasound screening is not useful. Selective ultrasound screening can be considered for women with breech presentation at term who are considering vaginal birth.

Up to 10% of women scheduled for ERCS go into labour before
39+0 weeks. Therefore it is good practice to to discuss and document a plan for delivery if labour starts prior to the scheduled date.

The six elements considered to be reflective of good care are:
 Consultant obstetrician planning and directly supervising delivery.
 Consultant anaesthetist planning and directly supervising anaesthesia at delivery.
 Blood and blood products available.
 Multidisciplinary involvement in preoperative planning.
 Discussion and consent, including possible interventions (such as hysterectomy, leaving the placenta in situ, cell
salvage and interventional radiology).
 Local availability of a level 2 critical care bed.

According to the RCOG- Any lack of compliance with the care bundle by the clinical team for a woman with either placenta praevia or accreta
should be investigated.

According to MBBRACE-UK 2014 to 2016- Women who have had a previous caesarean section who also have either placenta praevia or an anterior placenta underlying the old caesarean section scar at 32 weeks of gestation are at increased risk of placenta accreta and should be managed as if they have placenta accreta, with appropriate preparations for surgery made.

• Anthracyline regimens are safe
• There are fewer data on taxanes, which should be reserved for high-risk (node-positive) or metastatic disease.
• Tamoxifen is not used until after delivery.
• Trastuzumab  is contraindicated during pregnancy.
• Haemopoietic growth factors (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) may be employed to ameliorate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

- For pregnancies at more than 16 weeks of gestation the term low-lying placenta should be used when the placental edge is less than 20 mm from the internal os on transabdominal or transvaginal scanning (TVS).

• The term placenta praevia should be used when the placenta lies directly over the internal os.

The algorithm suggested by RCOG for low lying placenta can be accessed HERE 

• The timing of delivery should be tailored to the patient.
• If history of vaginal bleeding/ other risk factors for preterm delivery- consider ‘Late preterm delivery’- 34+0 to 36 +6 weeks.
• If uncomplicated placenta previa- Consider between 36+ 0 and 37+0.

Read about Intrapartum Care in VBAC-

https://obgresource.com/2021/12/10/intrapartum-care-in-vbac-2/

A systematic review reported that women with one, two, or three or more previous caesarean deliveries experience a 1%, 1.7% or 2.8% risk of placenta previa in a subsequent pregnancy. ( Source- Birth After Previous
Caesarean Birth Green-top Guideline No. 45 ).

Assisted reproductive technology ( RR- 3.71, OR 2.67)and maternal smoking ( OR 1.42)  increase the risk of placenta praevia.

Caesarean section is the recommended mode of delivery in cases of cord prolapse when vaginal birth is not imminent in order to prevent hypoxic acidosis.
Category 2 caesarean birth can be considered for women in whom the fetal heart rate pattern is normal, but continuous assessment of the fetal heart trace is essential.

In case of cord prolapse in advanced labor , delivery should be expedited.

A document on categories of Caesarean section can be found here-CLICK HERE

Methotrexate adjuvant therapy should not be used for expectant management as it is of unproven benefit and has significant adverse effects.

Risk of anal sphincter injury in women undergoing VBAC is 5%.

Birthweight is the strongest predictor of anal sphincter injury in women undergoing VBAC.