If the placenta is thought to be low lying (less than 20 mm from the internal os) or praevia
(covering the os) at the routine fetal anomaly scan, a follow-up ultrasound examination
including a TVS is recommended at 32 weeks of gestation to diagnose persistent low-lying
placenta and/or placenta praevia.

Use of TVS- to accurately see the placental edge. Also, cervical length is a predictor of antepartum bleeding and emergency preterm caesarean section in placenta praevia. Women with a cervical length of less than 31 mm have a 16 times higher risk of emergency
caesarean section due to massive haemorrhage.

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.

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.

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Planned VBAC is associated with an approximately 1 in 200 (0.5%)
risk of uterine rupture

A dose of 250 IU anti-D immunoglobulin should be sufficient to cover up to five adult therapeutic doses of D positive platelets given within a 6-week period.

In severely thrombocytopenic patients with platelet count of?30 × 10^9/L, anti-D Ig should be given subcutaneously, or IV.

Successful VBAC is more likely among women with previous caesarean for
fetal malpresentation (84%) compared with women with previous caesarean for either labour dystocia (64%) or fetal distress (73%) indications.

When testing for GBS carrier status, a swab should be taken from the lower vagina and the anorectum.

A single swab (vagina then anorectum) or two different swabs can be used.

Planned VBAC is contraindicated in women with previous uterine rupture or classical caesarean scar.

Women who have had two or more prior lower segment caesarean deliveries may be offered VBAC after counselling by a senior obstetrician. This should include the risk of uterine rupture and maternal morbidity, and the individual likelihood of successful VBAC.

GBS is present in the bowel flora of 20–40% of adults (this is called ‘colonisation’). People who are colonised are called
‘carriers’. This includes pregnant women (there is no evidence that its carriage rate is specifically affected by pregnancy).

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.

Previous vaginal delivery, particularly previous VBAC, is the single best predictor of successful VBAC and is associated with a planned VBAC success rate of 85–90%.

Previous vaginal delivery is also independently associated
with a reduced risk of uterine rupture.

In pregnancies<12 weeks gestation, anti-D Ig prophylaxis is only indicated following ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, therapeutic termination of pregnancy and in
cases of uterine bleeding where this is repeated, heavy
or associated with abdominal pain. The minimum dose should be 250 IU. A test for fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) is not required

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