Q&A: An ultrasound revealed I have a hemorrhage of the placenta and I want to know what that means for my baby.

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am 15 weeks pregnant and at 13 weeks I started to bleed. An ultrasound indicated a hemorrhage of the placenta and that it was starting to pull away on an edge. What does this mean for my baby, and what are the chances of fetus survival?

I am on bedrest until my next ultrasound but don't understand exactly what is going on?

This sometimes happens if the placenta is close to the opening of the cervix. The longer you remain pregnant, the better the chances for your pregnancy to continue. In other words, this problem tends to be a sudden complication, so the longer it's stretched out buying you more time, the longer the placenta has a chance to move away from the opening of the cervix and be in less danger. Although the placenta doesn't actually move away, the cervix elongates away from it.

This is purely a case of no news is good news. Assuming things go your way, this will pass.

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