Placenta previa is best described as which condition?

• A. Unruptured amniotic sac
• B. Heavy vaginal bleeding with little pain
• C. Breech delivery
• D. Limb presentation

Answer: (B)

Placenta previa describes a placenta that implants low in the uterus, near or over the cervical opening. The hallmark presentation is heavy vaginal bleeding in the third trimester that is typically painless or has very little pain. This painless bleeding occurs because the bleeding originates from placental tissue near the cervix rather than from uterine contractions, which is why there isn’t the cramping and tenderness seen with other causes like placental abruption.

In the given options, the phrase “heavy vaginal bleeding with little pain” best captures this pattern. The other descriptions don’t fit: an unruptured amniotic sac relates to membranes rather than placental position; breech delivery describes fetal presentation, not placental location; limb presentation is about the fetus presenting a limb, which is also unrelated to placenta previa.

So, placenta previa is best described by heavy vaginal bleeding with little pain in late pregnancy.