To treat this condition, the healthcare provider may recommend that the pregnant woman:
The side effects of surgery include bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to the anesthesia . Medications have various side effects, including stomach upset, rash, and allergic reaction.
Placental insufficiency is not considered life-threatening to the mother. However, she may be at risk for significant illness or even death if she has an underlying condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Placental insufficiency may cause serious conditions in the newborn, such as pneumonia, cerebral palsy, or other respiratory problems. A newborn who is born prematurely or with serious medical conditions may need an incubator, a special enclosed bed that can control temperature and oxygen levels.
If a child is born with cerebral palsy, there may be disabilities that require therapy, use of appliances such as crutches or canes, and a daily struggle with medical problems. As the child gets older, there may be a need for special education programs for learning disabilities caused by oxygen and nutritional deprivation while in the uterus.
If testing later in pregnancy shows that the baby's lungs are mature, then labor should be induced and the baby delivered. The following tests should be done when the fetus is very premature or the lungs haven't matured fully: