In placenta previa the placenta covers the cervix (the baby's exit from the uterus). Normally, the placenta is attached away from the cervix. Most pregnancies that begin with placenta previa resolve the problem without treatment--the growth of the uterus shifts the position of the placenta away from the cervix. With placenta previa, bleeding from the placenta can occur. This can threaten the life of the fetus and the mother. Placenta previa is more common in older mothers, mothers with previous cesarean sections and in women with multiple previous childbirths.