Placental abruption is something that can happen suddenly during pregnancy. It can be dangerous for you and your baby. Fortunately,
it’s not common. Your placenta develops in your uterus while you’re pregnant. It sends nutrients and oxygen from you to your baby, and it helps get rid of waste that builds up in your baby’s blood. It’s attached to the wall of your uterus, and your baby is attached to
that by their umbilical cord. If you have placental abruption, the placenta separates from your uterus too soon, before your baby is ready to be born. Placental abruption affects about 1% of pregnant woman. It can occur at any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but it’s most common in the
third trimester. When it happens, it’s usually sudden. You might notice vaginal bleeding, but there might not be any. The amount of blood can vary. Just because there’s not a lot of blood doesn’t mean the placental abruption isn’t
severe. Sometimes, blood gets trapped inside the uterus. Other signs include: Placental abruption can happen little by little, too, called “chronic abruption.” You might notice: Placental Abruption (Abruptio Placentae)
Placental Abruption Signs and Symptoms
Most of the time, doctors don’t know the cause. But drinking alcohol or using cocaine
while you’re pregnant can increase your risk. Other things that can play a role include: You can’t prevent placental abruption, but there are some things you can avoid, such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs to reduce your odds. You should tell your doctor if you’ve had placental abruption before. They’ll monitor you closely. They also may suggest other ways you can prevent it from
happening again.Causes of Placental Abruption
Placental Abruption Diagnosis
If you’re having bleeding or abdominal pain, you’ll need to see your doctor right away. They’ll do a physical exam and run blood tests, and also may perform an ultrasound to see inside your uterus. (Ultrasounds don’t always show placental abruptions).
The placenta can’t be reattached, so your treatment options depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy, severity of the
abruption and status of mother and baby. If only a small part of the placenta separates, it may not cause many problems. But if a big part or all of it detaches from your uterus, it can cause serious harm to you and your baby. For you, this could mean: If you have a near or complete abruption, you’ll need to have a C-section right away.Placental Abruption Treatment
Complications
of Placental Abruption
Complications for your baby could include:
- Premature birth. This means your child is born before 37 weeks. About 10% of babies born to mothers with placental abruption fall into this category.
- Problems with development. If your baby is born premature because of this condition, they may be more likely to have health problems early and later in life.
- Stillbirth. This means your child dies in the womb after you’ve been pregnant for at least 20 weeks.