Placental Abruption

Published on January 9, 2015

Placental abruption is a relatively uncommon but serious complication during pregnancy. It effects about 1% of all pregnant women after the 20^th week of pregnancy, with most occurring during the third trimester. The placenta is a structure that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to nourish and transfer oxygen to the baby. If the placenta peels away from the uterine lining before labor – either partially or completely – this is known as placental abruption. Left untreated, this can leave the mother and baby at risk.

Risks

For the mother, placental abruption can lead to blood clotting problems, the need for a blood transfusion, failure of the kidneys or other organs, and shock due to blood loss. For the baby, it can lead to premature birth, stillbirth, and birth injuries resulting from depravation of oxygen and nutrients.

Signs and symptoms

Signs of placental abruption include vaginal bleeding, abdominal and back pain, uterine tenderness, and repaid uterine contractions coming one after another. These symptoms can happen suddenly or develop slowly. Not every person experiences the same symptoms, or in some cases, you may be experiencing a symptom like vaginal bleeding, but you don’t know it. This is because the blood could become trapped inside the uterus by the placenta. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.

Causes

The cause of placental abruption is often unknown. It could be due to trauma or injury to the abdomen, like from an auto accident or fall, or rapid loss of fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus.

There are other risk factors to consider. If a mother has had a placental abruption before, you’re at higher risk of it happening again. If you have high blood pressure, premature rupture of the membranes, or a blood-clotting disorder, you could be at risk. If you’ve smoked or used cocaine while pregnant, if you’re carrying more than one baby, or if you are over the age of 40, these are also factors that can increase the risk.

Call your doctor

As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, schedule an appointment with your doctor, such as an obstetrician/gynecologist. It’s important that you keep regular appointments throughout your pregnancy to ensure the health of you and your baby.