Physical examination, including checking the tenderness and tone of the uterus.

Information that may be used to diagnose placental abruption includes: The symptoms and signs of placental abruption can mimic those of other pregnancy conditions, such as placenta previa and pre-eclampsia.

Emergency hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) if the bleeding cannot be controlled.

Decreased oxygen to the baby, which could lead to brain damage.

This procedure can occasionally (rarely) dislodge the placenta.Ĭomplications in severe cases can include:

External cephalic version – the doctor uses ultrasound imaging and external massage on the mother’s abdomen to try to turn the baby from a head-up position (breech) to a head-down position in readiness for childbirth.

This procedure uncommonly causes bleeding. Amnioreduction is a procedure to remove excess amniotic fluid using a needle inserted through the mother’s abdomen into the uterus. Amnioreduction – the prenatal condition of too much amniotic fluid is called polyhydramnious.

Very rarely, the needle puncture causes bleeding.

Amniocentesis – a prenatal test that involves a needle inserted through the mother’s abdomen and into the uterus to withdraw amniotic fluid.

Some blood conditions – particularly any condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot.

Substance use – cigarette smoking, alcohol use and taking drugs such as methamphetamine or cocaine during pregnancy increase the risk of placenta abruption as well as a range of other serious health problems for both mother and unborn baby.

Excessive amniotic fluid (polyhydramnious) – more fluid than normal increases the risk of bleeding between the placenta and the uterus wall.

One of the most common causes of hypertension during pregnancy is a condition known as pre-eclampsia. In nearly half of placenta abruption cases (44%), the pregnant mother is hypertensive.

Hypertension – high blood pressure increases the risk of abnormal bleeding between the placenta and the wall of the uterus.

Prior placental abruption – if a woman has had the condition before, she is at high risk of having it again.

Multiple fetuses – carrying twins, triplets, quads or more increases the risk of placental abruption compared to carrying a single fetus.

Prior pregnancy – the risk increases the more pregnancies a woman has had.

Advanced maternal age – older mothers are at increased risk of a range of pregnancy complications, including placental abruption.

While the exact cause in most cases is unknown, certain factors make a pregnancy more susceptible to placental abruption. Possible causes of uterine decompression include the birth of the first twin (or multiple) or rupture of amniotic membranes when there is excessive amniotic fluid.

Uterine decompression – this is a sudden loss of amniotic fluid from the uterus, which can suck the placenta from the uterus wall.

Examples of events that may cause this type of injury could include a car accident, assault or fall.

Abdominal trauma – an injury to the pregnant woman’s abdomen may tear the placenta from the wall of the uterus.Some of the known causes of placental abruption include: It is thought that an abnormal blood supply in the uterus or placenta may play a role, but the cause of the suspected abnormality isn’t clear. In most cases, doctors don’t know the exact cause or causes of placental abruption. This is known as a ‘retroplacental clot’. In some cases, bleeding may occur but the blood may clot between the placenta and the wall of the uterus, so vaginal bleeding may be scanty or even non-existent. Fetal distress – for example, abnormal heart rhythm.Bleeding, most commonly noticed when the woman starts bleeding from the vagina.Some of the symptoms and signs of moderate to severe placental abruption include: About 25 per cent of cases are moderate, while the remaining 25 per cent threaten the life of both baby and mother. In about half of cases, placental abruption is mild and can be managed by ongoing close monitoring of the mother and baby. Worldwide, placental abruption occurs in about one pregnancy in every 100. Without prompt medical treatment, a severe case of placental abruption can have dire consequences for the mother and her unborn child, including death. It may also interfere with the unborn baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients, which the placenta provides from the mother’s bloodstream through the lining of the uterus.ĭoctors cannot reattach the placenta. Placental abruption means the placenta has detached (come away) from the wall of the uterus, either partly or totally.

Breach meaning baby