Placenta Abruption - What Is This?

What is placenta abruption? In easy terms, it's when the placenta comes away from the wall of your uterus. It can place the baby in distress as it causes lack of oxygen. In serious cases, it can endanger both the mother and the baby. The abruption normally happens after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and prior to the birth of your baby.

Placenta abruption is also known as placental abruption and abruptio placentae. It is the most common cause of bleeding during late (normally though not always, third trimester) pregnancy.

It occurs in approximately one in every hundred pregnancies(1%).

How can placental abruption happen?

Trauma to the mother can be one reason for a placenta abruption. A car accident or a serious fall, or if the mother is assualted for instance.

In other cases the reason it happens is normally unknown, although there are factors that greatly increase the risk of it happening.

The greastest contributor is hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
Smoking during pregnancy.
Alcohol abuse in pregnancy.
Using cocaine in pregnancy.

Other contributors are being over 35 years of age. If you had a placenta abruption in a previous pregnancy, you are more at risk in subsequent pregnancies. If you have any problems with your uterus or umbilical cord.

Symptoms of placental abruption.

Symtoms that you would notice are:

Contractions that don't stop.
Stomach pain around the uterus area.
Your tummy may feel tender.
Bleeding from the vagina (this is not always)

As with any unusual or frightening symptoms when you are pregnant, consult your doctor straight away.

Treating placental abruption

Treatment will depend on certain factors that the consultant will take into consideration. He will check the status of your baby, to see if it is in distress. He will monitor how much you are bleeding. If the baby seems ok, and you are not bleeding too much, you may just be monitored at the hospital. This can be done until there is a change in your condition, or until your baby has reached maturity.

If your consultant thinks that your baby will have to be delivered prematurely, then medical drugs can be administered to help your baby's lungs to mature ready for birth.

Vaginal birth is preferred by most consultants, but this will depend on the severity of each case.

If the abruption is more serious, then delivery of your baby may be necessary. If you or your baby are in distress, then a caesarean section may be carried out. Blood transfusion for the mother may also be carried out to maintain blood pressure.

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