Placental abruption is a condition that occurs during pregnancy when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and causes heavy bleeding in the mother.
If you are pregnant, you must know about placental abruption. This is a serious condition that can occur during pregnancy and can lead to serious health complications for both the mother and the baby.
This blog post will discuss what placental abruption is, its symptoms, and how it is treated. We will also provide some tips for preventing this condition from occurring.
What is placental abruption?
Placental abruption is a condition that can occur during pregnancy. It occurs when the placenta, which is the organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby, separates from the uterus wall. This can decrease the baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients and cause heavy bleeding in the mother.
Placental abruption can happen either partially or completely. It is a serious condition because it can cause severe bleeding and lead to the baby’s death.
Varieties of Placental abruption
Revealed abruption: The blood from a separated placenta usually appears in the mother’s vagina.
Concealed abruption: In this type of abruption, there is often no vaginal bleeding, and blood collects behind the separated placenta. However, the mother may have abdominal pain or back pain.
Mixed abruption: This type of abruption is a combination of the two types mentioned above where some blood collects inside, and a part comes out of the vagina.
What causes placental abruption?
Placental abruption is generally attributed to an unknown cause. Trauma or injury to the abdomen, for example, as well as rapid loss of amniotic fluid, can lead to placental abruption.
What are the risk factors for placental abruption?
Many risk factors can contribute to placental abruption. These include:
- Smoking
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes
- Previous placental abruption
- Trauma to the abdomen
- Substance abuse such as cocaine abuse
- Early rupture of membrane (breakage of water)
- Uterine infection during pregnancy
- High birth order pregnancies
- Advancing the age of the mother
- Malnutrition
- Poor placentation
- Sudden uterine decompression in case of amniocentesis and the sudden escape of amniotic fluid in hydramnios
What are the symptoms of placental abruption?
The most common symptom of placental abruption is vaginal bleeding. This can range from light spotting to heavy bleeding. Other symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Cramping
- Uterine tenderness
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
How is placental abruption diagnosed?
Placental abruption is generally diagnosed through a physical exam, blood and urine tests, and ultrasound. The ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your uterus on a monitor, which helps to determine if the placenta has separated from the uterus.
What are the complications of placental abruption?
Placental abruption can lead to many complications, such as:
- Anemia
- Preterm labor
- Fetal growth restriction and low birth weight
- Fetal death
In addition, placental abruption can also cause maternal complications, such as:
- Uterine rupture
- Shock
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding)
- Kidney failure
- Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
How to prevent placental abruption?
Preventing placental abruption is difficult because the exact cause is unknown. However, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Do not smoke
- Manage hypertension and diabetes
- Avoid trauma to the abdomen
- Avoid substance abuse
If you have had a previous placental abruption, your doctor may recommend that you take aspirin or heparin during your next pregnancy to reduce the risk of another abruption.
How is placental abruption treated?
If you have placental abruption, you will be hospitalized and monitored closely. If the bleeding is severe, you may need a blood transfusion.
In some cases, the baby will need to be delivered early. If the abruption is mild, you may be able to deliver vaginally. However, if the abruption is severe, you will likely need a c-section.
Placental abruption is a serious condition that can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby. If you are experiencing any symptoms of placental abruption, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Unfortunately, there is no one definitive way to prevent or treat placental abruption, and each case is unique.
