The complication can also result in severe maternal hemorrhage.
During placental abruption, the placenta may separate entirely or partially.
Most often, placental abruption is a complication of the third trimester.
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It can also occur earlier in the second half of pregnancy and during labor.
Placental abruption occurs in 1% of pregnancies.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc. / Getty Images
What Is Placental Abruption?
Theplacentais the organ that provides blood flow and oxygen to the fetus.
In an uncomplicated pregnancy, the placenta detaches from the uterus during the thirdstage of labor.
Placental abruption happens when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth.
This often occurs during pregnancy, but placental abruption during labor can also occur.
The condition is also called abruptio placenta.
When the placenta separates prematurely, a fetus loses some or all of its oxygen and nutrient supply.
Heavy maternal bleeding may also occur.
Placental abruption is considered a medical emergency.
In many cases, early delivery is required.
Placental abruption may be mild, moderate, or severe.
With mild placental abruption, the placenta has only partially detached.
There may not be very many symptoms, or symptoms may be slight.
Moderate to severe placental abruption involves a placenta that is significantly separated or has wholly detached.
Severe cases may result in maternalshock, hemorrhage, and fetal death.
How much bleeding or how many other symptoms occur depends on how much of the placenta has detached.
The predominant symptom of placental abruption is vaginal bleeding during the third trimester.
The bleeding often begins suddenly and is usually accompanied by pain.
Warning signs of placental abruption are similar to other health conditions.
They include:
The amount of blood doesn’t necessarily correlate to the severity of the abruption.
It is possible to have a severe abruption without much bleeding.
It is also possible to have an abruption that happens slowly.
This pop in of abruption is called chronic abruption.
It may cause light, intermittent bleeding and result in slow fetal growth and/or low amniotic fluid.
What are the three signs of placental separation?
Causes and Risk Factors
The exact cause of placental abruption is unknown.
However, when a placenta detaches, it does so because something has disrupted the connection of blood vessels.
Some factors may raise a persons risk for placental abruption.
Risk factors include:
Can placental abruption be fatal?
In severe cases, placental abruption can cause significant blood loss and maternal death.
Studies have reported maternal mortality rates of between .57% and 2.1%.
Diagnosis
Placental abruption is usually diagnosed based on symptoms, especially bleeding and abdominal pain.
If your healthcare provider suspects a placental abruption, anultrasoundmay be ordered.
An ultrasound is used to determine the location of the placenta.
This imaging uses sound waves to visualize the fetus and placenta.
A definitive diagnosis can only be made after examination of the placenta following birth.
A placenta that has abrupted will usually have an area of clotted blood.
Bleeding during the second half of pregnancy can have other causes, likeplacenta previa.
Your healthcare provider needs to differentiate between potential causes to identify the proper course of treatment.
This pop in of management may be preferred if your pregnancy is less than 37 weeks.
Can a fetus survive placental abruption?
Placental abruption is associated with high rates of fetal death and problems after birth.
Prematurity and birth-related asphyxia are the leading causes of these outcomes.
Summary
Placental abruption is a pregnancy complication in which the placenta detaches from the uterus too soon.
Placental abruption is diagnosed by symptoms, including vaginal bleeding.
It may be treated with close monitoring or immediate delivery by vaginal birth or C-section.
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