Placental Abruption
Placental Abruption Causes
Placental abruption may reoccur in women who had experience abruption in their previous pregnancies. Women younger than 20 years old or older than 35 years old are at risk to have placental abruption. Other factors that may cause the condition include maternal hypertension, maternal trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents, assaults, falls, or nosocomial, tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine use, short umbilical cord, prolonged rupture of membranes, or retroplacental fibromyoma.
Placental Abruption Definition
Placental abruption is a pregnancy complication in which the placental lining has separated from mother's uterus.
Placental Abruption Diagnosis
A pregnant woman is suspected of having placental abruption when she feels sudden localized uterine pain with or without bleeding. If bleeding is not immediately apparent, the fundus is monitored to check if it is rising, which can indicate bleeding. The patient may undergo an ultrasound to rule out placenta previa, however, it is not diagnostic for abruption. If the mother is Rh negative, she may be given Rhogam.
Placental Abruption Symptoms and Signs
Pregnant mothers experience nonstop contractions, pain in the uterus, tenderness in the abdomen, or sometimes bleeding of the vagina.
Placental Abruption Treatment
Pregnant women must maintain a balanced diet, taking folic acid, regular sleep and avoiding smoking or drinking alcohol. The amount of lost blood and status of the fetus determine the type of treatment. The fetus and mother may be monitored in the hospital for any change in condition, if both are not in immediate danger and if the fetus is less than 36 weeks old. However, immediately delivery is done if the fetus is already mature or in immediate danger together with the mother. Normal delivery is preferred over caesarian delivery unless the fetus is in danger.