Placental Abruption: Causes, Symptoms and Risk Factors

Placental abruption, another name for abruptio placentae, is an uncommon but potentially fatal pregnancy disease. The placenta develops inside the uterus during pregnancy. It attaches itself to the uterine wall to give the foetus nutrition and oxygen.

Placental abruption is the term for when the placenta completely or partially separates from the uterine wall before delivery. This may lead to decreased or obstructed oxygen and nourishment delivery to the baby, as well as serious bleeding in the mother.

Placental abruption often happens without warning. It endangers both the expectant woman and the unborn child if left untreated.

Causes Of Placental Abruption

The aetiology of placental abruption is often obscure. A possible cause could be abrupt loss of amniotic fluid, which surrounds and cushions the developing baby in the uterus, or abdominal trauma or damage, such as after a fall or automobile accident.

Symptoms Of Placental Abruption

Placental abruption usually occurs in the latter trimester of pregnancy, especially in the final weeks leading up to delivery. Signs and symptoms of placental abruption consist of:

• Vaginal bleeding 
• Back pain
• Stomach ache
• Pain or stiffness in the uterus 
• Uterine contractions, often occur one after the other.

Stomach and back pain that frequently appears out of the blue. A highly variable event, vaginal bleeding does not always indicate the degree of placental detachment from the uterus. Because blood can become trapped inside the uterus in cases of severe placental abruption, there may not be any visible bleeding.

Periodic abruption, also known as placental abruption, can occasionally cause mild, sporadic vaginal bleeding as it advances slowly. Your baby might not grow as quickly as expected, and you might have low amniotic fluid or other problems.

Also read: Vaginal Agenesis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications

Risk Factors Of Placental Abruption

The following factors could increase the risk of placental abruption:

• Placental abruption linked to previous pregnancy but unrelated to abdominal trauma.
• Chronic hypertension or high blood pressure problems associated to pregnancy-related hypertension, like eclampsia, preeclampsia, or HELLP syndrome.
• An injury to the abdomen from a fall or other event.
• Smoking and using cocaine while pregnant.
• Early rupture of the membrane that causes amniotic fluid to spill before the pregnancy is over infection (chorioamnionitis) that grows inside the uterus during pregnancy ageing, especially after the age of forty.

Also Read: Uterine Polyps: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications

Diagnosis Of Placental Abruption

If your medical practitioner believes you may be experiencing placental abruption, they will examine you physically to check for uterine stiffness or pain. To help identify possible sources of vaginal bleeding, your clinician will likely recommend blood and urine tests in addition to ultrasound.

Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to produce a monitor image of your uterus. A placental abruption, however, might not always be seen on an ultrasound.

Also Read: Uterus Didelphys(Double Uterus): Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications

Treatment Of Placental Abruption

Once separated from the uterine wall, the placenta cannot be rejoined. Depending on the circumstances, placental abruption treatment options can change.

The baby is not quite developed to term. If the baby's heart rate is normal, the abruption seems moderate, and the birth date is too soon, you might need to be admitted to the hospital for strict supervision. If the bleeding stops and your baby's condition stabilises, you might be able to recover at home.

Should an early birth be necessary, you might be prescribed medication to protect the growing brain and help the baby's lungs develop.

The child is nearly mature to maturity. A carefully monitored vaginal delivery may be possible if the placental abruption seems to be mild after 34 weeks of pregnancy. An emergency delivery usually a Caesarean section is necessary if the abruption worsens or jeopardises your health or the health of your baby. If the bleeding is significant, you might need a blood transfusion.

Also Read: Amenorrhea: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment And Complications

Prevention Of Placental Abruption

While there is no way to prevent placental abruption, there are ways to lower the risk. Don't smoke, for example, or use cocaine or other illegal narcotics. If your blood pressure is elevated, work with your doctor to monitor it.

Always buckle up when operating a motor vehicle. If you have had an injury to your abdomen from a fall, auto accident, or other source, get emergency medical help.

If you have had a placental abruption in the past and are thinking about getting pregnant again, see your doctor before getting pregnant to see if there are any precautions you can take.

Also Read: Vaginal Yeast Infections: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications

Complications Of Placental Abruption

Placental abruption can cause problems for both the mother and the infant that could be fatal. The mother may experience placental abruption and:

• Shock resulting from blood loss.
• Problems relating to coagulation.
• Renal or other organ failure brought on by blood loss that requires an immediate blood transfusion.

If uterine bleeding cannot be controlled, a hysterectomy may be required in rare circumstances. Placental abruption may cause the baby to:

• Restricted growth as a result of malnutrition.
• Insufficient oxygen consumption during early delivery stillbirth.

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