What is Placenta Abruptio?

Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus before the baby is delivered.

It ranges from a small portion of the placenta detaching itself to the whole placenta pulling away completely. Because the placenta is your baby’s life support system, if it becomes detached your baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients can be compromised. It can also cause you to bleed heavily.

Symptoms of placental abruption

The most common symptom of placental abruption is vaginal bleeding with painful contractions. The amount of bleeding depends on how much of the placenta has detached – if the separation is slight, you may experience light bleeding, cramps and tenderness in your abdomen; if it’s more complete you’re likely to experience heavier bleeding, more severe abdominal pains and even contractions. Other symptoms include backache, reduced movement from your baby, nausea, thirst and feeling faint. Consult your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife if you have any of these symptoms.

Who’s at risk of placental abruption?

The most obvious cause is direct trauma to the abdomen, often through an accident like a fall. Other than this it’s unclear what causes it and who will suffer from it, but there may be certain women who are more at risk than others. If you belong to any of the following groups you may want to keep an eye out for symptoms relating to the condition:

- You have chronic high blood pressure.

- You have hypertension during pregnancy.

- You have a history of heart disease.

- You’ve had it before.

- You’re over 40.

- You’ve already had children.

What happens if I have it?

There’s no cure for placental abruption and your treatment will depend on the severity of the condition, ranging from bed rest and monitoring for mild cases to an emergency cesarean if your baby needs to be born straightaway. You may need a blood transfusion after the birth if you bled heavily.

Although placental abruption can’t be prevented there are a number of things that you can do to reduce your risk. Don’t smoke or drink during pregnancy, avoid heavy lifting and over exertion, get plenty of rest and eat a well balanced diet, rich in iron.

For further information on pregnancy health, check out gurgle’s top 10 tips to a healthy pregnancy.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Related Articles

• Tests & Checks: Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS test)
• Guide To : Pregnancy: The Placenta - All you need to know
• Guide To : Labour and Birth: What they don’t tell you about giving birth
• Mum Health: Your body after the birth
• Mum Health: Placenta previa