Placental Abruption

When you're pregnant, placental abruption is a very serious problem in which the placenta separates too early from the uterine wall. The placenta is the organ that nourishes the baby during pregnancy, as well as provides oxygen to the unborn child. In a normal childbirth, the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus and is expelled directly after the birth of the baby. However, when the placenta starts to tear away from the uterine wall prior to the birth, placental abruption occurs and can cause serious trouble for both the mother and the child.

There are certain risk factors associated with placental abruption, including pregnancy after the age of thirty-five, cocaine use, diabetes, pregnancies with multiple children and high blood pressure. If you have had more than four children, your risk can also increase. There are also several symptoms that indicate placental abruption. These can include vaginal bleeding, contractions that will not stop, uterine pain and abdomen tenderness.

Before being diagnosed with placental abruption, your doctor will run a battery of blood tests to determine how much blood you have lost. He or she will also check the baby's heart rate for any signs of distress, and conduct an ultrasound to see if there is a blood clot behind the placenta. If you are diagnosed with placental abruption, there are treatments that can prevent any long-term effects on you or your baby. Of course, this greatly depends on how mild or severe your case is. To reduce your risk of placental abruption, good prenatal care is key to having a healthy baby.