Abruption of the Placenta

Introduction

Abruption is an English word meaning separation of part of something from its main body. Placental abruption therefore is the separation of part of or all of the placenta from the womb in late pregnancy. It is just like a cable being detached from a wall.

Causes

There are some conditions that have been noticed to result in abruption of the placenta. These include:

1. Women with high blood pressure in pregnancy which is the major cause, followed by
2. Trauma to the abdomen, like a kick or a fall or a vehicular accident
3. Women who smoke
4. Women who drink alcohol
5. Women who abuse cocaine are all at a higher risk for this problem

Signs and Symptoms

The commonest presentation is of a woman in late pregnancy having painful bleeding, usually provoked by trauma, as opposed to placenta previa where the bleeding is painless and unprovoked. There is associated feeling of contractions and hardening of the tummy and reduced baby movement.

Treatment

Again, any pregnant woman with bleeding and tummy aches in the second half of her pregnancy must be quickly taken to a major hospital’s labor unit, where emergency cases in late pregnancy related to this are attended to. Here, the woman is admitted and usually started on intravenous drips to replace what she lost in the bleeding. Other medications and or injections may be given for the benefit of the mother and the baby. Ultrasound scanning and monitoring of the baby can be done if the woman is stable. If the bleeding is significant, a blood sample is collected in preparation for transfusion and emergency surgery.

If it is found during monitoring that the baby is alive, the treatment for placental abruption is immediate cesarian section, no waiting. If the baby is already dead, however, no need to cut the woman and a vaginal delivery is induced.

Prevention

Monitoring and treatment of high blood pressure in pregnancy early in Antenatal care, avoiding hitting pregnant women in the tummy, and stopping smoking and alcohol consumption by the mother in pregnancy are the most effective ways to avert an abruption of the placenta in pregnancy.