The placenta is an organ that is attached to the mother’s uterus connecting the baby through the umbilical cord. The placenta is very rich in blood vessels that supply nourishment for the unborn child’s growth and development. It also facilitates waste elimination and gas exchange for the baby. The life of the baby in the mother’s womb greatly depends on the stability of this connection. Normally when the baby comes out in a normal delivery the mother’s body sends out signals that trigger the release of hormones sent to the uterine wall to slowly detach the placenta. The premature or early detachment of the placenta while the baby is still in the uterus is called Placental Abruption, Placental Separation or Abruptio Placentae. This condition usually happens after the 20th week of pregnancy when the baby has already reached full term.
In some cases placental abruption can happen in the first trimester of pregnancy. If the placenta totally detaches from the uterus at this time there is a high probability of a miscarriage. A miscarriage is defined as the loss of a baby before it reaches full term or 20 weeks. Although there is no known cause of Placental Abruption there are contributing factors that put the mother at risk. Trauma to the abdomen from external sources like vehicular accidents, slips or falls can directly injure the uterus and dislodge the placenta. If the baby’s umbilical cord is abnormally short it might pull the placenta off the uterine wall as the baby circles in the mother’s womb. Sudden loss of water that surrounds the baby inside the womb (amniotic fluid) produces a tug on the placenta that can cause its detachment. Other health risks related to Placental Abruption are smoking, ingestion of alcohol in pregnancy, hypertension, history of a previous placental abruption and previous multiple pregnancies.
The mother will feel abdominal pain or back pain when placental abruption happens. For those who only have partial placental abruption or just a small portion of the placenta have detached, spotting and minor discomforts are felt. Bed rest is advised as the placenta is given time to recuperate and mostly resolves on its own. Some mothers experience heavy vaginal bleeding especially if there is total separation of the placenta. The mother should then be immediately taken to the doctor for emergency care.
It is difficult to recognize placental abruption in the early stages of pregnancy as ultrasound may not show a distinctive picture and vaginal bleeding may not be conclusive for a diagnosis. Nevertheless the mother should take extra precaution and consult the doctor once there is bleeding or trauma to the abdomen. Complications can arise if placental abruption is not treated as this can cause miscarriage or maternal death. The risk for the baby includes insufficient oxygen and blood supply which leads to death if prolonged inside the womb. The way to save the baby is to initiate delivery. The survival rate is based on how developed the baby is which is why placental abruption in the early stage of pregnancy mostly ends up in miscarriage. The risk for the mother includes hemorrhage from heavy bleeding and the development of DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) a condition wherein the blood loses ability to clot which can further aggravate the bleeding. These complications for the mother can cause death if not treated immediately.
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November 9, 2010, 12:03 pm