How To Know If You Have A Placental Abruption?
Even though experiencing any kind of vaginal spotting during pregnancy can be alarming, it's usually nothing to be concerned about.
But if you have abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, it may be placental abruption, a more severe but manageable illness, mainly if you found it early.
Placental abruption is a rare yet intense complication of pregnancy. Due to this, your baby may not be able to get sufficient oxygen or nutrients from your blood.
Thus, It’s essential to identify the symptoms of this disease so that you can acquire medical treatment quickly. So read this article to learn more about placental abruption’ symptoms, risk factors, complications, treatment options, etc.
What is Placenta?
The placenta is an organ that supports your child to grow. It’s connected to the womb's lining and linked to your baby through the umbilical cord—the placenta conveys oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies from your blood to your infant.
What is a Placental Abruption?
Placental abruption is a condition in which the placenta begins to come away from the inside wall of your uterus before your infant is born. In other words, placental abruption occurs when some or all of the placenta detaches from your uterus wall before delivering a baby.
This condition might lead to pregnancy complications. The seriousness of this relies on how severe the abruption is and how far ahead you are in your pregnancy.
Thus, placental abruption improves the hazard that your baby might deliver prematurely and affect your baby’s growth. Unfortunately, a significantly small number of infants do not endure placental abruption and might be stillborn.
It sounds scary, but the necessary thing to concentrate on is taking care of yourself as nicely as possible during pregnancy. Contact your healthcare team immediately if you experience any symptoms that worry you. They will help you with everything to keep you and your baby safe. Placental abruption impacts more than 1 in 100 (1%) pregnancies.
Types of Placental Abruption
- A partial placental abruption happens when the placenta does not entirely separate from the uterine wall.
- A complete or total placental abruption happens when the placenta thoroughly separates from the uterine wall. There is generally more vaginal bleeding connected with this kind of abruption.
- Revealed placental abruptions include average to severe vaginal bleeding that you can notice.
- Concealed placental abruptions have slight or no visual vaginal bleeding. In this, the blood is entrapped between the placenta and uterine wall.
Who is at Considerable Risk for Placental Abruption?
Placental abruption can transpire on anyone, but it happens most often in women who:
- are having multiples
- had an earlier abruption condition
- smoke or utilize harmful drugs
- drink alcohol heavily during pregnancy
- have gestational diabetes, high BP conditions, or preeclampsia during pregnancy
- have a blood clotting disease (thrombophilia)
- hold a short umbilical cable
- have encountered any abdominal trauma like a severe fall or car accident on the abdomen
- older than 35 ages
- hold fibroids
- have an intrauterine illness
- have a uterine anomaly
- have impulsive rupture of the membranes
- had a c-section earlier
- have deficient amniotic fluid
- have PPROM, i.e., early water breaking during pregnancy
If the placenta detachment is mild, there is usually little threat to the mother or infant as long as immediate treatment and suitable precautions are taken.
If the abruption is more agonizing, the stake to the baby is considerably increased. A placenta's total detachment from the uterine wall means that your baby is no longer obtaining oxygen or nutrition. So severe cases of placental abruption can place both mother and baby’s life at risk for hemorrhage.
How will you Know if you Have Placental Abruption?
The symptoms of placental abruption rely on the harshness of the detachment but usually include:
- Vaginal bleeding, which might be light to heavy or with or without clots
- Uterine compassion
- Backache
- Abdominal cramping or pain
- Frequent uterine compactions
- Reduced fetal movements
Effects of Placental Abruption
Impacts on babies include premature birth, low birth weight, growth issues, brain damage from lack of oxygen, and stillbirth. Moreover, effects on the mother include blood loss, blood clotting, blood transfusion, Hemorrhage, and kidney failure.
How will Placental Abruption be Diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will inquire about your signs, risk factors, and previous pregnancies if they believe you may be experiencing a placental abruption. Your internal organs will also be examined, and the heart rate of your unborn child will be observed. Another option is ultrasonography.
Treatment for Placental Abruption
The placenta cannot be restored or reattached to the uterus after it has detached. Your medical professional might suggest a method of treatment depending on:
- The harshness of the abruption
- How long is the pregnancy age of your unborn baby
- Indications of pain from your unborn baby
- Quantity of blood you've lost
Usually, the abruption’s severity and gestational age of your child are the two most significant factors:
If your child is not near to full term:
- If your infant is too soon to be delivered and your abruption is gentle, your doctor will closely monitor you until you reach 34 weeks of pregnancy. Further, if your child’s heart rate seems normal and you're not bleeding, a doctor could allow you to go home and take a rest. Also, he can provide you with medication to help your baby’s lung growth.
- If your abruption is intense and your and your baby’s health are in danger, your doctor might perform an immediate delivery.
If your child is near to full term:
- If your placental abruption is gentle and the baby’s heart rate is standard, your doctor can perform a vaginal delivery. It generally can happen around 34 weeks of pregnancy.
- If the abruption worsens or your child is in danger at any time, a dcotr can deliver a baby via emergency Cesarean section.
How Commonly Does the Placenta Abrupt?
Less than 1 percent of pregnancies—or around one in 150—experience placental abruption, slight separation of the placenta. Only one out of every 800 to 1,600 deliveries involves a more severe detachment. Almost always in the second half of the pregnancy, the third trimester is when it usually happens.
Prevention of Placental Abruption
Placental abruptions are generally unpreventable, but you can decrease your risk by doing the following things.
- Stop smoking
- Control your blood pressure at a standard level
- Maintain diabetes under control
- Take safety precautions like wearing a seat belt during a journey
- Report any abdominal concussion to your physician
- Talk to your doctor about any vaginal bleeding
- Go to regular antenatal appointments
- Avoid performing any intensive or laborious sports
- Do not consume any sort of illegal drugs and alcohol during pregnancy
Bottom Line
You should notify your doctor as soon as you see any bleeding after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Various conditions might cause bleeding, but if placental abruption is the culprit, prompt treatment can help. Moreover, if you need medical assistance and suggestions about this ailment, you can connect with Antenate and talk to our OB-GYN and Fertility Expert, Dr. Shesha Sinha.
