anatomy of abruptio placenta?

Answer 1

The placenta tears away from the lining of the uterus, often causing torrential and dangerous bleeding from placental vessels, which places the mother and baby at great risk.

Answer 2

What is a placental abruption?
A placental abruption is a serious condition in which the placenta partially or completely separates from your uterus before your baby's born.

The condition can deprive your baby of oxygen and nutrients, and cause severe bleeding that can be dangerous to you both. A placental abruption also increases the risk that your baby will have growth problems (if the abruption is small and goes unnoticed), be born prematurely, or be stillborn.

Placental abruption happens in about one in 200 pregnancies. It's most common in the third trimester but can happen any time after about 20 weeks. How can I tell if I'm having a placental abruption?
In most cases, you'll have some vaginal bleeding, ranging from a small amount to an obvious and sudden gush. Sometimes, though, the blood stays in the uterus behind the placenta, so you might not see any bleeding at all.

Most women will have some uterine tenderness or back pain. And in close to a quarter of cases, an abruption will cause the woman to go into labor prematurely.

If you have any signs of a placental abruption, you'll need to go to the hospital for a complete evaluation, including fetal heart rate monitoring and an ultrasound. (An ultrasound can't necessarily detect a small abruption, but it can rule out placenta previa, the other likely cause of uterine bleeding.)

Since the bleeding may not be from the uterus, your practitioner will examine your vagina and cervix to see if the bleeding is from an infection, a laceration, a cervical polyp, or some other cause. She'll also check to see if your cervix is effacing or dilating, which can disrupt small veins and result in some bleeding.

If you're Rh negative and you have any vaginal bleeding in your second or third trimester, you'll need a shot of Rh immune globulin, unless the biological father is also Rh negative.

Call your practitioner immediately if you have any of these signs:
• Vaginal bleeding or spotting, or if your water breaks and the fluid is bloody

• Cramping, uterine tenderness, abdominal pain, or back pain

• Frequent contractions or a contraction that doesn't end

• Your baby isn't moving as much as before

Call 911 if you're bleeding profusely or have any signs of shock — if you feel weak, faint, pale, sweaty, or disoriented, or your heart is pounding.

Answer 3

expand, please