What are the symptoms of placental abruption?

Expecting parents in Louisiana may benefit from understanding the possible signs of placental abruption. This way, potential issues can be identified before they cause any serious or irreversible damage.

Placental abruptions aren’t entirely common. Though the American Pregnancy Association says placental abruptions only occur in 1 percent of the population, they can still potentially be harmful. If you’re after your 20th week of pregnancy, you could be at risk for this type of ailment, especially if you’ve suffered from a placental abruption in the past.

What is placental abruption? It’s when the placenta detaches from the lining of your uterus. This is a very dangerous situation because the placenta is what supplies your child with nutrients and oxygen, and the placenta detaching from the uterus can disrupt this flow.

You should keep an eye out for the following symptoms:

• Tenderness in the uterine area
• Abdominal pains
• Rapid contractions
• Abnormalities with the fetal heartrate

Additionally, vaginal bleeding may occur. However, up to 20 percent of cases will not display this symptom. If you have any of the others but no vaginal bleeding, the best course of action to take is still to see a doctor immediately so they can do a more thorough check for issues with the placenta.

Pregnancy can be a highly stressful time of your life, and you may be worried about what could go wrong. Fortunately, paying attention to the signs of your body will allow you to potentially catch dangerous situations like placental abruption before they can cause any lasting harm to you or your child.