Placental abruption

Diagnosis

Healthcare provider will perform physical examination of the uterus to evaluate for the tenderness or rigidity. If there are vaginal bleeding, healthcare provider will recommend blood test, urine test, and ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves used during an ultrasound provide an image of your uterus on a monitor. However, a placental abruption may not always be seen on an ultrasound.

A healthcare provider will commonly diagnose placental abruption in three grades:

• Grade I: Only a small amount of bleeding, a few contractions, and no indications of stress in either the mother or the fetus.
• Grade II: Bleeding that is mild to moderate, some uterine contractions, and indications of fetal stress
• Grade III: Moderate to severe bleeding, undetected hemorrhage, intractable uterine contractions, abdominal discomfort, hypotension, and fetal death are all possible outcomes.

Treatment

It is impossible to reconnect or repair the placenta once it has detached from the uterus. Depending on the situation, there are different placental abruption treatment options:

• The fetus is not in full term: If the abruption is mild and it is too early for delivery, the patient will be closely monitored until 34 weeks. The healthcare provider might let the patient go home to rest if the fetal heart rate is normal and if there are no signs of bleeding. In the event that an early birth is required, the patient might be prescribed medication to assist in the development of the baby’s lungs and to protect the baby’s brain.
• The fetus is near full term: It is possible to deliver vaginally under close observation if the abruption is minor and the fetal heart rate is stable. Around week 34 of pregnancy, this is typically determined. The baby will be delivered via emergency Cesarean section if the abruption worsens or if the patient or the fetus are ever in danger.