Abruptio Placentae - Placenta Abruptio

Prevention & Expectations

What can be done to prevent the condition?

Women can reduce their risk factors by:

  • avoiding general pregnancy risk factors, such as cocaine, alcohol, or smoking
  • treating chronic high blood pressure or other conditions, such as diabetes

    • Good prenatal care will help to identify pregnancy risk factors and possibly allow for early detection of placenta problems. This will mean that treatment can be started right away.

    What are the long-term effects of the condition?

    This condition can result in:

  • the death of the mother
  • the death of the fetus
  • excessive bleeding leading to shock
  • a serious generalized bleeding problem called disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, or DIC
  • kidney failure, also known as renal failure
  • a liver disease called transfusion hepatitis
  • low muscle tone, called uterine atony, with continued bleeding
  • premature delivery, birth trauma, and risks associated with prematurity

    • However, these results are rare. Maternal death occurs in less than 5 out of 100 women who have placenta abruptio. Fetal death rates are higher. The infant may die in as many as 20 to 35 percent of cases.

    What are the risks to others?

    This condition can be harmful to the fetus. The woman also has a higher risk of developing this condition during future pregnancies.