Placental Abruption

Placental abruption (abruptio placentae) is a pregnancy complication that happens when the placenta separates from your uterus before delivery. The placenta is a temporary organ that connects a growing fetus to your uterus during pregnancy. It attaches to the wall of your uterus, usually on the top or side, and acts as a lifeline that gives nutrients and oxygen to the fetus through the umbilical cord. The placenta also removes waste from the fetus’s blood.

In placental abruption, the placenta may completely or partially detach. This can decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients the fetus gets. It can also cause heavy bleeding in the birthing parent. Your healthcare provider will need to monitor you closely and determine if an early delivery is necessary.

What are the different types of placental abruption?

Your healthcare provider will classify the abruption based on how much the placenta detaches from your uterus:

• A partial placental abruption occurs when the placenta doesn’t completely detach from the uterine wall.
• A complete or total placental abruption occurs when the placenta completely detaches from the uterine wall. There’s usually more vaginal bleeding with a complete abruption.

They’ll further classify it by how much you’re bleeding:

• Revealed placental abruptions have moderate to severe vaginal bleeding that you can see.
• Concealed placental abruptions have little or no visible vaginal bleeding. Blood is trapped between the placenta and uterine wall.

How common is a placental abruption?

Placental abruption occurs in about 1 out of 100 pregnancies (1%).

What week is placental abruption most common?

Placental abruption most commonly occurs later in the third trimester, which begins around 28 weeks of pregnancy and lasts until delivery (around 40 weeks). But it can occur any time after 20 weeks.