Complications

Placental abruption can cause life-threatening

problems for both mother and baby.

For the mother, placental abruption can lead to:

 Shock due to blood loss

 Blood clotting problems
 The need for a blood transfusion
 Failure of the kidneys or other organs
resulting from blood loss
 Rarely, the need for hysterectomy, if uterine
bleeding can't be controlled
For the baby, placental abruption can lead to:

 Restricted growth from not getting enough

nutrients
 Not getting enough oxygen
 Premature birth
 Stillbirth
Prevention
You can't prevent placental abruption, but you can
decrease certain risk factors. For example, don't
smoke or use illegal drugs, such as cocaine. If you
have high blood pressure, work with your health care
provider to monitor the condition.

Always wear your seatbelt when in a motor vehicle. If

you've had abdominal trauma — from an auto
accident, fall or other injury — seek immediate
medical help.

If you've had a placental abruption, and you're

planning another pregnancy, talk to your health care
provider before you conceive to see if there are ways
to reduce the risk of another abruption.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic
Diagnosis & treatment
Jan. 18, 2020
Print
Share on: FacebookTwitter
Show references

Related
 Placental abruption

Associated Procedures
 C-section
  Ultrasound

Products & Services

 Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

Placental abruption

 Symptoms & causes

 Diagnosis & treatment
Advertisement
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Advertising & Sponsorship

 Policy
 Opportun
es
 Ad
Choices

Mayo Clinic Marketplace

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books
and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
 FREE
book
offer —
Mayo
Clinic
Health
Letter
 BRAND
NEW -
 Back an
Neck
Health
 Mayo
Clinic on
Digestiv
Health
 Mayo
Clinic
Guide to
Arthritis
 Time
running
out - 40%
off Onlin
Mayo
Clinic
Diet end
soon
CON-20376441
 Patient Care & Health Information
 Diseases & Conditions
 Placental abruption
Footer Navigation Links

 Request Appointment
 Contact Us
 About Mayo Clinic
  Employees
 Find a Job
 Site Map
 About This Site
 Twitter
 Facebook
 Pinterest
 YouTube
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Make a
donation.
Footer Tiles
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the
Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked
below.
 Terms and Conditions
 Privacy Policy
 Notice of Privacy Practices
 Notice of Nondiscrimination

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for
noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo
Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living,"
and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks
of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research.

This site complies with the HONcode

standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
© 1998-2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
and Re