Placental abruption means the placenta separates from the wall of the womb too early before the baby is delivered.
Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, back pain, a hard or tender womb, reduced baby movements, or feeling faint or unwell.
Ultrasound may help look for bleeding behind the placenta and assess the baby, but the diagnosis can also depend heavily on the clinical picture.
Imaging helps assess the placenta and the baby, but doctors do not rely on scan findings alone if the symptoms strongly suggest abruption.
Management depends on how severe the separation is, the bleeding, the baby’s condition, and the stage of pregnancy, and may require urgent delivery and close maternity care.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
