Monday’s chapter (15) of the remake “Reborn “, shown on TV Globo, showed the loss of the baby of Sandra (Giullia Buscacio) and João Pedro (Juan Paiva). The tragedy happened after an argument between Egidio (Vladimir Britcha), the character’s father, and Sandra’s husband, who made the character nervous and caused her to feel severe pain. At the hospital, it was confirmed that placental abruption which led to the death of the fetus.
Placental abruption is a pregnancy complication that occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth . This separation, which can be partial or total, reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that the fetus receives, in addition to being able to cause intense bleeding in the pregnant woman and put the mother’s life at risk.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an academic medical center in the United States, placental abruption occurs in one in every 100 pregnancies (1%) and is more common at the end of the third trimester which begins around 28 weeks of pregnancy and lasts until delivery. However, it can occur at any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
What are the risks of placental abruption for the baby?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization in the United States that provides medical services and research, placental abruption can lead to serious complications for the baby, such as:
- Severe anemia;
- Restricted growth due to lack of sufficient nutrients for development;
- Lack of sufficient oxygen;
- Premature birth;
- Miscarriage;
- To be born “stillborn”.
“The placenta is the organ responsible for the supply of both nutrients and oxygen. If this supply is interrupted, either partially or totally, the baby can die,” says Monique Novacek, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Mantelli Clinic, CNN .
“Therefore, if the patient suspects that she has a complication, she should rush to the hospital and deliver the baby, depending on her and the fetus’s condition, because one of the main complications is death, both of the fetus and the mother,” he emphasizes.
And what about pregnant women?
For pregnant women, placental abruption can lead to complications such as:
- Shock due to blood loss;
- Blood clotting problems;
- Need for blood transfusion;
- Failure of the kidneys or other organs due to blood loss;
- In severe and rare cases, where bleeding cannot be controlled, it may lead to the need for a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus).
What causes placental abruption? See the risks
According to Novacek, the causes of placental abruption can be external trauma, such as car accidents, maternal falls and other injuries to the abdominal region, or internal trauma.
“In this second case, there are situations in which the mother’s fluid is increased and this sac ruptures abruptly; situations in which the first twin is born through normal delivery and the second may have this placental abruption; very short umbilical cords; uterine distensions beyond what is normal; uterine fibroids, among others”, explains the gynecologist.
The causes may also be non-traumatic, including maternal hypertension, which can even lead to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. “So, pressure spikes are the biggest risk factors for placental abruption,” he says. In addition, infections and other conditions, such as thrombophilia (a blood clotting disorder).
Other risk factors associated with placental abruption include, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
- Premature abruption of anterior placenta;
- Gestational diabetes;
- Smoking;
- Be over 40 years old.
Symptoms of placental abruption
The most common symptom of placental abruption is vaginal bleeding with cramps . However, other signs may appear, such as:
- Abdominal pain;
- Uterine contractions that are longer and more intense than typical labor contractions;
- Uterine tenderness or stiffness;
- Back pain;
- Less fetal movement.
How is placental abruption treated?
When the placenta is detached from the uterus, it cannot be “reconnected” or repaired. Therefore, the doctor will determine the treatment based on factors such as the severity of the detachment, the gestational age of the fetus, signs of distress in the baby and the amount of blood lost by the pregnant woman.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, if the birth is not yet imminent, home rest or hospitalization may be recommended, depending on the case, and the use of corticosteroids to help the fetus’ lungs mature. If the abruption is severe and the health of the pregnant woman or the fetus is at risk, immediate delivery may be necessary, even if premature.
If labor is approaching and the abruption is mild, the doctor may allow the pregnancy to continue to term with the use of corticosteroid medications. If the abruption is severe, an emergency cesarean section is usually performed.
Is it possible to prevent placental abruption?
According to the Mayo Clinic, placental abruption cannot be prevented. However, it is possible to avoid risk factors such as smoking and drug use during pregnancy. In addition, monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy can reduce the risk of this complication.
Pregnant women who walk have a lower risk of needing a cesarean section
Source: CNN Brasil
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