Placental Abruption: Causes, Symptoms, and What to Expect

Question
i went to the doctor i was wk and started having cramps
she said my baby had a heart beat but had stopped developing
she said i had a tear in my placenta. so she gave me a shot to make me miscarry. what could have caused this

Answer
Dear Amber,

Another name for tearing of the placenta is placental abruption. Placental abruption is the early separation of a normal placenta from the wall of the uterus. The placenta is what provides oxygen and nutrition to the fetus. If there is a disruption in that supply, it will obviously affect development. It will also typically cause fetal distress and heart activity will cease within a short time.

Normally the placenta separates from the uterus and is delivered right after the birth of the baby. When placental abruption occurs, the placenta starts to tear away from the uterus before the baby is born. It can cause serious problems for both the baby and the mother.

Sometimes the cause of a placental abruption is not known unless there is maternal trauma, but you are at higher risk for placental abruption if you:
-become pregnant after age 35  
-have had more than 4 or 5 children  
-are pregnant with twins or triplets  
-have high blood pressure  
-use cocaine, or cocaine-based drugs  
-have diabetes  
-have had a previous abruption.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I'm sorry to hear of your pregnancy loss and will have a good thought for you. I wish you well.

Brenda