Caesarean section carries an increased risk in cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The mother should be monitored for 7 days for postpartum hemorrhage. Excessive bleeding from uterus may necessitate hysterectomy. The mother may be given Rhogam if she is Rh negative. Prognosis The prognosis of this complication depends on whether treatment is received by the patient, on the quality of treatment, and on the severity of the abruption. Outcomes for the baby also depend on the gestational age. In the Western world, maternal deaths due to placental abruption are rare. The fetal prognosis is worse than the maternal prognosis; approximately 12% of fetuses affected by placental abruption die. 77% of fetuses that die from placental abruption die before birth; the remainder die due to complications of preterm birth. Without any form of medical intervention, as often happens in many parts of the world, placental abruption has a high maternal mortality rate. Mother A large loss of blood may require a blood transfusion. If the mother's blood loss cannot be controlled, an emergency hysterectomy may become necessary. The uterus may not contract properly after delivery so the mother may need medication to help her uterus contract. The mother may develop a blood clotting disorder, disseminated intravascular coagulation. A severe case of shock may affect other organs, such as the liver, kidney, and pituitary gland. Diffuse cortical necrosis in the kidney is a serious and often fatal complication. Placental abruption may cause bleeding through the uterine muscle and into the mother's abdominal cavity, a condition called Couvelaire uterus. Maternal death. Baby The baby may be born at a low birthweight. Preterm delivery (prior to 37 weeks gestation). The baby may be deprived of oxygen and thus develop asphyxia. Placental abruption may also result in death of the baby, or stillbirth. The newborn infant may have learning issues at later development stages, often requiring professional pedagogical aid. Epidemiology Placental abruption occurs in approximately 0.2–1% of all pregnancies. Though different causes change when abruption is most likely to occur, the majority of placental abruptions occur before 37 weeks gestation, and 12–14% occur before 32 weeks gestation. References Health issues in pregnancy Wikipedia medicine articles ready to translate