Placental Abruption After a Fall: What to Know

Placental abruption is when the placenta separates partly or fully from the wall of the uterus before birth. A blow to the abdomen, a sudden stop, or another injury can place stress on the uterus. The placenta supplies oxygen and nutrients to the baby, so separation can affect the baby and can cause bleeding for the mother. Blood may leave through the vagina, remain behind the placenta, or be present without visible bleeding. Pain, a tender or tight abdomen, contractions, back pain, or changes in the baby's movements can occur, but symptoms vary.

Contact your maternity unit or obstetric team immediately after a significant fall, especially if your abdomen was struck, you have pain, or you are later in pregnancy. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or severely unwell. Note when the fall happened, how you landed, whether your abdomen was hit, and any fluid, bleeding, pain, contractions, or movement changes. At assessment, clinicians may monitor your vital signs, the baby's heart rate, uterine activity, and your abdomen; they may also arrange blood tests or imaging. Monitoring can be needed even when the first examination is reassuring.

Call emergency services or go to an emergency maternity unit for vaginal bleeding, severe or persistent abdominal pain, a hard or tender abdomen, regular contractions, leaking fluid, faintness, breathing difficulty, or reduced or absent fetal movement. Heavy bleeding or collapse is an emergency. Do not wait for symptoms to become dramatic: concealed bleeding can still make you seriously unwell, and fetal distress may be detected through monitoring before you notice a clear change.

Ask whether you need observation, how fetal movement should be monitored at home, which symptoms should bring you back, and whether your blood group requires any additional treatment after abdominal trauma. If delivery becomes necessary, ask why a vaginal birth or a Caesarean birth is being considered and how the team will protect you and your baby.