Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

Complications
• Post partam haemorrhage
Oxytoocic drugs should be given as the baby is delivered.
Occasionally uncontrolled haemorrhage may continue and a
caesarean hysterectomy may be required.
• Maternal shock
• Maternal death
• Fetal hypoxia due to placental separation
• Fetal death
6.4.2 Placental Abruption
Placental abruption is premature separation of a normally
situated placenta occurring after the 28 th week of pregnancy.
The etiology of this type of haemorrhage is not always clear,
but it is often associated with pregnancy induced hypertension
or with a sudden reduction in uterine size. Rarely, direct
trauma to the abdomen may partially dislodge the placenta.
Placental abruption is an accidental occurrence of
haemorrhage in 2% of all pregnancies. Partial separation of
the placenta causes bleeding from the maternal venous
sinuses in the placental bed. Further bleeding continues to
separate the placenta to a greater or lesser degree.
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