Placental Problems That Can Lead to Birth Injuries

The placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy and serves as the lifeline between a mother and her baby. Once the placenta attaches to the uterine wall, it’s able to deliver oxygen, nutrients and antibodies to the baby through the umbilical cord. It’s also responsible for carrying waste products from the baby back into the mother’s bloodstream, where they can be removed.

In a healthy pregnancy, the placenta typically attaches to the top, side, front or back of the uterine wall. In cases where a placenta attaches to the lower part of the uterus (near the cervix) instead, it will often move higher up in the uterus as the uterus expands to accommodate the growth of the baby later on in the pregnancy.

Because a functioning placenta is vital to the health of an unborn baby, any issues with the placenta can lead to serious problems, including restricted fetal growth, premature birth and even death of the mother or baby without medical intervention.

Below are some of the most common issues that occur with the placenta during pregnancy.

Placental abruption

Placental abruption is a serious medical complication in which the placenta partially or completely detaches from the uterine wall, and it requires immediate medical attention. It typically occurs during the 3rd trimester but can happen any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Doctors and nurses should immediately evaluate any symptoms of placental abruption.

What is the treatment for placental abruption?

It’s not possible to reattach the placenta to the uterine wall once it detaches. Treatment depends on the severity and location of the separation and the age of the pregnancy. Mild cases may require close monitoring and bedrest in the hospital, while more severe cases may require your doctor to induce labor and deliver the baby early.

Placenta previa

Placenta previa is a complication of pregnancy that is very dangerous to the baby and the mother. Placenta previa occurs when the placenta implants over or close to the opening of the uterus (also called the cervix).

The cervix is shaped like a funnel, leading into the vagina. If the placenta is nearby or covering the opening to the cervix when the cervix dilates in preparation for delivery, the placenta can tear, causing bleeding or hemorrhage.

Placenta previa usually occurs during the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy and is a primary cause of vaginal bleeding in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.

What are the symptoms of placenta previa?

Placenta previa is very dangerous because of the risk of uterine bleeding and disruption of blood flow to the baby. The most typical symptom of placenta previa is bleeding during the 2nd or 3rd trimester.

How is placenta previa diagnosed?

If you experience bleeding during pregnancy, your doctor can confirm a diagnosis of placenta previa by performing an ultrasound.

Complications of placenta previa

Left untreated, placenta previa can cause severe maternal hemorrhage, hypotension (low blood pressure), tachycardia and shock.

It can also lead to:

What is the treatment for placenta previa?

Placenta previa must be carefully managed by medical providers to avoid potentially deadly complications for the mother and baby. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, your doctor may require the following:

Placenta accreta

Placenta accreta is a serious complication in which the placenta attaches itself too deeply into the wall of the uterus, causing all or part of the placenta to remain attached to the uterus after childbirth. It can lead to severe bleeding and death if left untreated.

What causes placenta accreta?

Placenta accreta may be caused by abnormalities in the uterus lining, such as scarring from previous C-sections.

Other risk factors include:

Complications of placenta accreta

Placenta accreta can cause severe bleeding (hemorrhage) after delivery, requiring a blood transfusion. It can also lead to complications such as:

What are the symptoms of placenta accreta?

Placenta accreta often doesn’t cause any symptoms during pregnancy, so it’s vital that your doctor looks for and diagnoses placenta accreta during your routine prenatal ultrasound. However, some women with placenta accreta may experience mild bleeding during their 3rd trimester.

What is the treatment for placenta accreta?

If you’re diagnosed with placenta accreta during pregnancy, your doctor will likely recommend a C-section delivery as well as surgery to remove your uterus, known as a hysterectomy. Having a hysterectomy may be necessary to prevent the potentially life-threatening blood loss that can occur if your placenta attempts to separate from your uterine wall after delivery.

Contact an experienced birth injury lawyer

If you’ve experienced one of these medical complications during pregnancy and your baby suffered an injury as a result, you may be eligible for compensation through a birth injury lawsuit.

Medical professionals have a responsibility to do everything possible to keep a mother and her baby safe during labor and delivery. If they fail to provide a reasonable standard of medical care and this failure causes a birth injury to your child, you have every right to take legal action. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, hospital visits, and future care like therapy and medical caretaking. The sooner you act, the better the result can be for your child.

At Brown Trial Firm, attorney Laura Brown will fight for you and your family to ensure that you’re fairly compensated for your losses. If you suspect your child’s birth injury was caused by a preventable medical mistake, contact her today for a free consultation of your case.