Placental abruption is present in around one percent (1%) of pregnancies and varies in terms of both type and severity. This condition, which involves the abnormal separation of the placenta from the uterine lining, can strike indiscriminately. https://www.health.com/condition/pregnancy/chrissy-teigen-placental-abruption Although this condition can result in catastrophic neurologic damage and even death, in some situations appropriate medical intervention will save the lives of both the mother and the child.
Normally, the placenta is attached to the mother’s uterine wall and provides oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus/baby through the umbilical cord. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta either fully or partially separates from the mother’s uterine wall during the prenatal period. This can decrease or block the amount of blood, oxygen and nutrients that the baby can receive from the placenta. Additionally, placental abruption can cause blood to pool in between the placenta and the maternal uterine wall, which can present the life threatening risk of hemorrhage (i.e., bleeding) to both Mom and to the baby – particularly at the time of delivery. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/placental-abruption/symptoms-causes/syc-20376458 Although placental abruption may not be preventable, depending upon the circumstances of each individual pregnancy, there may be effective obstetrical treatment to avoid neurologic injury and death to either Mom or the baby.
Please see our previous Prenatal Injury posts:
A Michigan native who graduated from both Michigan State University and Cooley Law School, Mr. Weidenfeller has limited his practice of law to representing individuals who have been permanently injured and families who have lost a loved one as the result of medical errors for more than 20 years. In that time, he has been featured on the cover of Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly and has spoken to many and varied professional groups about trial practice and effective communication.
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