Editing Placental abruption (section)

== Signs and symptoms ==
In the early stages of placental abruption, there may be no symptoms.<ref name=Merck2017/> When symptoms develop, they tend to develop suddenly. Common symptoms include:
* sudden-onset abdominal pain<ref name="Shef2014" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|date=2019-03-01|title=Analysis of 62 placental abruption cases: Risk factors and clinical outcomes|journal=Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology|language=en|volume=58|issue=2|pages=223–226|doi=10.1016/j.tjog.2019.01.010|issn=1028-4559|last1=Li|first1=Yang|last2=Tian|first2=Yuan|last3=Liu|first3=Ning|last4=Chen|first4=Yang|last5=Wu|first5=Fuju|pmid=30910143|doi-access=free}}</ref>
* contractions that seem continuous and do not stop<ref name="Shef2014" />
* vaginal bleeding<ref name="Shef2014" /><ref name=":1" />
* enlarged uterus (disproportionate to the gestational age of the fetus)<ref name="Shef2014" />
* decreased fetal movement<ref name="Shef2014" />
* decreased fetal heart rate.<ref name="Shef2014" />

[[Vaginal bleeding]], if it occurs, may be bright red or dark.<ref name=Merck2017/>

A placental abruption caused by arterial bleeding at the center of the placenta leads to sudden development of severe symptoms and life-threatening conditions including fetal heart rate abnormalities, severe maternal hemorrhage, and [[disseminated intravascular coagulation]] (DIC). Those abruptions caused by venous bleeding at the periphery of the placenta develop more slowly and cause small amounts of bleeding, [[intrauterine growth restriction]], and [[oligohydramnios]] (low levels of amniotic fluid).<ref name=":0" />