Placental Abruption & Delayed Diagnosis

Placental Abruption in the Hospital – How Delayed Diagnosis Can Cause HIE or Cerebral Palsy

A placental abruption is a dangerous complication that occurs when the placenta detaches from the uterus before birth. When this happens, the baby’s oxygen supply is cut off—often without warning.

In a hospital setting, a placental abruption should be treated as an obstetric emergency. The baby must be delivered as quickly as possible—often via emergency C-section—to prevent permanent brain damage or stillbirth.

What Causes a Placental Abruption?

A placental abruption can happen suddenly or develop over time. Risk factors include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Abdominal trauma
  • Use of Pitocin or rapid contractions
  • Smoking or drug use (especially cocaine)
  • Prior history of abruption
  • Blood clotting disorders

However, placental abruption can also happen with no warning signs, even in a low-risk pregnancy.

Why Delays Are So Dangerous

Once an abruption begins, oxygen and nutrients can no longer reach the baby. If delivery is delayed, even by 30 minutes, the baby may suffer:

  • Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
  • Seizures
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Stillbirth

The standard of care requires immediate recognition of symptoms and delivery within 30 minutes of diagnosis—or faster if fetal distress is severe.

What Are the Signs of Placental Abruption?

Hospitals and labor teams are trained to watch for key warning signs:

  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Sudden abdominal pain or back pain
  • Rigid or tender uterus
  • Contractions that don’t stop
  • Sudden drop in fetal movement
  • Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns

If these signs were ignored, misinterpreted, or responded to too slowly, your baby may have suffered a preventable birth injury.

What to Do If You Suspect Medical Negligence

If you were in the hospital and had a known or suspected abruption but were not delivered quickly, your child’s brain injury or Cerebral Palsy may be the result of medical negligence.

A medical record review can uncover whether signs were missed—and whether faster action could have changed your child’s outcome.

Fill out the contact form or call (insert click to call phone number) the office to start your Free case review!

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