antepartum hemorrhage
Start with the big picture
APH has several important causes: placenta previa, placental abruption, vasa previa, uterine rupture, and genital tract lesions. Placenta previa is associated with painless, bright-red bleeding, while placental abruption is characterized by painful bleeding and may involve uterine rigidity, fetal distress, or coagulopathy. Bleeding can pose serious risks to the pregnant patient, including hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation, as well as fetal hypoxia, preterm birth, or demise. Initial care centers on systematic assessment and resuscitation, followed by cause-specific management, fetal monitoring, and delivery planning. A key safety point is to confirm placental location by ultrasound before any digital vaginal examination.
What you'll learn
- Define antepartum hemorrhage and identify its major causes.
- Distinguish the typical bleeding patterns of placenta previa and placental abruption.
- Recognize key maternal and fetal hazards associated with APH.
- Explain why ultrasound confirmation of placental location is needed before digital examination.
- Outline the roles of initial resuscitation, fetal monitoring, and delivery planning.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
