What are the typical symptoms of placental abruption?

Placental abruption typically presents with continuous, painful vaginal bleeding. This condition occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus prematurely, which can be associated with significant hemorrhage. The pain is often described as severe abdominal pain or uterine tenderness, and the bleeding can be either visible or concealed, depending on the degree and location of the abruption.

Patients may also experience additional symptoms such as back pain and uterine contractions, but the hallmark of a placental abruption is the combination of pain with persistent bleeding. The pain arises from the irritative effects of the bleeding on the uterine lining and the abdominal cavity itself.

Painless vaginal bleeding is more characteristic of placenta previa, where the placenta is positioned over or near the cervical opening, leading to bleeding without associated pain. While contraction-like pain may occur in several pregnancy complications, it does not specifically differentiate placental abruption from other conditions that cause contractions. Thus, the symptom of continuous, painful vaginal bleeding is key to identifying placental abruption as a serious obstetric emergency.