Placental abruption

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

The specific cause of placental abruption is often unknown.

In a few cases, trauma or injury to the abdomen — from an auto accident or fall, for example — causes placental abruption. Rarely, placental abruption is caused by an unusually short umbilical cord or rapid loss of the fluid that surrounds and protects the baby in the uterus (amniotic fluid).

DS00623

Dec. 5, 2007

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