Uterine Rupture: Causes, Treatment, Prevention
What is Uterine Rupture
Uterine rupture is a serious medical condition that occurs when the muscular walls of the womb or uterus tear or break open during pregnancy or child delivery. It is a rare medical condition, but when it happens, it can result in life-threatening complications for both mother and child. It can occur during late pregnancy or active labour. Uterine rupture commonly occurs in most women, along healed scar lines in those who have had previous cesarean section deliveries.
Causes Of Uterine Rupture
The causes of Uterine rupture Include:
Previous Surgeries: Any prior surgery that has been done before on the womb e.g. Caesarian Section or C-section, myomectomy (removal of fibroid) etc, would leave scars on the womb and when a woman tries to push during labour, it can cause the womb to tear along those healed scars.
Large Baby Size: If the womb is stretched too much due to too much amniotic fluid or more than one baby in cases of twins, triplets etc.
Complications Of Uterine Rupture
The complications of uterine rupture include:
- Blood loss for the mother
- The unborn baby is always more at risk as he/she spills out of the womb into the abdomen with no supply of oxygen. If the baby is not delivered within 10-40mins, death could result due to lack of oxygen.
Treatment Of Uterine Rupture
- There are cases where the womb will have to be removed to stop the bleeding (a process known as hysterectomy) and in some others, the womb could be surgically repaired.
- Transfusion of blood to replace lost blood.
- Deliver baby surgically and place on oxygen immediately.
Prevention Of Uterine Rupture
Register for Antenatal care and pay attention to your doctors.
Women who have had more than one caesarian section in the past are advised to NOT consider vaginal delivery in their next delivery. They should deliver again through the caesarian section. Read more about the Caesarian section here.
Don’t forget, Hebrew delivery remains “Baby and mother safe”. C-section delivery doesn’t make you less of a woman!
