abruptio placentae:

Premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus before birth. Abruption is a life-threatening condition for the mother and the fetus; it occurs about once in 500 to 750 births. If the pregnancy is close to the seventh month or later, the baby is often successfully delivered by cesarean section.
Synonyms: abruption placenta, ablatio-placentae . See: preeclampsia.
See Also: ablatio placentae, abruptio placentae, accessory placenta, afterbirth

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