Which information on assessment would alert for risk of abruptio placentae?

Which information on assessment would alert for risk of abruptio placentae?

• A. The client is 28 years old.
• B. This is the second pregnancy.
• C. The client has a history of hypertension.
• D. The client performs moderate exercise on a regular daily schedule.

Answer: (C)

Hypertension raises the risk for abruptio placentae because chronic high pressure damages the placental vessels, reducing placental blood flow and making premature separation more likely. When assessing, a history of hypertension should alert you to watch for signs of abruption. This condition often presents with sudden, severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, and the uterus may become tender or rigid; fetal distress can also occur. So, in a patient with hypertension, these assessment findings would prompt immediate evaluation for placental abruption. The other factors listed—young-ish age, being in a second pregnancy, or regular moderate exercise—don’t carry the same level of risk for abruptio placentae as hypertension.

Hypertension raises the risk for abruptio placentae because chronic high pressure damages the placental vessels, reducing placental blood flow and making premature separation more likely. When assessing, a history of hypertension should alert you to watch for signs of abruption. This condition often presents with sudden, severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, and the uterus may become tender or rigid; fetal distress can also occur. So, in a patient with hypertension, these assessment findings would prompt immediate evaluation for placental abruption. The other factors listed—young-ish age, being in a second pregnancy, or regular moderate exercise—don’t carry the same level of risk for abruptio placentae as hypertension.