In recent years, the placenta has played an increasingly important role in cases of birth injury litigation. The user friendly Table of Contents and Index provide quick and easy access to desired information, cross referenced through out all sections of the guide. For example, a 38 year old, Gravida 2 Para 1, Fullterm 0, Preterm 1, Abortion 0, Living 1 woman presents in active labor at 36 weeks gestation. Her maternal risk includes 20 year history of smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day. Her pregnancy history includes third trimester bleeding.
Delivery is by cesarean section due to partial placenta previa.
Third trimester bleeding is a major cause of maternal death, and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Bleeding from ruptured vasa previa is the only cause of pure fetal hemorrhage. Adherent, sometimes laminated blood clot, occasionally dissecting into the adjacent parenchyma, may be seen with a recent abruption. The clot of an older abruption is firm, dry and stringy, and eventually brown. Grossly, infarcts are firm due to the crowded villi.