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NOTE: Opinions and advice provided on this website are based on the personal experience of the author, Stacy Quarty. Ms. Quarty in no way claims to be a professional source of medical, psychological or statistical information.

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Q. I am 27 years old, I've had two pregnancies and both ended as a result of complete placental abruptions. My first was at 32 weeks and my second, three years later, at 27 weeks. Both ended in C-sections and stillbirths. I am not a drug user or smoker and I do not have high blood pressure. I still want to try to have another baby. I was told that I have a low chance for success. Do you have any statistical information on the chances of a healthy birth?
-Anonymous, Wisconsin

A. Note: A placental abruption is a premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall during pregnancy. It could result in bleeding, cramping and/or miscarriage. You can be at risk for placental abruption if you: become pregnant after age 35, have had more than four or five children, are pregnant with multiples, have high blood pressure, use cocaine, have diabetes or have had a previous abruption.

I cannot give you specific statistical information on what your chances are for carrying a pregnancy to term, but I can tell you that I do agree with your doctor. Your chances do not look good.

Since you've had two previous abruptions, especially since the second was even earlier than the first, your chance for that happening again are extremely high. And since none of the other risk factors apply to you, there's nothing you can do to prevent an abruption from happening again. For example, if you were a cocaine user and you stopped using the drug, you might increase your chances for a healthy pregnancy.

It seems that the bond between your uterine wall and the placenta is just not developing as it should. The only way I can imagine you might have a chance for keeping a pregnancy is if you are on complete bed rest for the duration. If this is something you would consider, you might want to ask your doctor if this is a feasible option for you.