Carla had her first baby at 19 years old and suffered a placental abruption.
Women who smoke are much more likely to face serious pregnancy complications such as placenta previa and placental abruption.
The risk of placental abruption is higher in multiple births and in women with high blood pressure.
If the uterus is not relaxing or if the resting tone is rising, this can be an indication of a placental abruption (the tearing away of the placenta from the wall of the uterus).
During pregnancy spotting may be also be sign of a placental problem such as placenta previa (when the placenta covers the cervix) or a placental abruption (when the placenta disenganges prematurely).
