Premature peeling away of the placenta from the uterus before birth is known as which condition?

• A. Placenta abruption
• B. Placenta previa
• C. Rh incompatibility
• D. Preeclampsia

Answer: (A)

Placental abruption is the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before childbirth. This matches the idea of “premature peeling away” and can cause painful vaginal bleeding, a tender or rigid uterus, and potential fetal distress. It’s different from placenta previa, where the placenta sits low in the uterus and bleeding is typically painless and later in pregnancy. Rh incompatibility involves maternal antibodies attacking fetal red blood cells, not placental detachment, and preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, not placental separation. So the correct condition is placental abruption.