Professor Proctor: Always wants us to be safe while traveling anywhere- especially when coming to class. This is prioritized even over being on time.

A. Quantity of vaginal bleeding. While both placenta previa and abruptio placentae can cause vaginal bleeding, the amount alone does not differentiate between the two conditions. Placenta previa typically causes painless, bright red bleeding, whereas abruptio placentae often presents with concealed or variable bleeding, making quantity an unreliable distinguishing factor.

B. Presence of abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is a key differentiating factor. Placenta previa is characterized by painless vaginal bleeding, while abruptio placentae causes sudden, severe abdominal pain due to placental detachment and uterine muscle irritation. This makes the presence or absence of pain an important assessment finding.

C. Leopold's maneuver results. While Leopold’s maneuvers help determine fetal position and presentation, they do not provide definitive information about the location of the placenta or differentiate between placenta previa and abruptio placentae. Ultrasound is a more reliable diagnostic tool for this purpose.

D. Maternal blood pressure. Although abruptio placentae can lead to hypovolemic shock and blood pressure changes due to hemorrhage, maternal blood pressure alone is not a primary diagnostic criterion for differentiating between the two conditions. Other clinical findings such as pain and ultrasound results are more useful for diagnosis.

A. Uterine prolapse. Uterine prolapse occurs when the uterus descends into or outside the vagina, usually postpartum due to weakened pelvic support. It does not present with sudden, severe pain or fetal heart rate abnormalities during labor.

B. Uterine rupture. A tearing sensation, sudden severe pain, fetal heart rate abnormalities, pallor, and diaphoresis are hallmark signs of uterine rupture. This is a life-threatening emergency where the uterine wall tears, often due to prior cesarean scars, excessive oxytocin use, or grand multiparity. Immediate intervention, including emergency surgery, is required to prevent maternal and fetal death.

C. Precipitous labor. Precipitous labor is rapid labor and delivery within three hours and is not associated with severe, tearing pain. While it can cause fetal distress, it does not typically involve uterine rupture symptoms.

D. Amniotic fluid embolus. An amniotic fluid embolus presents with sudden respiratory distress, hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse due to amniotic fluid entering the maternal circulation. It does not typically cause localized severe abdominal pain or fetal distress due to uterine rupture.