Uterine rupture during pregnancy: The baby kicked so hard, it tore through the wall of the womb, nearly killing both mummy and baby.
A pregnant mummy nearly died recently, and it was because of her baby’s kick…
The incident happened in China, and according to this report by the Sun, the baby kicked so hard, it tore through the wall of the womb, nearly killing both mummy and baby.
Nearly died from baby’s kick
Apparently, on October 2, mummy Zhang, who was 35 weeks pregnant, experienced severe stomach ache. Initially, she thought it was due to an upset tummy, but when it began to get worse, and she started breaking out in cold sweat, she decided to seek help.
She rushed to the emergency department at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital in China, where doctors noticed problems with her blood pressure, pulse and breathing.
They suspected that the womb had ruptured, so they decided to perform an ultrasound to confirm. They were shocked by what they found.
The foetus’s leg had apparently, “kicked through” the uterus wall, into the mum’s abdominal cavity, and her thighs were stuck.
Doctors had to act super quick because any delay would mean that the mum would suffer internal bleeding, and go into shock, which could turn fatal. The baby was at risk of contracting a life threatening infection as well, due to the ruptured womb wall.
Within 5 minutes the mum was rushed into the operating theatre. Doctors, fearing that the baby could be stillborn, performed an an emergency C-section, and the baby girl was delivered within 10 minutes!
They found blood in the mum’s stomach, and a 7 cm tear in her womb wall.
Thankfully, both mum and baby seem to be doing quite well now…
Uterine rupture during pregnancy
Doctors have managed to figure out why such a complication occurred in Zhang’s pregnancy.
It has emerged that in 2016, Zhang had an operation to remove fibroids from her womb. That operation had resulted in a womb scar, leaving a weak spot on her uterus’ wall.
This had left her vulnerable to uterine rupture during pregnancy.
A uterine rupture usually occurs when a weakened spot on your uterine wall tears due to the strain put on it during labour and delivery.
Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a very rare complication, but it can be life-threatening.
Who is at risk of uterine rupture during pregnancy?
- Mums who have had a previous C-section.
- Mums at greatest risk of uterine rupture are those who are attempting a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).
- Mums who have previously had surgery to remove fibroids or to correct a misshapen womb
- Pregnant mummies with placenta previa, placenta accreta, or placental abruption.
- Mums who have suffered trauma to the uterus, from a car accident etc
- Mums who have gone through prolonged labour with a baby that’s too big for her pelvis.
- Mummies who have had 5 or more children
Signs of uterine rupture during pregnancy
The following symptoms may be signs that something is seriously wrong:
- Intense abdominal pain, almost like something is ripping through.
- An abnormality in the baby’s heart rate. Hence, a mother attempting a vaginal birth after caesarean, or VBAC, needs continuous foetal monitoring.
- Vaginal bleeding
- Rapid pulse and other signs of shock
- May experience pain in the chest
- Labour may slow down or stop
How it is treated
Firstly, mums who are at risk of uterine rupture during pregnancy should discuss with their specialists about giving birth, and the various risks involved.
In case of a uterine rupture during pregnancy:
- The baby is delivered by emergency C-section.
- If the damage to the mum’s uterus is extensive and the bleeding can’t be controlled, she may need a hysterectomy. Otherwise, her uterus will be repaired.
- The mum usually loses a lot of blood and requires a transfusion. She’s usually given IV antibiotics to prevent infection.
- Even if the mum hasn’t had a hysterectomy, she is extremely weak, as she has ended up losing a lot of blood. So she needs to take extra rest and care after surgery, eat lots of nutritious food and drink lots of fluids. She shouldn’t attempt any major physical activity immediately.
(Source: The Sun, Whattoexpect.com, BabyCenter)