Diagnosis

If your health care provider suspects placental abruption, he or she will do a physical exam to check for uterine tenderness or rigidity. To help identify possible sources of vaginal bleeding, your provider will likely recommend blood and urine tests and ultrasound.

During an ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves create an image of your uterus on a monitor. It's not always possible to see a placental abruption on an ultrasound, however.