| Characteristic | Abruption | Praevia | Uterine Rupture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shock | Inconsistent with losses | Consistent with losses | Inconsistent with losses |
| Pain | Often severe. Constant | Painless | Severe and sharp. Constant |
| Bleeding | May be concealed. Often dark | Red & may be profuse, but may also hae smaller bleeds prior to a larger bleed | May be concealed. May have haematuria |
| Tenderness | Often severe. May have 'woody' hard uterus | Unusual | Peritonism |
| Fetus | May be dead or distressed (pathological CTG). Usually no malpresentation | CTG usually normal. Often malpresentation / head high | Likely distressed (pathalogical CTG). Very high or unreachable presenting part, fetus may partially be in abdomen |
| Ultrasound | Often normal | Placenta low | Often normal |
| Risk factors | Previous abruption, pre-eclampsia, hypertension, smoking, abdominal trauma, advanced maternal age, cocaine use, multiparity | Previous caesarean section | Previous uterine surgery, multiparity, trauma, oxytocin use |