Blunt Trauma during Pregnancy

THE most common causes of blunt maternal injury during pregnancy are motor vehicle accidents, falls, and assaults.1 2 3 4 5 Although trauma is the leading cause of nonobstetrical death in pregnant women in at least one state,6 it causes the death of the fetus much more often than the death of the mother.7 8 9 10 11 The management of trauma during pregnancy requires special considerations, because pregnancy alters maternal physiology and because the fetus is a second potential victim.Fetal PhysiologyThe effect of trauma on pregnancy depends on the gestational age of the fetus, the type and severity of the trauma, and the extent of . . .