O71: Other obstetric trauma

O71.0: Rupture of uterus before onset of labour

The uterus or womb sits in the pelvis and is pear-shaped. The narrower part extends downward into the vagina and is called the cervix. When a woman is pregnant, the child grows in her uterus. The uterus is under a lot of stress during pregnancy. It is significantly stretched by the growing child in pregnancy.

If the stress is too much for the uterus, then the wall of the uterus can rupture. Individual or all layers of the uterine wall can tear. This can happen in particular if the uterus is damaged by previous surgery, for example.

The uterus rupturing can cause a lot of pain. The abdomen is then very soft. Internal bleeding can result in a lot of blood lost and the person becoming unconscious. The uterus rupturing can be dangerous for mother and child.