O71: Other obstetric trauma

O71.1: Rupture of uterus during 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 and labor. It is first of all significantly stretched by the growing child in pregnancy. Contractions can also put the uterus under stress.

The wall of the womb is mainly made up of muscles. On the outside, a thin skin surrounds the uterus. On the inside, the uterus is lined with mucous membrane. During labor, the muscles of the uterus contract. During the birth contractions push the child out of the uterus. Contractions take place mainly towards the end of the pregnancy and during childbirth. 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 contractions suddenly stop and the abdomen is 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.