HESI Obstetrics and Maternity Assignment Practice Exam

Concealed hemorrhage from placental abruption causes the uterus to become rigid and board-like because blood is secreted behind the placenta and trapped inside the uterus, increasing intrauterine pressure. This internal bleeding makes the uterus tense and hard to palpate, which is a key sign prompting urgent assessment. Tachycardia may accompany hemorrhage, but bradycardia is not typical in this setting. A decrease in fundal height or a decrease in abdominal pain does not reflect concealed bleeding; fundal height is often not reduced and pain is usually not diminished. The rigid, board-like abdomen is the best finding to report.