Rupture of the uterus is very rare. It is an emergency requiring immediate treatment.
The uterus can rupture before or during labor.
The following increase the risk of uterine rupture:
Women have had a previous cesarean delivery, especially if labor is started artificially (induced Induction of Labor Induction of labor is the artificial starting of labor. Usually, labor is induced by giving the woman oxytocin, a drug that makes the uterus contract more frequently and more forcefully. The... read more ) instead of occurring spontaneously.
Women have had surgery on the uterus.
The uterus is stretched too much (for example, by too much amniotic fluid in the uterus or by several fetuses).
The fetus is in the wrong position for delivery and has to be turned.
Rupture causes severe, constant pain in the abdomen and an abnormally slow heart rate in the fetus.
To confirm the diagnosis of a ruptured uterus, doctors may make an incision in the abdomen so that they can directly view the uterus. This procedure is called a laparotomy.
The fetus must be delivered by cesarean Cesarean Delivery Cesarean delivery is surgical delivery of a baby by incision through a woman’s abdomen and uterus. In the United States, up to 30% of deliveries are cesarean. Doctors use a cesarean delivery... read more 
immediately. The uterus is then repaired surgically. Sometimes removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is necessary.
