For those of you that have had placenta accreta or percreta, I really am going crazy trying to find out what to expect during the last trimester. I am wondering at what point you started bleeding if you hadn't been bleeding throughout. I would love your stories and insight! Also did doing certain things make it better or worse and did you have any pains with it that you didn't have with previous pregnancies? Thanks for any advice!
-
Xenforo Cloud has scheduled an upgrade to XenForo version 2.2.16. This will take place on or shortly after the following date and time: Jul 05, 2024 at 05:00 PM (PT) There shouldn't be any downtime, as it's just a maintenance release. More info here
placenta accreta/percreta question!
- Thread starter Jenner
- Start date
Mystique26
Mum of 1Angel, 1DD & 1DS
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2010
- Messages
- 1,569
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi Jenner, I'm not very familiar with placenta accreta but I dont want to read and run. Hope you get the answers you need though. 
poppy
Mum of Three
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2007
- Messages
- 5,388
- Reaction score
- 1
Hi Jenner!
There was a girl who posted about this a while back who had a placenta accreta in her first pregnancy. I think she said that she would be carefully monitored if she had another baby. How do you know you have an accreta? Did you have one in a previous pregnancy.
With my son, I had a retained placenta which had to be removed in theatre by manual removal (when the doctor sticks their hand 'up there' and yanks the placenta out). The doctor said that it wasn't an accreta as, though it was stuck, it came out easily when they did the manual removal. Having said that, I am worried about having another retained placenta this time around as I have heard that you can have an increased risk if you have had a previous one. I have had a meeting with my gynaecologist and she doesn't think it is a major increased risk, but they will have my past birth in my notes and will be prepared for it if it happens again.
I would say with an accreta or precreta, they will monitor you even closer in birth and be prepared in case they have to surgically remove it. At least, in your case, you are aware about the possibility of it happening before you go into labour as then they can be prepared and manage it. Often it only becomes a problem if they are not prepared for it beforehand.
Good luck, I hope someone is able to give you more information.
xxx
There was a girl who posted about this a while back who had a placenta accreta in her first pregnancy. I think she said that she would be carefully monitored if she had another baby. How do you know you have an accreta? Did you have one in a previous pregnancy.
With my son, I had a retained placenta which had to be removed in theatre by manual removal (when the doctor sticks their hand 'up there' and yanks the placenta out). The doctor said that it wasn't an accreta as, though it was stuck, it came out easily when they did the manual removal. Having said that, I am worried about having another retained placenta this time around as I have heard that you can have an increased risk if you have had a previous one. I have had a meeting with my gynaecologist and she doesn't think it is a major increased risk, but they will have my past birth in my notes and will be prepared for it if it happens again.
I would say with an accreta or precreta, they will monitor you even closer in birth and be prepared in case they have to surgically remove it. At least, in your case, you are aware about the possibility of it happening before you go into labour as then they can be prepared and manage it. Often it only becomes a problem if they are not prepared for it beforehand.
Good luck, I hope someone is able to give you more information.
xxx
Poppy
So as for how they know I have already had 4 million ultrasounds. I already see the best high risk doctor around. He just also happens to be the go to guy for this sort of thing. I decided maybe I should get a second opinion but when you look it up he is the man. I completely trust him with my life. He has delivered my last 4 kids.
I have never had this before and I have only had 1 csection in the past. I did hemmorage big time after my last which was vaginal. I have also had many d&c's which can also be a flag to this condition. They are majorly prepared for all of this, but my big concern is that if it starts at home I won't make it to the hospital of my choice (the one that is best and knows my whole situation). The closest hospital is one that I would never have a baby at especially with something so complicated. I wish I could find someone who has been through exactly what I have cuz I just have several questions.
Yes, from what I understand it does increase your risk of having it again. Just make sure they watch you close and have a good team behind you!!!
So as for how they know I have already had 4 million ultrasounds. I already see the best high risk doctor around. He just also happens to be the go to guy for this sort of thing. I decided maybe I should get a second opinion but when you look it up he is the man. I completely trust him with my life. He has delivered my last 4 kids.
I have never had this before and I have only had 1 csection in the past. I did hemmorage big time after my last which was vaginal. I have also had many d&c's which can also be a flag to this condition. They are majorly prepared for all of this, but my big concern is that if it starts at home I won't make it to the hospital of my choice (the one that is best and knows my whole situation). The closest hospital is one that I would never have a baby at especially with something so complicated. I wish I could find someone who has been through exactly what I have cuz I just have several questions.
Yes, from what I understand it does increase your risk of having it again. Just make sure they watch you close and have a good team behind you!!!
Hi Jenner
I thought i would reply to your thread with my story. 6 months ago I had my 4th child by c-section and i had total placenta previa and placenta accreta, due to medical reasons i had had to have sections for all four of my children and i am 38.
At my 20 week scan it was picked up that i had placenta previa and possible placenta accreta (due to my history of c-sections and uterine scars). They were unsure of this and was given all the usual precautions to take for previa- basicaly pelvic rest and asked to come back at 34 weeks for another scan to see if they could find any acreta by looking for abnormal blood flow, to which they found a section of placenta that they thought was acreta, so i was sent for a mri scan at 35 weeks for an accurate diagnosis, this came back also showing acreta but not to what extent. At this point i was told there would be several options after the baby was born by section to remove the plecanta depending on how bad it was
1) to leave placenta in and scanned regularly to see if body would re-absorb
2) cut a letter box shape in uterus to remove attached placenta and re-sow up
3) or, most high risk due to potential extensive blood loss ceserean hysterectomy.
I was in so much shock over this, as, as you know it's pretty rare and had no one to really talk to. In the end i left the decision as to what to do to the consultand based on what she found when she opened me up.
The day cme when i was due to go in for the section and i was very nervous as i had been told that if a hysterectomy at delivery was necessary than i could loose 6 pints of blood and end up in i.t.u to recover.
I stayed awake for the entire time in theatre and the hospital used a procedure that they hadn't used on a pregnant woman before which was a femeral block. Which was basicaly putting sponge stuff in my arteries to minimise blood flow. As it happen the acreta was extensive and a hysterectomy was the only answer to get the placenta out but due to the procedure they used i only lost the same amount of blood that you would loose for a normal section. I went straight to the post natal ward and went home three days later. Recovery was slow and steady and 6months on I am almost back to my old self and my daughter is perfect.
Sorry for long reply but hope this helps- obviously every sitiuation is different and so are the outcomes but this condition is so rare it's difficult to find anyone who has had it. (my consultant said she would only see one case once a year or so)
I never bled during the pregnancy but the consultant didn't think i would once they suspected accreta- dont know why
I was finally diagnosed with total placenta previa and placenta accreta, with the risk factor being my previous c-sections- although I had no idea what accreta was until this pregnancy. Apparantly they couldnt even seperate my placenta from my womb in pathology/ histology! (think thats the dept the consultant said) so i was told after a follow up apt 8 weeks postnatal. I dint have any aches or pains during pregnancy relating to what was going on and there was nothing i could do to change the outcome. I just had to be very careful as i got bigger not to do anything strenuous and any bleeding get straight to hospital ( that never happened thankfuly)
Sounds like you have a good consultant behind you and I am sure everything will go smoothly for you and I wish you all the best
xx
I thought i would reply to your thread with my story. 6 months ago I had my 4th child by c-section and i had total placenta previa and placenta accreta, due to medical reasons i had had to have sections for all four of my children and i am 38.
At my 20 week scan it was picked up that i had placenta previa and possible placenta accreta (due to my history of c-sections and uterine scars). They were unsure of this and was given all the usual precautions to take for previa- basicaly pelvic rest and asked to come back at 34 weeks for another scan to see if they could find any acreta by looking for abnormal blood flow, to which they found a section of placenta that they thought was acreta, so i was sent for a mri scan at 35 weeks for an accurate diagnosis, this came back also showing acreta but not to what extent. At this point i was told there would be several options after the baby was born by section to remove the plecanta depending on how bad it was
1) to leave placenta in and scanned regularly to see if body would re-absorb
2) cut a letter box shape in uterus to remove attached placenta and re-sow up
3) or, most high risk due to potential extensive blood loss ceserean hysterectomy.
I was in so much shock over this, as, as you know it's pretty rare and had no one to really talk to. In the end i left the decision as to what to do to the consultand based on what she found when she opened me up.
The day cme when i was due to go in for the section and i was very nervous as i had been told that if a hysterectomy at delivery was necessary than i could loose 6 pints of blood and end up in i.t.u to recover.
I stayed awake for the entire time in theatre and the hospital used a procedure that they hadn't used on a pregnant woman before which was a femeral block. Which was basicaly putting sponge stuff in my arteries to minimise blood flow. As it happen the acreta was extensive and a hysterectomy was the only answer to get the placenta out but due to the procedure they used i only lost the same amount of blood that you would loose for a normal section. I went straight to the post natal ward and went home three days later. Recovery was slow and steady and 6months on I am almost back to my old self and my daughter is perfect.
Sorry for long reply but hope this helps- obviously every sitiuation is different and so are the outcomes but this condition is so rare it's difficult to find anyone who has had it. (my consultant said she would only see one case once a year or so)
I never bled during the pregnancy but the consultant didn't think i would once they suspected accreta- dont know why
I was finally diagnosed with total placenta previa and placenta accreta, with the risk factor being my previous c-sections- although I had no idea what accreta was until this pregnancy. Apparantly they couldnt even seperate my placenta from my womb in pathology/ histology! (think thats the dept the consultant said) so i was told after a follow up apt 8 weeks postnatal. I dint have any aches or pains during pregnancy relating to what was going on and there was nothing i could do to change the outcome. I just had to be very careful as i got bigger not to do anything strenuous and any bleeding get straight to hospital ( that never happened thankfuly)
Sounds like you have a good consultant behind you and I am sure everything will go smoothly for you and I wish you all the best
xx
MikaylasMummy
Mummy of 1 & TTC
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2010
- Messages
- 2,152
- Reaction score
- 0
hi hun, sorry i didnt see your thread earlier..
i had a placenta accreta with my first pregnancy that was undiagnosed until i gave birth naturally and heameraged quite severly and it was very very hard to stop the bleeding..i was very close to being taken to theatre for a hysterectomy but they managed to close my uterus unknowingly over the left over placenta however this stopped the bleeding so i was left to go home a week later after a few blood transfusions..obviously i soon had severe infections and ended with a d&c..
i was very lucky after the ordeal to get pregnant after 6months trying with our second..this time i went through a very good high risk ob/gyn who said c-section straight off and thats exactly what i wanted..he said a csection would allow him to act quickly to get the placenta out and also stem any bleeding and allow him to insure he got it all..at 20 weeks i had a previa as well which extended into my shortening cervix..
during the csection he said my placenta was still very low and stuck but he got it all out in one peice..i did go into labour 4weeks early(common with accretas and i had preterm labour from 20weeks) and my waters broke however i had no bleeding at that time nor did i at any time during this second pregnancy..
with the first pregnancy i bled at 11 weeks and a big one at 33 weeks..it still wasnt picked up!i went full term +9 with my first preg and had no complications til the heamerage..hope this helps and feel free to ask me any questions i would have loved to have found some one who had an accreta when i was pregnant with second bub as i was desperate for some answers from someone experienced as it iss so rare!
i had a placenta accreta with my first pregnancy that was undiagnosed until i gave birth naturally and heameraged quite severly and it was very very hard to stop the bleeding..i was very close to being taken to theatre for a hysterectomy but they managed to close my uterus unknowingly over the left over placenta however this stopped the bleeding so i was left to go home a week later after a few blood transfusions..obviously i soon had severe infections and ended with a d&c..
i was very lucky after the ordeal to get pregnant after 6months trying with our second..this time i went through a very good high risk ob/gyn who said c-section straight off and thats exactly what i wanted..he said a csection would allow him to act quickly to get the placenta out and also stem any bleeding and allow him to insure he got it all..at 20 weeks i had a previa as well which extended into my shortening cervix..
during the csection he said my placenta was still very low and stuck but he got it all out in one peice..i did go into labour 4weeks early(common with accretas and i had preterm labour from 20weeks) and my waters broke however i had no bleeding at that time nor did i at any time during this second pregnancy..
with the first pregnancy i bled at 11 weeks and a big one at 33 weeks..it still wasnt picked up!i went full term +9 with my first preg and had no complications til the heamerage..hope this helps and feel free to ask me any questions i would have loved to have found some one who had an accreta when i was pregnant with second bub as i was desperate for some answers from someone experienced as it iss so rare!
Thank you so much for responding girls!!! I am so stressed about this whole situation and not knowing what to expect. I am terrified of starting to bleed at home and the best hospital (the one I go to) is about 40 minutes away. If I do have to call an ambulance they will have to take me to the nearest one which is like 5 minutes away but totally not equipped for this sort of thing. I don't know what would happen if I ended up there.
Every time I leave the house I start to panic about each situation and what I would do if I started to bleed. I hemorraged with my last one but I had just given birth so they were able to take good care of me. I can't imagine if I would have been at home, it happened so fast. They haven't put me on bed rest yet and they told me that as for the pelvic rest they don't really think that makes a difference. Which kind of concerns me because everyone on here got told to do pelvic rest from the beginning.
How did you guys feel after the whole ordeal and taking care of a newborn. I am so scared that I am not going to feel up to it and not going to be able to enjoy the beginning at all. It is just a whole lot of surgery while going trough a delivery.
Thanks!!!
Every time I leave the house I start to panic about each situation and what I would do if I started to bleed. I hemorraged with my last one but I had just given birth so they were able to take good care of me. I can't imagine if I would have been at home, it happened so fast. They haven't put me on bed rest yet and they told me that as for the pelvic rest they don't really think that makes a difference. Which kind of concerns me because everyone on here got told to do pelvic rest from the beginning.
How did you guys feel after the whole ordeal and taking care of a newborn. I am so scared that I am not going to feel up to it and not going to be able to enjoy the beginning at all. It is just a whole lot of surgery while going trough a delivery.
Thanks!!!
Hi Jenner
My surgery took 6 hours in total, first section then hysterectomy to which i stayed awake for it all. I was offered a general after the baby was delivered but didnt want to miss those first few moments with baby by bieng really groggy. It was difficult at first taking care of her because of feeling really rough for a week or two but i soon got into the swing of it and took each day as it came until i found my feet again.
My recovery has been long, my doc said it would take a year to recover from a cescerean hysterectomy! I thought she was joking but 6 months in, altho i pretty much feel like myself i still have some niggles.
Soon after the delivery/hysterectomy i started to get some awful pains when my bladder let down after going to the loo and some terrible pains shooting up my back passage, after having a scan i was told i had a blood clot on the little peice of uterus that i have left in my cervix-which the ultrasound lady called my 'stump' grrrrr! and it was causing preasure. I was re-assured that the pains would stop when my body re-absorbed the clot, which they did.
The biggest problem was that no-one knew how to treat me, on the delivery ward they only knew how to deal with section patients and gynea only could give info about normal hysterectomys when the womb is the size of a pear and not the size of a 6lb baby ! I found it hard to get info about my recovery and what to expect, so i just muddled through.
I am just happy i didn't end up in intensive care (that could have been one of the senarios) though as it was really important for me to breast feed and bieng that ill may have made it more difficult.
If you have specific questions about my experience then feel free to ask away. xx
My surgery took 6 hours in total, first section then hysterectomy to which i stayed awake for it all. I was offered a general after the baby was delivered but didnt want to miss those first few moments with baby by bieng really groggy. It was difficult at first taking care of her because of feeling really rough for a week or two but i soon got into the swing of it and took each day as it came until i found my feet again.
My recovery has been long, my doc said it would take a year to recover from a cescerean hysterectomy! I thought she was joking but 6 months in, altho i pretty much feel like myself i still have some niggles.
Soon after the delivery/hysterectomy i started to get some awful pains when my bladder let down after going to the loo and some terrible pains shooting up my back passage, after having a scan i was told i had a blood clot on the little peice of uterus that i have left in my cervix-which the ultrasound lady called my 'stump' grrrrr! and it was causing preasure. I was re-assured that the pains would stop when my body re-absorbed the clot, which they did.
The biggest problem was that no-one knew how to treat me, on the delivery ward they only knew how to deal with section patients and gynea only could give info about normal hysterectomys when the womb is the size of a pear and not the size of a 6lb baby ! I found it hard to get info about my recovery and what to expect, so i just muddled through.
I am just happy i didn't end up in intensive care (that could have been one of the senarios) though as it was really important for me to breast feed and bieng that ill may have made it more difficult.
If you have specific questions about my experience then feel free to ask away.
xx
MikaylasMummy
Mummy of 1 & TTC
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2010
- Messages
- 2,152
- Reaction score
- 0
oh the stick thats very very strange cos after this ceaser although not a hysterectomy i had some very very bad pains in my tummy and up my back passage but i just ignored them??they are gone now though and definatley no clots as my ob does an ultrasound after birth to check everything is clear..
jenner my recovery with mikayla was aweful for a number of reasons..1 is that i lost sooo much blood until the transfusions started taking effect i looked and felt like a complete zombie..because they were not aware of the accreta even after i hameraged i had terrible terrible uterus infections where i would wake up like id stepped out of the shower and into bed for a few weeks til they finally took me in for the d&c and found the accreta.but i think my recovery was mainly so bad due to other reasons as i had a very very large epesiotomy and tonnes of damage which resulted in me having an incompetant cervix this time around..there were a bunch of factors in my recovery apart from the accreta!
jenner my recovery with mikayla was aweful for a number of reasons..1 is that i lost sooo much blood until the transfusions started taking effect i looked and felt like a complete zombie..because they were not aware of the accreta even after i hameraged i had terrible terrible uterus infections where i would wake up like id stepped out of the shower and into bed for a few weeks til they finally took me in for the d&c and found the accreta.but i think my recovery was mainly so bad due to other reasons as i had a very very large epesiotomy and tonnes of damage which resulted in me having an incompetant cervix this time around..there were a bunch of factors in my recovery apart from the accreta!
Flipping heck! it sounds like you had a terrible time. I hope you are recovered now. At least in my case they were aware of it prior to delivery-although not the extent of the accreta that was only discovered at delivery. You sound like a really strong brave lady.
KandyKinz
Longtime Mama
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2010
- Messages
- 3,683
- Reaction score
- 0
Can't say that I have any personal experiences with placenta accreta but as a former midwifery student I have studied it.
From everything I have read about placenta accreta it's actually much more common then 1/100,000...... It's closer to 1/500 to 1/2500... Apparently, the incidence has been rising due to the increased numbers of c-sections and D&C's but I think an increase in the recognition and diagnosis has also played a role.
In terms of bleeding, it can occur during the pregnancy specifically in the thrid trimester but most of the time woman have no symptoms prenatally and if they do bleed it tends to be rather light to moderate...
The main risk as you are likely already aware is having a retained placenta or postpartum hemorrhage after the delivery. Most women with placenta accreta are not diagnosed with it until after the birth so you definitly have an advantage here as now your care providers can be well prepared. Around where I am if placenta accreta is diagnosed prenatally a cesarean is advised.... Because you have already had one and because of this diagnosis I can only assume that that's the plan for you???? Not all women with placenta accreta end up requiring transfusions or needing a hysterectomy and hopefully you'll fall into that category. But just in case things do go astray following delivery I highly suggest that you do your best prenatally to keep your iron/hemoglobin up (eat lots and lots of iron rich foods!!!!) AND arrange for some extra help postpartum in terms of caring for other children and cleaning and cooking. The more time you have to look after yourself the fast you will recover...
From everything I have read about placenta accreta it's actually much more common then 1/100,000...... It's closer to 1/500 to 1/2500... Apparently, the incidence has been rising due to the increased numbers of c-sections and D&C's but I think an increase in the recognition and diagnosis has also played a role.
In terms of bleeding, it can occur during the pregnancy specifically in the thrid trimester but most of the time woman have no symptoms prenatally and if they do bleed it tends to be rather light to moderate...
The main risk as you are likely already aware is having a retained placenta or postpartum hemorrhage after the delivery. Most women with placenta accreta are not diagnosed with it until after the birth so you definitly have an advantage here as now your care providers can be well prepared. Around where I am if placenta accreta is diagnosed prenatally a cesarean is advised.... Because you have already had one and because of this diagnosis I can only assume that that's the plan for you???? Not all women with placenta accreta end up requiring transfusions or needing a hysterectomy and hopefully you'll fall into that category. But just in case things do go astray following delivery I highly suggest that you do your best prenatally to keep your iron/hemoglobin up (eat lots and lots of iron rich foods!!!!) AND arrange for some extra help postpartum in terms of caring for other children and cleaning and cooking. The more time you have to look after yourself the fast you will recover...
I actually have learned quite a bit about it in the past couple of months. They are planning on a hysterctomy when I deliver unless a miracle happens in the mean time. Accreta is more common than what I have. I have percreta which is when the placenta starts to attack your organs. Mine has wrapped around my bladder and now the concern is if it is starting to go through the bladder wall.
My dr. is the go to guy around here for this luckily. He has seen plenty of accreta but only al few of percreta. He actually had one where the placenta worked its way all the way up the ventricules of the heart. They had to leave pieces of it all the way up and let it be reabsorbed so not to do more damage. So crazy!
KandyKinz
Longtime Mama
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2010
- Messages
- 3,683
- Reaction score
- 0
Oh I was thinking you just had accreta. Hopefully, in your case this doesn't cause any lasting damage to your bladder.
MikaylasMummy
Mummy of 1 & TTC
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2010
- Messages
- 2,152
- Reaction score
- 0
Flipping heck! it sounds like you had a terrible time. I hope you are recovered now. At least in my case they were aware of it prior to delivery-although not the extent of the accreta that was only discovered at delivery. You sound like a really strong brave lady.
aw thanks hun..yes it was a terrible time especially being my first bub and to top it off she was 9pound 4!!i had a planned ceaser this time around incase the accreta reoccured and the ob found that the placenta was a bit stuck and very very low so it was possible if i had of gone for a natural birth i may have had more problems..luckily this time it was much better having a ceaser!!except i got a spinal headache cos they had to use an epidural needle for the tap cos they couldnt get it in and they are horrible!!i had no pain from the ceaser i was that doped up but the headache was of migraine proportions!the only thing that stopped it was lying flat!!apparantly thats rare too..lol..i think i am just an exception to all the rules on my own.lol
Flipping heck! it sounds like you had a terrible time. I hope you are recovered now. At least in my case they were aware of it prior to delivery-although not the extent of the accreta that was only discovered at delivery. You sound like a really strong brave lady.
aw thanks hun..yes it was a terrible time especially being my first bub and to top it off she was 9pound 4!!i had a planned ceaser this time around incase the accreta reoccured and the ob found that the placenta was a bit stuck and very very low so it was possible if i had of gone for a natural birth i may have had more problems..luckily this time it was much better having a ceaser!!except i got a spinal headache cos they had to use an epidural needle for the tap cos they couldnt get it in and they are horrible!!i had no pain from the ceaser i was that doped up but the headache was of migraine proportions!the only thing that stopped it was lying flat!!apparantly thats rare too..lol..i think i am just an exception to all the rules on my own.lol
Thats so funny, we must be so much alike. If there is a wierd symptom, side effect or complication I will be the one to get it. I also had spinal headaches from an epidural. It was awful. They finally ended up doing a blood patch where they put blood back in the epidural sight. It helped luckily. I am hoping that since they are very much aware of my situation that mine will be much smoother. No way to be sure though cuz I do tend to get everything. I am also a vegetarian so I am always anemic which is a big concern. They told me to be packing in the iron but I don't eat anything with iron in it. I am not as worried about the surgery as much as I am the recovery. That totally stresses me out!!!
