Placenta Accreta

Placenta accreta is an abnormal attachment of the placenta to your uterine wall.

Normally, the placenta - which is your baby's lifeline - attaches securely to your uterine wall.

What is a placenta?

The placenta is an amazing temporal - used only for a period - organ which weighs about 1 pound at the end of your pregnancy and which performs many functions.

Here are some facts about a placenta:

It provides oxygen to your baby.

It provides nutrients to your baby.

It removes waste material from your baby and transports it to your blood stream where it will be carried to your kidneys for disposal.

It also acts as a barrier against some infections and some potentially harmful substances.

It is made of the same cells as your baby.

Normally, a placenta attaches itself securely to the wall of the uterus and it will perform beautifully until after the birth of your baby.

Placenta accreta is a broad term for 3 types of mal-attachments:

Placenta accreta happens when your placenta attaches itself too deeply and too firmly into the wall of your uterus. It is the most common as it encompasses 75% of the cases.

Placenta increta is when the placenta attaches itself even more deeply into your uterine wall. It represents 15% of cases.

Placenta percreta is when your uterus attaches itself through your uterus and in some cases even nearby organs - such as the bladder. It represents 10% of cases.

How common is placenta accreta?

It is not very common. It occurs in about 1 out of 2,500 pregnancies.

Placenta accreta can cause bleeding in the third trimester and in 2/3 of cases it will result in a premature delivery. Aside from this, the main danger to you - the mother - is hemorrhaging after the birth of your baby.

If you are diagnosed with this disorder, what are the treatments for placenta accreta?

Well, since your placenta will not easily separate from the wall of your uterus after the birth of your baby, it often needs to be removed surgically. In many cases a hysterectomy - the removal of your uterus - will be necessary. However, you should be made aware that there are surgical procedures that can be used to save your uterus.

How is it diagnosed?

Since there are no symptoms, it is usually with an ultrasound or at birth.

Who is at risk?

Women who are diagnosed with placenta previa. Five to 10% of women with placenta previa will also have placenta accreta. Women who have had one - or more - c-sections. In over 60% of cases of placenta accreta, the women had more than one c-section!

Remember, this is very rare and most of the time, your placenta does as it should and implants properly. If you were planning on a c-section and would like to have more children - or keep all your body parts - talk with your birth practitioners about a vaginal birth.