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What is Placenta Accreta?

By Rachel Lacourciere, edHelperBaby

  What is Placenta Accreta?
           The placenta is a vital link between the mother and her baby; it carries food to the baby as well as removes waste from the baby.  During pregnancy, the placenta attaches itself to the uterine wall.  However, if the placenta should attach itself too firmly, this condition is referred to as placenta accreta. Depending on how deeply the placenta has attached to the uterine wall determines if a woman specifically has placenta accreta, placenta increta, or placenta percreta.       

       Placenta accreta is the most common of these three conditions, resulting in the placenta attaching too deeply into the uterine wall but not as far as the uterine muscle.  On the other hand, in both placenta increta and placenta percreta the placenta attaches itself into the uterine muscle and even farther into an additional organ in the case of percreta.

 		   

  Risk factors
           A woman may be at a higher risk than others of developing placenta accreta if she is in any of the following categories:
  • A woman who has had placenta accreta in the past
  • A woman who has been diagnosed with placenta previa
  • A woman who has had a previous cesarean section

 		   

  Diagnosing
           Unfortunately, placenta accreta is not always identified prior to the woman going into labor.  However, a woman may experience bleeding in her third trimester as a sign of this condition.  In this case, an ultrasound will be done to determine if placenta accreta is the cause of the bleeding.   If a woman is not diagnosed prior to delivery, the condition will be identified when the placenta does not detach from the uterine wall after the baby is born.

 		   

  Restrictions and Limitations
           When a woman is diagnosed with placenta accreta, she is often placed on bed rest to limit sitting and standing as much as possible and ward off the potential for premature labor.    Additionally, medication can be used to help the pregnancy reach full term.       

       If placenta accreta is diagnosed prior to delivery, a woman will end up having a scheduled cesarean section. This can be a disappointing realization for a woman who was expecting to have a vaginal birth.   However, for a woman who is placed on bed rest, reading and understanding a cesarean section and why it is necessary for the health of the baby can be reassuring.       

       Additionally, because the placenta will have to be manually removed, the possibility does exist that damage could be caused to the uterus.  At times, placenta accreta will result in a hysterectomy, which removes the uterus and the ability to have more children in the future.  This too can be an overwhelming realization for any woman who was expecting to be pregnant again in the future.       

       Take the time to talk to your regular prenatal doctor about any additional questions or concerns you may have about placenta accreta.

 		   

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Note: All information on edHelperBaby is of a general nature for educational purposes only.
For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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