Gave birth 3/19/12 Placenta Accreta

Danielle - posted on 04/15/2012 ( 2 moms have responded )

At my 20 week ultrasound I learned I had Placenta Previa, a complete previa. My next ultrasound was at 24 weeks and that's when I was diagnosed with possible accreta. I googled and became very scared about what I was reading and just how serious this complication in pregnancy is. Thankfully my Obgyn has had experience with accretas and an excellent high risk Obgyn surgeon. I felt very comfortable knowing my Obgyn would deliver my baby as he informed me he would put together a large team to assist at delivery. My pregnancy was not an easy one, constant ultrasounds and non stress tests. I would find myself having days where I would be confident that all would be fine during delivery and that my placenta would easily detatch and no need for hysterectomy. Then there would be days I'd research the Internet and read many stories if otheres experiences and it really frightened me what I read. I did take comfort however in all the ultrasounds I had confirming babyvwas doing great and growing nicely, no growth restrictions and passing all my non stress tests. However my Obgyn would tell me, we have to prepare for worst, but that him and his team will be ready. He comforted me throughout the pregnancy even though he could not tell me for certain what was really going to happen day of delivery. He would tell me exactly what I read about accreta, that he just does not know the extent of it until he opens me up during c section. This caused me to have sleepless nights. I would wonder all the time what the extent of accreta would be and I hoped for the best that if anything please don't let my organs be affected. I was ok with the fact that without a doubt my uterus was coming out. Having a hysterectomy at first seem so shocking and major surgery but I understood that others the safest route. To my dismay I wound up the day of delivery losing half the blood in my body, and had damage to my bladder. I had a hysterectomy where only my uterus was removed and then had surgery on my bladder due to placenta wrapping around bladder, this is when I lost so much blood. I ended up in ICU and my baby I. nICU, my son had to be delivered a month before his actual due date . I delivered on my scheduled c section / hysyerectomy date of 3/19 but 2 days prior I started spitting and having contractions, I was admitted to hospital but thankfully they were able to slow my contractions and I had no more bleeding. On march 19th after the 6 hour surgery I was in ICU and very weak and had to have an epidural all night so I would not be in a lot of pain, I could not see my son until I got out of ICU the next day. Due to bladder damage I has to have a foley catheter bag for 2 weeks, it was awful, I was in the hospital for one week and thankfully my son got out of nicu after 5 days and came home with me. He was a preemie but born 6lbs. 10 ounces , happy that he was a healthy weight. He had sone breathing issues but resolved after a week and it helped I had steroid shots to mature his lungs at 32 weeks. I would not wish placenta accreta on anyone but I feel blessed I had an experienced Doctor and team of professionals that got me through this. My bladder healed and even though I still need to recover I know I will physically feel all better again in time. I'm just so grateful I had an amazing Doctor and was in an excellent hospital being cared for. The first two weeks were the hardest, I thought my bladder would never heal and I felt so frail and week. Each day it got better and once catheter bag cane out I felt so much better, that was the most painful part. Whoever has this condition I advise you feel confident in your Obgyn and make sure he or she had experience delivering this type of condition because blood loss is very common and almost unavoidable . You will get through this with the right Doctor that understands this condition and is prepared. I now understand why my Doctor did f want to even attempt to try to remove my placenta adit would have caused massive hemmorage, I lost half my blood so I can't even imagine if my Doctor tried to remove my placenta to save my uterus. Every case is different so hopefully for many others their uterus can be saved and no other organs like bladder affected. I am happy the surgery is over and so worth everything I went through to have an amazing and beautiful new baby boy. I'm most thankful my son is healthy and that I survived this complication. I've broke down a few times since the surgery crying to my OBGyn how grateful I am to him and how I can't thank him enough for helping me and my son through this and saving me from this condition.