Placenta worries.. third pregnancy.

[Nighttimenope]

Hi all. Apologies if this is long - will try desperately to keep to relevant details.
I am wondering if anyone can tell me whether a standard ultrasound will reveal damage to someone’s uterus?

With my first delivery in 2014, I had a retained placenta which was removed in surgery. With my second I had pre-eclampsia, a placental abruption immediately prior to delivery and, although the main of my placenta came out, I was losing blood fast and they had to do a manual removal of blood clots afterward. Because I delivered vaginally both times, no one has seen in my womb as it were!
I had a follow up appt with obstetrician after the second and she said there was no reason to assume the same risks the third time, so I am now pregnant with number 3 and on an ‘amber’ pathway...

Since all of this though, I have a friend with very similar placental history to me who has had two babies via c section and has been told that she would be risking her life to have more due to the damage to her uterus. In my current sick state I have been mindlessly watching Instagram clips and discovered Kim Kardashian (I have never followed them!) has been advised not to carry again due to similar damage from placental accreta.

I’m hoping therefore that they would be able to see placental damage to my uterus via ultrasound, hence giving me the go ahead?!
I have a consultant appt in a few weeks and of course I will speak to them then.. but in the mean time can anyone help me out with some knowledge?

Anyone? Sorry, just feeling anxious!

Your friend's advice will have been given based on the multiple c-sections rather than the placenta issues. Multiple sections can sharply increase the risk of uterine rupture. I don't know of any reason why placental abruption would cause long term damage and I don't think you actually had placenta accreta - they would have noticed that when they removed it?

I don't think there's any reason to think you're at risk or shouldn't have another pregnancy.

Thanks so much for replying. I knew that re: multiple csections- she’s just had two however, and was clear that they were shocked at the internal damage during her last one. I understood from what she said that it wasn’t standard c section worries hence my late night worries.
Yes you are right about placenta accreta. I suffered serious neglect at my last birth and I think just encountering these thoughts late at night was just a bit overwhelming! Thanks so much for replying.

I think women differ a lot in how their uterus copes with multiple sections (and potentially the circumstances of the birth and how the section had to be done) - some women can have 4 sections and their uterus is still in fine shape, some women have bad scarring or adhesions and are at serious risk of rupture after 2.

You've seen the consultant, she has your medical history, and believe me consultants are usually VERY conservative in managing these issues. Your uterus has never been cut open which is a GOOD thing. Try not to worry.

I’ve had accreta twice with my second and fourth pregnancies
The first time it had grown into and through the scar from my first section so they had to cut slightly differently and I lost a lot of blood and was in pain after. With my fourth it was a smaller area and they delivered a month early to avoid it penetrating any further.

I had to have ultrasounds where they looked at blood flow and mri scans
With my fourth they pushed sterilisation as said it would be too dangerous to have more than 4 c sections. I wasn’t given time or any info to make a proper decision so itbwas a massive regret especially as my baby was then unexpectedly very ill and in nicu. I did then have treatment and a reversal to have a fifth

I only got accreta when I had anterior placentas