Placenta Accreta ... scared

[Bubblebubble123]

Hi ladies, I had a c section with my first baby coz I had placenta previa. I’m due in Jan and found out at 20 week scan that my placenta is low again but this time to the front. Ive asked my doctor and he thinks it should move but said that if it’s adhered to my scar then surgery will be complicated. I’ve read up on it and it sounds pretty scary and it looks like a high chance of needing a hysterectomy if the placenta is adhered.
Just wondering if anyone here has experienced this or is experiencing it now... I’m scared and worried and upset as I would love to have the choice of having more children.

Bump

I had complete placenta previa with accreta with my second DC. I had lots of issues with constant heavy bleeding, bedrest and an emergency section at 30 weeks. I had to have general anesthesia because of heavy bleeding (needed three units of blood to recover) BUT no hysterectomy. Baby was poorly but after a couple of months in the NICU came home and is now a fit and healthy five year old. I went on to have my third DC three years later with no issues at all, delivered via section at 38w, no previa at all.

Did they do an MRI or just an ultrasound? Because I had an MRI they were able to see exactly where it had adhered and make a plan for delivery, even if we didn't make it that far.

Wishing you the very best of luck! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks SO much for getting back to me. No one seems to have heard of it!! No MRI yet, just the regular scans. At the moment I’m just waiting to find out if it’s even adhered. I suppose I should be a bit more positive as it might not be adhered at all. I won’t find out till 32 week scan. I just know it’s low and to the front, sitting over my previous scar so even if it’s not adhered I imagine it’ll still be complicated surgery.
I’m only 26 weeks so far. I’ve had no bleeding thank god. When did your bleeding start?
So good to hear that you went on to have another baby with no complications. I really don’t feel like I’m finished yet!!

Also, just wondering did you breastfeed after the surgery? And how was the recovery?

I found some midwives had never had a patient with accreta! Fortunately it is rare.

I started bleeding heavily at 16 weeks and continued to bleed on and off for the next 14 weeks until delivery. The placenta had adhered to a major vein or something and so it was constantly leaking - as in blood pouring down my legs. Mine was an extreme case!!! I had every complication under the sun. Most women don't have anywhere near the level of bleeding I did. I was very unlucky with the combination of factors. It's unlikely you will experience anything like that so please don't freak out!

DC3 was an absolute breeze in comparison.

Recovery was tough because of the blood loss but TBH I was back home looking after toddler DC1 and my DH was back to work less than a week after the birth, while also juggling NICU visits. It was probably easier than my first second as I was too busy to think about it.

I didn't breastfeed DC2 but I did express as he was tube fed for a long time as he was so premature. So he had my milk then we supplemented. I did go on to BF DC3 for over a year though.

I had placenta previa with an anterior placenta after a previous c section. How low is your placenta? Mine was touching but not overlapping at the 20 week scan and had moved sufficiently far away by 32 weeks that I would have been OK to attempt a VBAC. I had no bleeding in pregnancy at all. I ended up having a c section for other reasons, and it was totally routine and fine - no complications. I worried myself sick reading all sorts of stuff about placenta previa and accreta and yet absolutely none of it ended up applying to me in the end! I hope it's the same with you.

Touching but not overlapping the cervix, that should say.

Not freaking out, thanks so much for all the info. It’s really calming me down to hear that someone has been through it and came out the other side with happy healthy babies and of course that you recovered so well yourself too. Sounds like you went through an awful rough time of it @Craiglang! It’s amazing what our bodies can do!
@Fabuleuse that’s good to know too. I think I need to stay positive and hopefully it’ll have moved out of the way by 32 week scan. I am probably worrying unnecessarily. I prefer to know some of the risks&possibilities I suppose but no point in worrying myself sick when nothing has been confirmed yet. Thanks so much for posting!

I think I had this. Definitely had full placenta previa. Bled at 32wks and was admitted to hospital then. Had dd under general anaesthetic. I bled during surgery and the placenta was stuck. My surgeon met with me afterwards and her first question was did I want anymore children. Fortunately we dont. She didn't say we wouldn't be able to but did say it could end up being a very difficult pregnancy. Wish they had sterilised me.

I’ve had accreta twice. First time was full and second focal accreta.
Had a lot of people in theatre and interventional radiology
Was scary but was all fine x

Thanks for your replies ladies. It’s comforting to know that others have gone through it and all went ok. It sounds scary but hopefully I won’t be facing into it at all and all my worrying will be for nothing!