Part 1: What is Accreta? Our story.

I had never heard of Placenta Accreta.

It was a condition introduced to me at 29/30ish weeks pregnant, by a high risk maternal fetal medicine (MCM) specialist, after undergoing an advanced ultrasound.

Let me back up though…to tell you more of our story. (And keep in mind as I explain- I’m not a medical professional, I don’t work in health care, and as I describe conditions, experiences or events that I went through…I’m doing so through my own perspective. Please always rely on doctors/medical professionals for advice, explanations and official definitions). Now that that disclaimer is out of the way…

At approximately 18 weeks pregnant with our second son, I was diagnosed with having a Complete Placenta Previa. Basically- my placenta was positioned in such a way that it was blocking the birth canal completely. My doctor explained to my husband and I that the previa could clear itself naturally throughout the pregnancy, as my uterus grew and the baby shifted. It could move slightly or even completely away from the birth canal. But if it didn’t- we’d need to schedule a cesarean section for delivery.

The other concerning thing was that previas can cause rapid hemorrhaging (and placental blood flow can be difficult to control and dangerous). So my doctor made it clear- if I start bleeding at any point, to get to the hospital ASAP.

Fast forward to approximately 30 weeks. I was home alone with my (then) 2 year old son at the beginning of December 2016. We had settled in for a Saturday movie night, and were snuggled on the couch after a day filled with holiday decorating and activities. My husband was out with a friend. I felt my stomach shift, a quick pain and a gush and I knew I was bleeding. Since I was home alone, I called and texted my husband, sister and a few friends to help. My husband turned right around (he was 30-40 minutes away), my friend left her house immediately to come to me to watch my son. And I called 911 for immediate care and to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.

I am so so thankful that my doctor had diagnosed the initial previa and appropriately prepared us on what to do. So I was able to tell the dispatcher what as going on. My friend arrived to watch our little man, and I was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center. Lights flashing..sirens cutting through the dark December evening. I’m also thankful for a kind EMT who sat next to me, talked quietly with me, and kept me calm during that scary ride.

I was brought straight up to Labor & Delivery, to triage. Where my husband met me. Where we spent several hours undergoing monitoring and testing. In the late hours of the night, they made the decision to admit me until morning. The next day the team ordered an advanced ultrasound in MFM. After the tech did scans and showed us the baby kicking, I thought “okay, we get to get out of here soon.”

But that didn’t happen. Instead, a high risk speciality doctor came in to see us instead. She explained that they had identified “placental lakes,” (holes in my placenta), what looked like my placenta penetrating my uterus wall on its way to invading adjacent organs,

and a possible neurological condition with the baby’s brain development.

It was overwhelming and terrifying. It was Accreta.

(Continued in the “Part 2” post).