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Hi everyone, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl 18 years ago. The birth was almost easy compared to what happened after. I also had a Placenta Accreta, only the doctors didn't tell me what on earth was wrong. It took 4 doctors to get the placenta out without any anesthetic. The pain was indescribable and they had to stop often because I almost lost conciousness due to the pain and blood loss. When it was finally over and done I needed 4 blood transfusions and couln't get up until 2 days later. Today I know this was Placenta accreta - then I didn't. I also had my right ovary removed due to zyst (so the doctors said) and my left one 90%.

Thank you all very much for sharing your stories. We are all not alone!!! Good luck to everyone and the best of health for the future.

Petra

Hi everyone, My name is Michele. I had a very normal pregnancy with my first child. I needed a c-section because he was breech and big. One year later I had a miscarrage at 10 weeks. I decided to have a D&C. We waited 6 months to try again and then it took 6 months to get pregnant. When I was about 4 weeks I started to bleed heavily, and blood work showed that my hormones were very low. My doctor told me that I was going to lose this baby too. After 2 days I stopped bleeding and started to feel all the symptoms of pregnancy. I called my doctor after 10 days and told him that I didn't miscarry yet, and I had all those symptoms. We did more blood work and the results showed that my hormones were completely normal. We were so happy. After about a week of happiness I started to bleed again. According to an ultrasound I had a subcorrionic hemmorage (a small tear in my uterus). They told me that it would repair itself in a few days. And it did. Form then until 15 weeks we had many other episodes of bleeding and hospital visits, but the ultrasound always reassured us that everything was OK. At 15 weeks I was diagnosed with complete placenta previa with abruptions and a possible accreta. I was put on strict bed rest. That was hard because my son was 2 at the time. At 17 weeks my water broke and the hospital sent me home because the baby wasn't viable and there wasn't anything they could do for us. We went home and waited for my water to break, or get a fever because of an infection. Neither happened. I had about 3 doctors visits a week with ultrasounds. At 24 weeks I was admitted to the hospital for steroids. They decided to keep my until I delivered. We were warned that the baby did not have a good chance of survival because there was never any fluid around him, and he needed that fluid to develop lung tissue. Through out all of my many ultrasounds they never saw any signs of accreta. So they thought that I maybe I didn't have it. I even had a MRI because they said that that would tell us if I had it ir not. The MRI showed no signs of it either. But they wanted to be prepared for it any way. They decided to deliver when I was 32 weeks, my surgery was so bad. Not only did I have placenta accreta, but the said it was almos placenta percreta. It had invaded my bladder, and after my uterus was sent to pathology they said there was only a small spot of my uterus (the size of a quarter) that wasn't affected by the placenta. Even though they tried to be prepared I lost more than 9 units of blood and my uterus. I was only 25 years old. I still have both of my ovaries, so that is good I guess. It has been 15 months now and I still have a hard time knowing that I can't have any more babies. As for my son that was born that day. His name is Luke and he weighed 3 lbs 7 oz and was 15 inches long. He was very sick when he was born. He wasn't breathing and he needed to be intubated. He got better every day and he was breathing on his own at days. Today he is prefect. He has no effects of his premature birth or difficult entry into this world. If any ond who reads this would like to talk please feel free to write me. I am new here and I don't know how to get around. Please feel free to E-mail me at MRosso912@sbcglobal.net. Thank you for takong the time to read my story

Michele

I had my son Ben in 1999 in Germany, the birth was fine but after there was difficulty with my placenta. I put out while they investigated. I woke up three days later in intensive care having had a hysterectomy. While I was sleeping my family and husband went to hell and back, while I was operated on and lost all my own my blood as the bleeding was so intense. The doctors told my husband that I wouldn't make it through the night. I was in hospital for two weeks after and recovery was slow. During the two years that followed the placenta accreta I had numerous health problems such as recurring anemia, over active thyroid, the menopause and viral meningitus twice.

I am now fully recovered although I will on tablet for my thyroid and HRT for the rest of my life. But I am thankful to all the doctors who worked so hard to save my life.

A Stevens

I had a wonderful first pregnancy in 1972 when I was 27. No morning sickness, bleeding or spotting. My OB told me when I was 6 months pregnant that I might need to have a C-section due to the breech position of the fetus. My daughter never changed from an almost sideways position to a normal head first position in the following months. I went into labor 3 1/3 weeks early and was prepped for my section. No fathers were allowed into surgery back then, so I was all alone except for nurses and doctors. I vaguely remember my daughter being born, then heard someone say...."Oh my God....put her under now." A 7-inch tear in my uterus caused massive hemoraging. After more than 3.5 hours and 6 units of blood, the OR nurse told my husband that I was extremely lucky because my wonderful OB had seen placenta accreta once before, knew what was happening when I started to hemorage and was able to take immediate action. She also told my husband that due to my age and this being my first pregnancy, my OB worked to save my uterus so that I could have more children. My daughter had no complications, and while my recovery was long, it was a total success. I was also strongly advised to not try to get pregnant for at least two years following my daughter's birth, and in 1979, I gave birth to another healthy little girl--again by C-section. I could not travel more than 30 minutes driving time from my hospital during the entire pregnancy due to medical concerns that my womb might rupture. Following a normal section/delivery and my age, we decided to tie my tubes to prevent any further pregnancies. I will forever be in debt to my "favorite" doctor (I still am treated by him). Even though my placenta accreta happened 34 years ago, I hope my story helps and gives comfort to any one considering a second pregnancy.

Patti

When my ob first told me about this condition at my 6week check after the birth of my second child (now 31/2) a got on line to look it up and I just went to the first entry. For some reason tonight I felt like exploring this again. I now don't feel so sorry for myself. I have two beautiful and health girls one will be 6 next week and the other 31/2. I was two weeks late with my first I was induced for 4 days nothing happened I was not even dialating. After 12 hours of potossin and not even 2 centimeter after 4 days of other drugs I had a c-section. I started to bleed out my doctor (God bless her) saved my uterus by putting it on ice. She advised my husband and I even though she saved it she really did not recommend me having another child because we may not be as luckey. We are practicing Catholics and wanted four children. We decided to think about it and do NFP. I was pregnant. Surprise it took me 3months of tring with the first. Make a long story short I had a schedule C bled out receive for units of blood had a hysterectomy. I have one ovary the other was wrapped around my uterus it was nonfunctional. I also have 5% percent of my uterus. I ended up in IC because I had fluid in my lungs and around my heart. My O2 level was 82 and heart rate 200. I was devasted when I realized what happened. I hate that I still have a period it just seems useless. I do ok about not having any more children but around both of my children's birthdays I mourn a little. I know I am very lucky. I hope this site will help. Thank you

Dawn

Hi, I have a 2.5 y/o son who I delivered naturally with no complications. I had a miscarriage in 09/05 and another 07/06. I have had complications since the D & C a couple weeks ago. The Dr.'s are looking into placent accreta. What will this have on my next pregnancy? I can't find anything on the internet about this condition following a D & C.

Laurie D

My third pregnancy was normal except for nausia in the first 12 weeks. An early scan showed a low lying placenta, because of this and the fact that I had 2 previous sections i was scanned again at 36 weeks. I was told I has a placenta accreta & suspected placenta percreta - all the facts & risks were spelled out to me, I was in shock, frightened & distraught. My doctor was just super, he got me through. An MRI showed that my bladder looked clear but that I definitly has Placenta accreta. For my safety & the fear of a bleed or indeed going into labour, I was sectioned the next day under general anest. with a vertical incision. There was a renal team on stand by, I was never so scared. The op took 3.5 hrs; after they delivered a little girl, the placenta came away itself & left a "hole" in the wall of the womb. Whilst trying to repair it , I receievd 7 units of blood & ended having a partial hysterectomy( they left the ovaries & the neck of the womb - I wont need HRT). I came to in ICU & was told what had happened. My initial reaction was Im alive!! however the reality & enormity of it all, why me ? how did it happen? etc ... did not happen until much later. I left hospital after 9 days, I just wanted to get home & put the whole dreadful experience behind me. I am lucky we have 3 lovely children however 6 weeks on , I am still not 100%, very tender from internal bruising & it will take time to get over this. Its great to hear other peoples experience, I guess you have to think - there is always some one worse off than you. However, the body heals fast , the mind may take a bit longer.

Ann

I really need to thank you for setting up this forum.

My poor partner helped to push the trolley to the OR. He said there was just so much blood. My mum still has flashbacks. In the OR I was fading in and out, my doctor told me that I may end up having a hysterectomy. Me being optimistic never believed it for a second. I lost 85% of my blood and was given clotting factors. When I awoke they told me what had happened. I just smiled and said as long as Maddison is ok I don't care. I tried to breastfeed but couldn't as my incision made it really hard, as did my huge boobs and the fact I couldn't really move that well. I did however express what little milk I had for 3 and a half months until Maddy wanted formula and wouldn't drink the breast milk. I recovered ok. I was out of bed after 2 days (I didn't think it was ever going to happen), my huhum labor stitches didn't dissolve properly so the doctor had to cut through my skin to encourage the stitch to dissolve (I still believe getting over the natural labor was harder than getting over the hyster), I got Mastitus and after 6 weeks my stitches still didn't dissolve. Emotionally it was a roller coaster. For this to happen after a first baby is so hard. One minute you are so thankful for having this beautiful healthy baby, than the next your a mess on the floor because you will never have the chance to experience pregnancy, giving birth or having your own children again. I was so relieved when I found all these stories as I have felt so alone for 8 months. Straight after this happened I looked it up on the internet and found only medical websites with brief listings. To all of you who have gone through this I am truly sorry for your loss.

Annette

I suffered severe placenta accreta after giving birth to my son 5 months ago. I have been in and out of hospital ever since. I held off having a hysterectomy but suffered severe infection, have came near to dying on the operating theatre and have had 4 operations. It has now been reaborbed into my body but am suffering severe bleeding and pain during my periods and am still under the hospital. Things are looking up though, but there is not enough information, or most women it is a routine operation for others it can end up being quite severe and extremely traumatic. Good job it was not my first as I would never ever have another child.

Jacquie

I also had placenta accreta when I was pregnate with my third child. I started to bleed at 31 wks and was rushed to the hospital I was shot with needles to help my baby's lungs develop. My Dr decided to take my baby by csection 2 days later. I'm lucky to be alive, I lost over 5 pints of blood and had a hystorectomy. My baby was born w several complactions due to being early. She has had a ruff start to life, but I'am glad to be here to see her thru it all.

Jennifer

I was diagnosed with placenta previa at the beggining of the second trimester and then towards the end with placenta accreta and I just would like to know of any body that has experienced this type of condition thank you.,

Ana

I got pregnant for the first time at age 30. I had a pretty normal pregnancy, but did have an abnormal triple screen test. (positive for neural tube defects) I had about 4 ultrasounds, including a level 2. They kept saying everything was normal, but kept requesting more ultrasounds. My husband and I wondered why, since they said everyting was normal. Now I'm really wondering. I too had placenta accreta. However, I just found out about it and my little girl is 19 months old!! I had a planned c-section due to a breech position. I cried when I found out I had to have a c-section, but now I'm thanking God. The day I had her I knew something was wrong b/c everything got quiet and tense. They gave my little girl to my husband and "closed me up" for the next 2 hours. When it was all done I heard someone say to take the placenta to the lab for tests. I repeatedly asked everyone what that was all about. No one would tell me. Everyone just said that I must've misheard. I asked again at my 6 week follow up visit, again, nothing. I decided to drop it and just be thankful that I had a healthy baby. So about one month ago I went to see my nurse practioner for my annual pap and she said we'd better discuss what happened with my pregnancy. Of course I didn't know what she meant and she said you know the placenta accreta! I was dumbfounded and she said maybe I would like to speak to my doctor about this. That was about the extent of the info I received. So anyway, after surfing the web I'm much more informed, but now scared. I want to have another baby, but am wondering if I should.

I'm also furious they never told me despite my repeated asking!!!!! However I am more grateful than I can say that everything turned out fine. I feel very lucky.

Amy

Well, prior to May 3rd I had been in the hospital for 2 weekends with extreme pains in my stomach. Worried about the baby I stayed a few nights each weekend. The doctors did blood work, and 2 ultrasounds but they could not find anything that was causing my pains in my stomach. So on May 3rd, 2006 I went into the hospital for a routine Non-Stress Test at 10:30am. The nurse looked at the strip and noticed that I was contracting every 2 mins. She had asked me if I felt them I said that I did but they only felt like mild period cramps. So she called my doctor and he came rushing over to find out that I was already 4cm dilated. This being a concern seeing how I was due June 3rd, 2006. So they told me I was to stay at the hospital and see how things progress. He checked in on me a few hours later and looked at me and said, "You don't even look like you are in labor". I giggled at the time and told him I didnt feel like I was. So by about 2:00pm I was put into a birthing room and hooked up to that lovely little Non-stress test machine. By this time my contractions were getting a little more present but I was able to deal with them quite well. (No screaming from me.) So just before 3pm another doctor came into to check my cervix to see how far along I was, and her mouth dropped and told me I was 9-10cm, soooo... She broke my water. And let me tell you, there was ALOT of water, even she could not believe how much water came out. Just after the doctor broke my water my husband showed up. After she broke my water, the contractions really started to happen! Whoa. But, by 3:15pm I was pushing. I did not have time for ANY drugs. The cord was wrapped around my little girls head, but as I pushed her out, they thankfully were able to cut the cord before she was entirely out. She was born at 3:44pm that day, she came out white. She was not breathing but had a hearth beat and thankfully the specialist was able to get her breathing. (PHEW) Now after she came out it was my turn to get the placenta out. As difficult as it was to get it out, (because it was attached through the uterus wall) I pushed the placenta out, and as soon as that happend they realized that I would not stop bleeding. That same lovely female doctor who broke my water, (who I absolutely love to this day, and saved my life) tried to get the rest of the placenta out vaginally, but could not because it was so painful for me. So they rushed me down to the O.R. by 4pm. By the time I got down there I lost 2/3's of my blood. They still could not reach the rest of the placenta vaginally so they gave me a c-section cut and had to take out my uterus. Thankfully they were able to leave in my ovaries. I had lost so much blood that they had to give me 14 units of blood, (in the human body there is only 7 units of blood) I bled that much and also I was not cloting properly. They had to staple me up after 6 hours of surgery and hope that I would stop bleeding. They could not keep me under any longer because I had had enough drugs to keep me out. (Also my baby girl Brooke-Lynn did just fine! And is doing very well to this day) So I woke up around 1:30 am. I awoke to a breathing tube down my throat, and one IV on my right arm, 2 IV's on my left arm and a central line on the right side of my neck and a catheder. I can remember fighting the breathing machine and coughing. Oh my gosh, THAT HURT! I had NO clue that I had a hysterectomy done. I waved over to someone to come over and signaled for pen and paper. I wrote down "What happend to me?" The nurse told me that she could not tell me and that I would have to wait for my doctor to come. I laid there scared to fall asleep because of the breathing tube, and felt that I would not wake up if I fell asleep, I laid there for 6 HOURS. That was the longest, hardest six hours of my life. Laying there not having a clue what the hell happend to me. Feeling my neck that had a cloth over it, thinking I had a tube inserted through my neck. Looking at my hands that were covered in IV's. That was intense. So finally around 6 am or so, they took out my breathing tube, that was a grose feeling. By around 7:30am May 4th, my doctor showed up and she grabbed my hand. "You gave us quite a scare," she said. She proceeded to tell me what happend, as I welled up I asked "Do I have to take hormone therapy?" Thankfully I do not. So after she left I was brought up to a Critical Care Unit where I stayed for a day and a half. Wow, let me tell you, they do not hesitate to give you morphine (laughs). I was in alot of pain not being able to even lift my head off the bed. But thankfully I was able to see my precious little girl the next day after surgery, thanks to my husband for bringing her up to me. That was hard, laying in bed not being able to go see your little bundle of joy whenever you want. My husband had to bring her to me because the nursery here was just too busy to bring her to me. That and no one offered to bring her to me. (She was also hooked up to a heart monitor just to be on the safe side. She was a little yellow but never had to go under light therapy) So late friday evening they took me down to the birthing side of the maternity unit (as our hospital was full on the other side) where I slept for that night. By Saturday morning, they want me to get up to get some underwear on and to wash up (sponge bath) and brush my teeth. My mouth just about dropped when she told me I had to stand. I could barely lift my head, how do they want me to stand. So as slow as it was I stood up breifly then sat back down and finally got to brush my teeth. By saturday afternoon I was moved into my OWN room on the maternity side with all the other mothers. My husband, and my family were in the room that I was now staying in, when they found out all the news that had happend to me the night of my surgery. They had endured SO much and went through so many emotions, but I would NOT let them cry around me. I was thankful to be alive that I did not want them to cry and remember the bad thoughts. I wanted them to remember that I am here and that the baby was healthy and thats all that matters. I tried to be so strong for them, and at the time I felt SO strong and so happy to be alive. It was an amazing experience to come out alive from. But I had my days and nights where I just cried to think that I would be missing all of this, missing out on life. It was a tramatic experience and at times I did not even want people to ask me how I was feeling to avoid crying. I would rather deal with my emotions alone and not with some murse that I barely know. There was only 2 nurses that I broke down to and they are just the sweetest girls! To think, the doctors told me, if I was not in the town I am in, or the next biggest city (Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA) me and the baby would have both died. (We live in Kelowna, British Columbia CANADA) So I did not want to see my family upset, because I am here and alive. The healing process from the surgery was quite painful. It was a struggle to get out of bed for quite a few days. But by Tuesday the 8th, I had gotten my catheter out, down to 2 IV's, the central line was out of my neck and I was able to move around and walk to short distances. The funny thing is, when the nurse first told me to stand, I thought she was NUTS! Now I had a great urge to get moving, and to get better and heal quick for my baby. 9 days after my surgery I was home. My baby had to remain in the hospital as she was to young and premature to come home then. She had to have a feeding tube down her nose because she was just too tierd to eat her bottle all on her own. But she finally came home after 15 days in the hospital. Brooke-Lynn and I are doing amazing and I thank god (even though I am not a religious person) everyday for us being here well and happy.

Jamie

I had my beautiful daughter in September 2005 at 39 weeks. My water broke first and within in that happening she was born but my placenta would't come out. I was rushed to have a d&c when I lost a lot of blood the doctors thought I wouldn't make it all the way through so they sent my by ambulance to a medical team in a city an hour away from the small town hospital. There they preformed the d&c again and gave my 4 units of blood. From all this I received a 4th degree episiomty which is very painfull. I want a c-section next time!

Krista

I was overdue by 2 weeks so was induced. Ended up having an epidural and forceps delivery with my beautiful baby boy, Luke Ryan, born 03.03.03 but after he was born I had to go down to surgery for manual removal of my placenta. They told my poor husband that I'd be about 20 minutes but I was gone 2 hours. They topped up my epidural and I chatted away to the medical staff whilst they removed my placenta. I had no idea about placenta accreta but after surgery the doctor told me that my placenta would never have come away on its own. I felt very weak and feeble after giving birth and saw stars when I went to walk to the loo but nobody mentioned that I lost some blood or that it was related to my operation, it did not occur to me. The next day a doctor asked me if I'd like a blood transfusion and I said if you are asking me no I don't want one but if you are telling me I have to have one then I'll have one. So it didn't happen but I now know I should defintely have had one as my iron levels went down to 7.2 (normal level is 12 or more). How ridiculous is that asking me if I want a blood transfusion!Nobody told me I had placenta accreta or that I might have problems with subsequent pregnancies in the future. It was only when I look back that I realised my level of care was not as good as it should have been and I was so ill for weeks after Luke was born and was on iron tablets for quite a while.

I live in the UK, Berkshire to be precise. Should I call it a day and be grateful for my 2 beautiful children or should I follow my desires for another child?

Carolyn

my pregnancy I must admit wasn't the easiest of pregnancies, I had 4 months of severe nausea and sickness followed by a bout of "bells Palsy" in the 7th month then i was induced a week early due to a sudden rise in my blood pressure. My labour lasted 12 hours exactly and ended up with a ventouse delivery, I vividly remember that there was a slight problem delivering the placenta and when it was finally delivered it was in peices and the registrar and the midwives trying to put it all together any way they finally decided that it was complete and i was sent home with a beautifull healthy baby daughter. 6wks down the line i was still bleeding so my gp referred me for a scan where it was found that there was still 3cm worth of retained tissue, I was then given some tablets that cause the uterus to contract and nothing, I had two doses and it still didn't come out, they then decided on a D&C so i went for that which was done under a general anaesthetic and was given the clear. 4 days later i haemorrhaged severly, i was horrified it was literally like turning a tap on accompanied with huge clots the size of my fists i was addmitted into hospital that knight and was told that they hadn't removed anything with the D&C so they arranged another scan and there it was it was still there the whole 3cm of it, now the consultant was thinking that it might be a fibroid so he arranged a hysteroscopy procedure, his findings were a "Degenerating fibroid" and a biopsy was sent for hystology, after 3 days in hospital i was sent home with tranexamic acid, ferrous sulphate and antibiotics.and another appointment for another scrape surgery. The biopsy results came back a week later and the result was "Placenta",the consultant had got it wrong, unhappy with his findings I booked an appointment with a private gynaecology consultant and with one scan he diagnosed me with placenta acreta and advised me that the worst thing that i can do was to have the operation that the other consultant had advised which would have been a scrape which would have put me i a high risk of hysterectomy and severe haemorrhage or perforation of the uterus. My private consultant advised me just to leave it and let the body reabsob it instead of taking the risks of the latter, he said it would take a while and that I would need to be patient. Here I was been given two contradictory opinions, but couldn't help trusting the private consultant more, he was so much more confident and his findings sounded more logical. i am now on hormone injections which will put me into temporary menopause to controll the bleeding. i am due to see my consultant soon for a review and I am hoping that it would have shrunk.

Rena

My first pregnancy had trouble at 18 weeks with thinning cervix. At 22 weeks, my doctor ordered strict bedrest. At 32 weeks, my baby growth was decreased. At 37 weeks, my baby stopped moving completely for 12 hours. My doctor performed emergency C-section.

Now I'm thinking about having another baby. Anyone who had had a placenta accreta had a succesfull pregnancy later? My doctor advises me not to have another one because I can die. Please please let me know if you are. Thanks a lot!

Catherine

My daughter is now almost 11 years old. I had a very healthy pregnancy, a first, at 33 years old. I had a doula and had big plans for an intervention free birth. At 44 weeks I had still not gone into labour. After several days in hospital my dr. attempted to induce me. No way, my daughter was wedged tightly above my pelvis. I developed a high temp. and my dr. decided for a c-section. It went well and I had a healthy 8 lb 6oz girl. In the recovery room my BP dropped and dropped. I vaguely remember being taken back to the or. The next thing it was 12 hours later, I was in ICU, intubated (on a respirator) and in really rough shape. I had received 36 units of blood. The medical team could not stop my hemmoraging but could not find any residul placenta. I have a scar from my c section to just underneath my ribs. They thought maybe my spleen had burst. After telling my husband they didn't think they could save me, they did emergency hysterectomy and told him to hope for the best. My lungs had collapsed from all the fluids they put in me. I spent 5 days in ICU and then 3 weeks in the mat. ward. It took me at least six months to get over the physical trauma and a couple of years to deal with all the emotional stuff. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. My wish for all mothers to-be is a healthy outcome for mother and child. When asking for "this" kind of delivery or "that" remember that not so long ago many women died in childbirth regularly. Shoot for what you might like, but remember the idea is for both of you to be healthy.

Tanisha

I have just returned home from giving birth to my son.I was lucky in that placenta accreta was diagnosed late in pregnancy, so I had a carefully planned cesarean. The placenta had grown well into my previous cesarean scar - so I had to have a vertical cut down the centre of my tummy to avoid the placenta area altogether. The doctors said that the safest approach was to leave the placenta inside me. I am now being monitored for infection and on how the placenta is reducing in size. I have been told I will either 'pass the placenta' in the form of a long period, or it will be reabsorbed into the body. My big concerns are how long it will take - I still look about 7 months pregnant as the placenta us large and the uterus cannot contract, and I am also scared of having a big unexpected bleed. Would love to hear more experiences of people who have had the placenta left inside them too...how long did full recovery take and how did it happen?

It is clear that this condition is quite rare... they actually took photos during my cesarean to use for training purposes! I had my procedure done at Queen Charlottes hospital in London - I was transferred there from my local hospital because apparently they have the most experience of this condition.

Becky

I had placenta accreta approx. 3 . I still have my uterus thanks to my wonderful doctor. It was an experience I do not care to repeat. My femoral artery was severed to control the bleeding and I spent 2days in ICU. Now I am pregnant again and terrified that the same will happen. I was told by my new doctor that if I got pregnant again the same thing would happen so I guess now I will have to wait and see. Is there anyone out there who has survived an accreta and has given birth since. I need alot of reassurance.

Michelle

Thank you for your story. I have had a difficult time finding anyone who has experience with this diagnosis. I was 29 years old when I had my first child. It was a relatively normal pregnancy. I did have toxemia toward the end which caused my physician to induce labor about 3 and 1/2 weeks early. My precious little girl was born on 3-5-98 and weighed 8.0 lbs. The only difficulty with delivery was getting her shoulders out. I remember the physician tugging on the placenta a little, but then I remember it delivering without much difficulty. Two days later I went home with no other problems. However, 3 weeks after the birth of my daughter, I got up one morning and proceeded to hemorrhage all over the floor. I called my doc who said I was "doing too much" and needed to "take it easy". For the next 4 days I was on bedrest except to use the bathroom. Each time I got up to use the restroom, I expelled quite a bit of blood. Each day I called my doc to report what was happening. By the 4th day of hemorrhaging every time I stood from a lying down position, I almost passed out. My husband called my doc, who told him to get me to the ER. That day he did an extensive D&C which has pretty much left me infirtile. I have had 4-5 surgeries to repair the damage to my uterus (I was left with no lining and mosly scar tissue). The last hysterosalpinogram showed a fairly normal looking uterus with a somewhat thin lining, but we have been trying to get pregnant for 4 years now with no success. The final diagnosis I was given for this strange hemorrhage, was that it was "placenta accreta". My H & H dropped to 5.9 and 18.0. I refused a transfusion. As a nurse I knew I could go home on iron and build my levels back up, which is just what happened. We recently sought advice from an infirtility specialist, and he says I am at great risk for developing the placenta accreta again. After reading about it, there are a number of things I don't understand:

• If it was Placenta Accreta, why did the placenta deliver so easily?
• Why did it take 3 weeks to begin to hemorrhage?
• Am I really at risk for developing placenta accreta again?
• If it wasn't placenta accreta, what was it?
• Will I put my life at risk if I attempt to have another child?

I don't know if my story can help anyone else, but I sure would like to talk with someone who can understand the heartache I feel right now. I'm going on 38 years old and have some health challenges. If I'm going to have more children (which is my heart's desire), I need to do it quickly. Any information/help would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for any information that might help. My husband and I have been praying for another child, but not at the risk of leaving that child and my daughter without a mother and my husband without a wife. Thank you for taking the time to read my story!

Lisa

I lost my uterus due to Placenta Accreta this year. I loss a lot of blood and required a blood transfusion during the operation. I am still very devastated that my uterus was removed due to placenta accreta. Luckily my son and I survived this ordeal but I am not and will never be the same. Mentally I am sill a mess, how could this happen to me? What have I done in this world to deserve such a punishment? I may sound ungrateful because many women have died due to this, but I am angry. I will never fully recover. I will never receive a good enough reason as to why a woman in her 20's had her womb removed. I am incomplete and always will be. I keep this from everyone except my mother and sister due to shame. My own husband doesn't know and never will. I will take this tremendous loss to my grave.

Lost

My first delivery was a normal vaginal delivery. Aferward when my placena didn't come out after 20 minutes my Dr. took me to the OR and performed a D&C (I think). Nothing much was said about it I thought much about it. During my next pregnancy nothing was said about it. After Sam was born the placenta didn't come out so the Dr. punched and kneeded my stomache while ripping the placenta out in peices it took about a half hour to forty minutes and was worse than the delivery.

Again, not much was said after delivery I wasn't put on any profalactic antibiotics, no ultrasound was performed to see if they got it all. Due to space I will shorten story. Ended up with 2 D&C's, in ICU septic for five days.

Debra

I was pregnant with my second daughter and the only compliation with my first daughter was that I hemmoraged, however it wasn't to bad and the Dr. didn't make a big deal out of the matter. So i wasn't worried about giving birth a second time. The preganacy was normal, no complaints really. I went into labor around 8pm and at 11am after about three pushes my daughter was born. With the excitment around her I wasn't to aware at how long the after birth was beginning to take. Thankfully I had a wonderful delivery Doctor and he made my husband and I feel at ease. Until it had been about 45min and my plaenta did not want to budge, I'd never heard of such a thing. Finally he did a srapping and the plaenta came out. He advised that when we decide to have another child I'd need special ultrasounds. Fine, didn't think to much of it. But my mother works for a Doctor and he told her that my experiance could have lead to a hysterectomy. That opened my mind to question exactly what happened to me. I asked my obgyn to look into my hospital reports because my husband and I really want another child. She explained that the report said accreta with a ? and that if I had another child I'd be taking a chance with posssiable death. DEATH I'd never thought I could die! She gave me paperwork on a vasectomy for my husband and sent me on my way. I figured I was on my own to seek more information and before my husband and I make the major decision to never have another child I want to know all I can on the subject. I'm thankful that I found this site and am able to read about other experiances. I really want a seond opinon, but am not sure who to seek out.

Lilian

I am 30 years old. I had my first pregnancy and had a baby girl by c-section in Aug 2004 but because i had been in labour for long and developed pressure, my baby did not live.(Baby Gloria, RIP). Four and a half months later i thought it necessary to try out again and i was immediately blessed with another pregnancy. I had slight bleeding at 9-10 weeks but after that my pregnancy went on well. At exactly 8 months,i went into labour which lasted about one and a half hours and i miraculously delivered a baby girl by normal/natural delivery before i could be taken to theatre for a c-section.However after my baby was out my placenta could not come out for about one hour and my good doctor told me i had placenta accreta. I had to be taken to theatre twice for its manual removal. I bled a lot and had to be transfused. i was given strong antibiotics since there were some placental tissues still remaining. Six weeks later i went for an ultrasound scan and my doctor seems to say all will be well.I pray to God such a thing never happens again.

Glorious

I had a fairly typical pregnancy, with the exception of finding out I had placenta previa at 20 weeks. The c-section was planned for week 37. The day before the scheduled c-section, I had another ultrasound which showed the placenta had moved enough out of the way, so the surgery was called off. I delivered vaginally 2 weeks later, but I should have had the c-section because I had placenta accreta. Unfortunately, neither of my doctors realized this until I kept telling them for 9 weeks post-pardum that I was still bleeding. They kept saying that it was common to bleed for up to 8 weeks after giving birth. Given my history of previous previa, I wish my doctors would have thought that perhaps I had a placenta accreta. It was after 9 weeks that I had a d&c, and the doctor couldn't get all of it so I had surgery to remove what was left. After another 2-3 weeks post-op, I was still bleeding and an MRI showed a placenta piece of about 1 in x 1 1/2 inches embedded in the uteran wall. There was nothing more that could be done except hope that my body would absorb it. I had an ultrasound 7 months after the surgery to see if it had in fact been absorbed, and the new doctor said there is tissue in my uterus. We thought we would have to do a d&c again once I started my period, but my period never came. It seems that this "tissue" that was thought to be my old placenta could be a new one. Now I'm scared that the new placenta has attached itself over the old and I don't know what complications will arise from having a previous placenta accreta.

Julie

I have just given birth to a beautiful daughter and survived Placenta Accreta.

This was just under 3 weeks since and still feeling very weak and tired and taking various medicines but getting there slowly. Just lucky to have a fantastic husband and two happy healthy children.

Joanna

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