What is Accreta ?

I realized I never gave a detail on what Accreta is actually. I was hoping for some official definitions from the hospitals paper work, but the doctor who was getting it for me has only been in to see me twice. I see a handful of doctors on a regular basis. There are so many different ones involved, that I don't always see the same ones. Anyway... So here it is in my own words. Even with all of the education that I have had... It's still very limited.

The endometrium of the uterus is the inside layer. That is the layer that sluffs off each month during period time. When you get pregnant, the embryo will attach to that inner layer and develop the placenta and will easily detach and sluff off after the baby is born (afterbirth or delivering the placenta). When you have placenta previa, it's super dangerous in and of itself. There are different classes of previa. but essentially its where the placenta will be covering some or all of the cervical opening resulting in the placenta coming first instead of the baby. If the placenta delivers first you will lose the oxygen and nutrients to the baby until he delivers and breathes on his own. In normal delivery the placenta usually is delivered several minutes later. If you reverse that, there is several minutes without oxygen to the baby.

Anyway, back to Accreta. When you have a c-section it leaves scar tissue in the uterus. Each month when the endometrium grows back, it doesn't grow back where the scar tissue is. If you have multiple c-sections you are at higher risk each time of getting accreta. It seems like three c-sections or more is the higher risk stage for accreta. They have seen it in less, but not as frequent.

Accreta is where the placenta attaches to that scar tissue instead of the endometrium. The cells in the placenta (called the chorion) dig until they find a blood rich source not found in scar tissue. When it does that, it won't just pull away during delivery with the endometrium. Though it will try. In stead, it causes massive bleeding as it pulls away from deeper muscle tissue in the uterus or even past the uterus into other organs such as the intestines and bladder. Surgery is significantly better than trying to deliver on its own. But often times, it's still not enough. The blood loss is too great.

These doctors don't risk it and just do an immediate hysterectomy after delivery. To save the life of the mother. There is still huge risks of bleeding too much, but not even close to the other two options.

My sister in law also has a cousin here, also with accreta. She delivered last night and it sounds like things went well. I tried to ask the nurses for more info but of course good ol' laws prevent them from saying anything. I am just glad to hear that surgery was a success and the baby is doing well. That is a huge comfort to me.

There were four of us two weeks ago. With 2 delivering in the last week. Both sound like they went successfully! We have 2 survivors down and 2 more to go. I am so thankful for these doctors. They are true life savers! They have studied, and researched and formed a team that has a huge success rate. They have the surgery down, like a dance. Each person knows their part and exactly when to step into play, to save my life and Caleb's. They are my heroes!