"Placenta accreta"--those two words are likely unfamiliar to many expectant women, but Saint Thomas Midtown hopes to bring attention to this life-threatening pregnancy condition that has become common with the rising popularity of C-sections.
Often diagnosable through ultrasound before delivery, placenta accreta is the dangerous attachment of the placenta to the muscular middle layer of the uterine wall. When placenta accreta occurs, the mother may suffer dangerously heavy blood loss. Organ failure is a significant risk for the mother and the baby may require NICU admission.
"If a woman has had more than three cesarean sections, her risk of developing some form of abnormal placental attachment is 44 percent," says Dr. Connie Graves, Director of Perinatal Services and Co-Director of the Collaborative Perinatal Cardiac Center for Ascension Saint Thomas Health. "I encourage pregnant women who have previously had C-sections to ask their doctors about attempting labor for their next baby."
Under the leadership of Dr. Graves, Saint Thomas Midtown has developed a team that meets the rigorous Center of Excellence designation standards set by the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The respected industry publication calls placenta accreta "one of the most morbid conditions an obstetrician will encounter."