March of Dimes
Placenta Accreta, Increta and Percreta
 
What you need to know:
In a normal pregnancy, the placenta attaches itself to the uterine wall, away from the cervix.
  • Placenta accreta is a placenta that attaches itself too deeply and too firmly into the wall of the uterus.
  • Placenta increta is a placenta that attaches itself even more deeply into the uterine wall.
  • Placenta percreta is a placenta that attaches itself through the uterus, sometimes extending to nearby organs, such as the bladder.

These disorders occur in about 1 in 2,500 pregnancies. They often cause vaginal bleeding in the third trimester and often result in a premature delivery. Since the placenta cannot easily separate from the wall of the uterus after delivery, the placenta usually needs to be surgically removed. Often a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is necessary, although there are other surgical procedures that can be used to save the uterus.


What you can do:
There is little a woman with one of these conditions can do to either treat or prevent it. If placenta accreta is diagnosed before delivery (by ultrasound), the delivery can be planned, and a surgical procedure that can spare the uterus can be considered. This is something to discuss with your health care provider, especially if you would like to have another child in the future. If the condition is severe, however, this may not be possible.
 
 
What You Need to Know About Your Placenta

As a pregnant woman, you probably don't think too much about your placenta. Yet this wondrous organ is your baby's lifeline, the connection between you and your baby. It forms connections with your blood supply to help provide oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby. It connects with the baby's blood supply to remove waste products to the mother's blood, which are then disposed of through the mother's kidneys.

This little organ (at birth it weighs about a pound) also helps to protect your baby from infections and potentially harmful substances. Unfortunately, it is not a foolproof filter; it can't always distinguish good substances from bad. That's why pregnant women are advised to steer clear of substances that can cause harm to their baby like alcohol, drugs, cigarette smoke and herbal supplements.

The placenta forms from the same cells as your baby does. It attaches to the wall of the uterus. The baby's umbilical cord forms on the side of the placenta nearest the baby.

In most pregnant women, the placenta forms and grows just as it should. In some cases, however, the placenta does not grow properly, it is poorly positioned in the uterus, or it does not function properly. It may be too thick or too thin, have an extra lobe, or connect abnormally to the umbilical cord or fetal membranes. Infections and blood clots can also damage the placenta. Placental problems are among the most common complications reported in the second half of pregnancy. The most common placental complications are: placental abruption, placenta previa and placenta accreta.

After the baby is born, the placenta's job is done and it is usually delivered a few minutes after the baby. Your health care provider will examine the placenta after delivery to make sure it is complete and that no parts remain inside your body. If your baby has certain complications, such as slow growth or an infection, the placenta may be sent to a laboratory for further analysis, to help identify the cause of the problem.

September 2005

 


  
  © 2009 March of Dimes Foundation. All rights reserved. The March of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.