Placenta Accreta Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Placenta accreta is a condition in which the placenta attaches too deeply to the uterus. This makes the placenta continue to stick in the uterus, even though the baby has gone through the delivery process.
Under normal pregnancy conditions, the placenta is attached to the inner wall of the uterus and will detach after the baby is born. The placenta should be detached during labor.
A placenta that is not detached during delivery can put pregnant women at risk of experiencing vaginal bleeding. If not treated quickly and appropriately, the condition of placenta accreta can cause maternal death during delivery.
Symptoms
Placenta accreta generally does not cause any signs or symptoms during pregnancy. Symptoms usually only appear when the birth process takes place.
In normal delivery, after the baby is born through the delivery process, 15-30 minutes later the placenta will detach from the uterus and come out through the vagina. However, in the condition of placenta accreta, the placenta cannot be released spontaneously or with drugs. This causes heavy bleeding from the uterus. If not treated immediately, shock can occur in the mother, which can lead to death.
Placenta accreta also often causes preterm labor. Babies born prematurely are more susceptible to respiratory problems, low birth weight, low blood sugar, and are more prone to infections.
Reason
Until now it is not known exactly what causes placenta accreta. However, there are suggestions that this condition is related to irregularities in the lining of the uterus.
These deviations can occur due to scarring due to cesarean section in previous pregnancies or uterine surgery. That is why mothers who have had a previous cesarean section are more susceptible to placenta accreta.
In addition, pregnant women who experience placenta previa are also thought to have a risk of experiencing placenta accreta. Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta attaches to the lower part of the uterus.
Diagnosis
In some cases, placenta accreta is only discovered during the delivery process. However, this condition can also be diagnosed during pregnancy. To determine the diagnosis of the condition of placenta accreta, an ultrasound examination is needed by an obstetrician.
There are two types of ultrasound that can be done, namely transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound. An ultrasound examination will be determined based on the gestational age and the location of the placenta. Apart from ultrasound, blood tests can also help with the diagnosis.
Treatment
The condition of placenta accreta which is known during pregnancy will help the treatment process as soon as possible. If known in advance, pregnant women and doctors can discuss delivery planning to prevent complications due to placenta accreta.
Pregnant women who experience placenta accreta must undergo labor by surgery. If the placenta accreta is heavy enough, it is not uncommon for a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) to be performed. This is necessary to prevent serious blood loss.
Prevention
There is no action that can be taken to prevent placenta accreta from occurring. Recommendations to carry out routine pregnancy checks or antenatal care are very important to comply with.
During routine pregnancy checks, doctors can anticipate pregnancy obstructions such as placenta accreta. Thus the birth process can be controlled properly. Likewise, if a problem is detected, it can be handled appropriately to prevent complications in the mother and baby.