Placenta accreta is a complication of pregnancy that can lead to potentially serious complications for the mother and the fetus. While there is nothing that can be done to prevent placenta accreta, there are steps that doctors can take to minimize its consequences.
For mothers and families who are struggling to cope with the effects of their doctor’s failure to manage or failure to adequately treat complications of placenta accreta, it may be possible to secure financial compensation by filing a claim for malpractice. Our Connecticut placenta accreta lawyers have decades of experience handling malpractice claims on behalf of Connecticut mothers and families; and, if you are entitled to financial compensation, we can pursue a malpractice claim on your behalf.
During pregnancy, the placenta typically grows on the upper side of the uterine wall. It serves as the fetus’s source of nutrients and oxygen; and, after delivery, it detaches from the uterine wall and exits the body through the vagina.
However, in some cases, the placenta can grow too deeply into the uterine wall. This is known as placenta accreta. Placenta accreta is a high-risk pregnancy complication that can be dangerous for both the mother and the fetus.
When placenta accreta occurs, the fetus’s supply of nutrients and oxygen can be limited. Additionally, after childbirth, all or part of the placenta can remain attached to the uterine wall, and this can cause severe blood loss for the mother. The deeper the placenta grows into the uterine wall, the greater the risks can become for the mother and the fetus. In some cases, placenta accreta can lead to:
While the exact cause of placenta accreta is unknown, it is often related to placenta previa and previous cesarean deliveries. This condition is present in five to ten percent of women with placenta previa.
In many cases, when placenta accreta is identified during pregnancy, it will be necessary to perform a cesarean (C-section) delivery or induce preterm labor. C-section and preterm vaginal deliveries both present additional risks for the mother and the fetus, and these risks must be identified, addressed, and managed in order to prevent unnecessary complications. Maternal risks associated with placenta accreta include:
Fetal risks associated with placenta accreta include:
The prognosis for a mother diagnosed with placenta accreta, placenta percreta, or placenta increta depends on the severity of her condition and the complications that result. If a hysterectomy is not necessary, it may be possible to fully recover – although the risk of experiencing placenta accreta and requiring a hysterectomy during a future pregnancy can increase significantly. Mothers who require hysterectomies can fully recover from their procedures as well, though removal of the uterus results in permanent loss of fertility.
While a full recovery will often be possible, complications from placenta accreta can have permanent effects (in addition to loss of fertility), and severe blood loss resulting from placenta accreta has the potential to be fatal.
Similarly, for babies born prematurely due to placenta accreta, prognoses can vary widely. Some newborns will experience no ill effects, while others can face life-altering or life-threatening consequences. Once placenta accreta has been diagnosed, prompt medical intervention can be critical to mitigating any short-term or long-term complications, and a timely and accurate diagnosis of the newborn’s condition can be essential to his or her health and future development.
If you or your child has been diagnosed with complications from placenta accreta, you should speak with an attorney about your legal rights. While placenta accreta occurs naturally, it is often possible to prevent complications with timely diagnosis and treatment. As a result, failure to prevent complications will constitute medical malpractice in many cases.
To determine if you have a claim for medical malpractice, our Connecticut placenta accreta attorneys will speak with you, carefully review your medical records, and consult with experts in obstetrics and gynecology. We will thoroughly examine all of the opportunities your doctor had to diagnose and treat you and your child. If you have a claim, we will calculate all of the past, present, and future costs of your doctor’s mistake (including non-financial costs such as pain and suffering), and we will work earnestly to recover just compensation on your behalf.
Your initial consultation is completely free and confidential. We want you to have the opportunity to ask your questions and make an informed decision on your own terms. If you decide to move forward, we will handle your case on a contingency fee basis, which means we will not charge any fees or costs unless we help you recover.
If you would like more information about the long-term consequences of placenta accreta and the steps that doctors can – and should – take to protect mothers and their babies, we encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Connecticut placenta accreta lawyer at Berkowitz Hanna, please call or contact us online today.
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