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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you have risk factors for placenta accreta during pregnancy — such as the placenta partially or totally covering the cervix (placenta previa) or a previous uterine surgery — your health care provider will carefully examine the implantation of your baby's placenta.

Techniques to help diagnose placenta accreta might include:

  • Imaging tests. Your health care provider might use ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate how the placenta is implanted in your uterine wall.
  • Blood tests. Your health care provider might test a sample of your blood for an otherwise unexplained rise in the amount of alpha fetoprotein — a protein that's produced by the baby and can be detected in the mother's blood. Such a rise has been linked to placenta accreta.
Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment
References
  1. Resnik R. Diagnosis and management of placenta accreta. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 21, 2012.
  2. Weeks A. Diagnosis and management of retained placenta after vaginal birth. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 21, 2012.
  3. DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=9. Accessed March 21, 2012.
  4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2010:373.
  5. Silverman F, et al. Management of the third stage of labor. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 21, 2012.
  6. Jauniaux E, et al. Placenta accreta: Pathogenesis of 20th century iatrogenic uterine disease. Placenta. 2012;33:244.
  7. Marc I, et al. Mind-body interventions during pregnancy for preventing or treating women's anxiety (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007559.pub2/abstract. Accessed March 26, 2012.
  8. Gielchinksy Y, et al. Placenta accreta - Summary of 10 years: A survey of 310 cases. Placenta. 2002;23:210.
  9. Wright JD, et al. Predictors of massive blood loss in women with placenta accrete. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2011;205:38.e1.
  10. Eller AG. Optimal management strategies for placenta accreta. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2009;116:648.
  11. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:1.
  12. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Placenta accreta. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2010;203:430.
  13. Frequently asked questions. Special procedures FAQ 008. Hysterectomy. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq008.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20120326T1355412038. Accessed March 26, 2012.
  14. Gielchinksy Y, et al. Perinatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by placenta accrete. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2004;104:527.
  15. Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 28, 2012.
DS01203 May 24, 2012

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