Bianca Chavarria, in her second pregnancy, sensed something was off weeks into it. She felt unusual heaviness and pressure in her abdomen, unlike her first pregnancy. Despite her concerns, her doctors dismissed her symptoms, prompting her to research online. There, she discovered placenta accreta, a potentially deadly condition where the placenta doesn’t detach from the uterus, leading to severe bleeding. Chavarria, who had a previous cesarean delivery, realized she was at risk.
However, her local hospital lacked the necessary blood supply for such emergencies. At eight months pregnant, she was transferred to San Antonio’s University Hospital, where she was swiftly diagnosed with placenta accreta. Despite the urgency, her baby couldn’t wait. Just two days later, in October 2021, she delivered a healthy baby boy, albeit with significant blood loss.
Dr. Caitlin Martin, co-director of the placenta accreta program at University Health, highlighted the extensive blood usage for Chavarria’s case, surpassing what many hospitals have available. University Hospital in San Antonio has emerged as a leading facility in treating placenta accreta spectrum, partly due to its pioneering blood program.