Morbidly Adherent Placenta (MAP) Program

High-risk pregnancy specialists at Orlando Health Women's Institute have designed our Morbidly Adherent Placenta (MAP) program to care for women with placenta accreta spectrum.

Placenta accreta spectrum – or placenta accreta – is a rare condition in which the placenta attaches too deeply to the wall of the uterus during pregnancy. After the baby is born, the placenta is unable to detach from the uterine wall, which can cause excessive bleeding and be life-threatening to the mother.

If you have placenta accreta spectrum, delivering your baby at a hospital with a team that specializes in this condition is critical. The specialists at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer have the experience and expertise you can trust when managing serious complications directly after birth.

Serious care for a serious condition

Placenta accreta is one of the most complicated and potentially life-threatening conditions that can occur during pregnancy – and the rates of this condition have quadrupled since the 1980s (Source: National Accreta Foundation). If not properly diagnosed and treated during pregnancy, the mortality rate for both a mother and her baby or babies can be as high as 50%. Our specialized team can help diagnose problems with the placenta as early as 9 to 12 weeks gestation. We have developed the MAP program to improve outcomes for women with this condition, including reducing blood transfusion rates and extended hospital stays.

Highly specialized team

We have assembled a highly specialized, collaborative team to provide expert care for women with placenta accreta – throughout pregnancy and, more importantly, during the delivery. Our team meets regularly to create a personalized care plan for each patient. Our experienced doctors and nurses are prepared to care for these highly complex pregnancies.

Our team consists of:

• Maternal fetal medicine specialists
• Obstetricians
• Gynecologists
• Clinical nurse specialists
• Anesthesiologists
• Interventional radiologists
• Surgical critical care specialists
• Neonatal intensive care specialists
• Surgeons
• Labor and delivery professionals

Risk factors for placenta accreta spectrum

A woman’s risk for developing placenta accreta increases with each uterine surgery or Cesarean section delivery. Other risk factors for this condition include:

• Advanced maternal age (over age 35)
• In vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Multiple pregnancies (two or more babies)
• Placenta previa (condition in which the placenta sits low in the uterus, sometimes covering some or all of the cervix)
• Smoking
• Uterine conditions, such as fibroids

Diagnosis and management of placenta accreta

Once your obstetrician refers you to the MAP program, we aim to set up your consultation within two to five business days. Typically, our specialists will use one or more types of diagnostic imaging – such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – to diagnose placenta accreta.

Once a diagnosis is made, you will be referred to a Center for Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist (high-risk pregnancy physician) to conduct ongoing, follow-up ultrasounds to monitor the progression of your pregnancy and condition.

When it comes time for your baby to be born, the dedicated MAP team at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies will be there to help manage and care for any serious complications related to placenta accreta spectrum.

Referral information

Physicians with a patient who needs to be evaluated can call (321) 841-8555 or fax a referral to (321) 843-6236.