Lisa went home with a worried mind. She found it difficult to follow the new diet since it was not of her appetite. She also could not maintain the time for cultivating Falun Dafa as before. Andrew had to encourage sometimes. One month passed, Lisa went to Dr Jack’s clinic with an unstable blood sugar diary. However, there was no abnormality on fetal growth and amount of amniotic fluid. The placenta previa was still there, but she did not have vaginal bleeding. 

Dr Jack: Everything has gone well except for your blood sugar. 

Lisa: I am sorry. I found it difficult to follow the proposed diet and be quite lazy in practicing the exercises. Could you help me? 

Dr Jack: Can you write down exactly what you have each meal? 

Lisa: Of course.

Based on the daily food description of Lisa, Dr Jack suggested the modification to reduce carbohydrates. He also encouraged Lisa to exercise more regularly. Lisa also showed her determination. After that, Lisa’s blood sugar was controlled at the recommended level.

The remarkable consultation came, it is at the 32 weeks of gestation. The obstetric ultrasound showed the fetal growth and amniotic fluid was in normal range. The complete placenta previa still existed. As the gestation advanced, this condition could progress to a dangerous complication. What is this?

_________________

Coming back to your story. 

Dr Jack: Lisa, you did a good job. Your blood sugar is stable now, and the fetal status is still good. However, unfortunately placenta accreta could occur in 3% pregnant women with placenta previa (1). It is the placenta implant deep inside the uterine muscle layer. 

Lisa: Is it dangerous? 

Dr Jack: It depends on the severity of implantation. Once the baby is taken out, the detachment of deep implanted placenta could cause much bleeding, even in some cases doctors have to remove  the uterus to stop the bleeding. So today we will discuss a comprehensive plan to make good preparation to minimize the complication. 

_________________

Placenta accreta could complicate severe bleeding during birth, and it sometimes could lead to life-threatening blood loss. Pregnant women having placenta previa and previous C section have a higher risk of this complication. The diagnosis of placenta accreta is based on transvaginal ultrasound. However, in some cases this condition still exists even if the ultrasound showed negative. So the delivery should be performed at the advanced hospital with enough qualified subspecialists and facilities able to cope with the worst situation including: an experienced senior obstetrician, blood reversion, intensive care unit ect. 

Lisa was referred to the Johnson hospital which is the most advanced hospital at her locality with enough qualified resources for a complicated case like hers. Dr Jack also asked for help from Dr Sara, an experienced senior obstetrician of the Johnson hospital. She was planned to have a C section at 38 weeks of gestation if there is no vaginal bleeding and her blood sugar is stable, and an emergency C section will be done at any time if she has a significant vaginal bleeding (2).

This is such a very stressful situation for a first pregnancy woman like Lisa. She feels very worried at first; however, she quickly gets a peaceful mind by practicing Falun Gong exercises and reading the main book. The negative thoughts were removed, and she could maintain a positive mind.  Fortunately, her status was stable until the scheduled day for the C section. 

The day of the C section came, Lisa was sent to the operation room with a good preparation. Dr Sara, Dr Jack and an anesthesiologist entered the room and reassured her. Lying on the operating table Lisa showed a peaceful and brave manner so that the initial step of surgery started without interruption. Lisa was still awake, and she could hear very clearly the beep ringtone of the monitor machine and conversation of operating room staff. She felt no pain and just had a touching sensation at the lower part of her belly. Gradually, everything around her seems to be still. Suddenly, a very loud cry breaks up the still atmosphere. 

Dr Jack: Lisa can you hear me?

Lisa: Yes, Doctor. 

Dr Jack: Congratulations! It is a baby girl. She is very healthy with a loud cry.

Lisa: Thank you Doctor. 

Dr Jack: We are quite lucky, there is no placenta acreta. The placenta detaches quite easily, so I think we can control the bleeding.  

Lisa: Thank God! Thank you Doctor. A happy tear flowed out of Lisa’s eyes. 

The baby girl was healthy and 3110g in weight. Lisa had to receive a 500 ml packed red blood cell for the large blood loss. No other complication occurred and she went home 5 days later. 

The pregnancy journey had a happy ending.

________________

Five years later.

The phone is ringing. 

Lisa: Lisa’s speaking. 

Dr Jack: Hi Lisa, it is Dr Jack. 

Lisa: Hi doctor. How are you?

Dr Jack: I am fine thank you and you. It has been a long no see

Lisa: I am good. Yeah. Thanks for introducing Falun Dafa to me. After birth I kept practicing, and my health problems disappeared. So I do not have to go to the hospital as often as before. 

Dr Jack: It's great to hear that. Listen Lisa, I would like to ask your permission to use your medical information. I intend to write a story about a pregnancy journey to spread the benefit of Falun Dafa to others. I do not use any of your personal identifiable information, so other people won’t know that is you. 

Lisa: It sounds great! I would be really happy if I could help others. 

Dr Jack: Thank you Lisa. So I need the consent form with your signature, I will send it to you in advance. Then we will meet.

Lisa: Yes, I will see you and sign the consent.

Dr Jack: Thanks again. 

___________

The end!

Reference.

1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Obstetric Care Consensus No. 7: Placenta Accreta Spectrum. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Dec;132(6):e259-e275. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002983. PMID: 30461695.

2.Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). Electronic address: [email protected]; Gyamfi-Bannerman C. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Consult Series #44: Management of bleeding in the late preterm period. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jan;218(1):B2-B8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.10.019. Epub 2017 Oct 25. PMID: 29079144.