Gina Walker<\/a> began bleeding uncontrollably during and after the Caesarean section birth of her daughter. She was losing blood so rapidly that an emergency call went out to all hospital staff to rush to the blood bank and donate. It took more than 33 gallons of blood during a 24-hour period to save Walker\u2019s life \u2014 an unheard-of amount.<\/p>\nAn alarmed resident in training was watching and decided more targeted prevention and care was needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt made me say, \u2018Can we do this better?\u2019\u201d recalled Dr. Kayla Ireland, now chief of maternal fetal medicine with University Health and UT Health San Antonio. \u201cIt inspired me to help coordinate our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
A network of specialists<\/p>\n
The team organized by Ireland and others in 2015 has grown into a vast network of specialists who contribute to a patient\u2019s prenatal care and delivery. It includes labor and delivery nurses, a blood bank team, OB-GYNs, maternal fetal medicine physicians, gynecology oncologists, trauma doctors, radiologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, urologists and pathologists. More than 140 medical professionals are invited to join a meeting twice a month to plan for the risky deliveries.<\/p>\n
It was members of that team that quickly evaluated Bianca at University Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had one of the most severe forms of placenta accreta spectrum disorder,\u201d said Ireland, also director of the placenta accreta program. \u201cHer placenta was growing all the way through her uterus and touching the back of her bladder, which significantly increases the amount of bleeding.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said Bianca was at increased risk for serious complications or death at the time of delivery.<\/p>\n
A case study for managing placenta accreta<\/p>\n
Bianca was an hour\u2019s drive from the hospital when her water broke early and she began to bleed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey tell you right before you go in to say goodbye to your loved ones. And that is scary. But I felt very safe with the team,\u201d Bianca said.<\/p>\n
Her team was ready with an ample supply of whole blood and a surgical team that would perform a hysterectomy and remove Bianca\u2019s uterus following her son\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe lost about five liters of blood, which is almost the entire blood volume of a pregnant woman,\u201d said Ireland. \u201cWe were able to replace that and appropriately best take care of her.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Daven-and-Dr.-Ireland-playing-dinosaurs.jpg\")
Dr. Kayla Ireland and the placenta accreta program ensured Draven Martin\u2019s healthy delivery. Credit: Courtesy \/ University Health<\/p>\n
Developing a model program <\/p>\n
The success of University Health\u2019s program has led to the team advising other maternity centers and helping the State of Texas draft guidelines for treating placenta accreta patients.<\/p>\n
In 2021, Ramsey chaired a subcommittee of the Texas Perinatal Advisory Council that helped draft requirements for Texas hospitals providing maternal care. Now all hospitals must be prepared to manage placenta accreta and have protocols for screening and referring patients to properly equipped centers when they are not able to safely deliver their babies.<\/p>\n
At University Health, the team\u2019s approach and its use of whole blood has led to fewer women being admitted to the ICU, a reduction in the amount of blood needed and surgical techniques that improve outcomes.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, all of the 170 women treated during the past five years have survived their life-threatening deliveries and experienced fewer complications.<\/p>\n
Bianca\u2019s message<\/p>\n
Bianca\u2019s son, Daven Martin, is now a healthy four-year-old. She credits her dedicated placenta accreta team for their survival.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that if I hadn\u2019t come to University Health, I wouldn\u2019t be here today and neither would my son,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She urges other women to learn about pregnancy risks and to question their OB-GYNs about placenta accreta if they\u2019ve had a previous Cesarean section.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe your own advocate,\u201d she said. \u201cGet a second opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n
To learn more about specialized care for placenta accreta contact\u00a0the maternal-fetal team<\/a>\u00a0at University Health Women\u2019s & Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767658583_26_hqdefault.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Dr.-Ramsey-and-Bianca-lookin-at-sonogram.jpg\")
Dr. Patrick Ramsey and Bianca Chavarria discuss the sonogram that shows her placenta growing into her uterus. Credit: Courtesy \/ University Health<\/p>\n