Managing placenta previa or accreta spectrum takes a coordinated team of experts. Here's who they are, what they do, and the questions worth asking each of them.
Depending on your diagnosis and severity, you may work with some or all of these specialists. Knowing each role helps you ask better questions and advocate for yourself.
Also called a perinatologist or high-risk OB
Your primary specialist for high-risk pregnancy. An MFM physician oversees diagnosis, monitoring, and care planning for both previa and accreta spectrum. They coordinate the entire multidisciplinary team and guide delivery decisions. In most cases, you will be referred to an MFM as soon as a placental complication is identified.
Vascular & bleeding control specialist
In accreta spectrum cases, an interventional radiologist may place balloon catheters in the uterine or iliac arteries before delivery to reduce blood loss during surgery. They can also perform uterine artery embolization postpartum if hemorrhage occurs. Their involvement is a hallmark of true PAS Center of Excellence care.
Pain management & critical care
A specialized obstetric anesthesiologist manages pain control and hemodynamic stability during what may be a complex, lengthy surgical delivery. For accreta cases especially, they manage blood transfusions, blood pressure, and recovery from large-volume blood loss. Their experience with high-risk obstetric cases is critical to outcomes.
Advanced surgical expertise
For placenta percreta (Grade 3 PAS), a gynecologic oncologist or pelvic reconstructive surgeon may assist with hysterectomy and repair of adjacent structures such as the bladder or bowel that are involved. Their expertise in complex pelvic dissection is essential when the placenta has invaded beyond the uterine wall.
Newborn intensive care specialist
Because both previa and accreta often require planned preterm delivery (34–37 weeks), a neonatologist is typically on hand at delivery. They assess and manage your baby immediately after birth, including any breathing support, temperature regulation, or NICU admission.
Bladder & urinary tract specialist
In percreta cases where the placenta invades the bladder or ureters, a urologist or urogynecologist joins the surgical team to manage bladder repair and protect urinary structures. They may also place ureteral stents before surgery to reduce the risk of injury.
Blood management & transfusion medicine
PAS deliveries often involve massive blood loss — sometimes exceeding 3–5 liters. A hematologist or transfusion medicine specialist may be involved in pre-operative optimization (iron infusions, autologous donation) and intraoperative management of transfusion protocols, clotting factors, and cell salvage technology.
Women with placenta accreta spectrum have significantly better outcomes when they deliver at hospitals with dedicated multidisciplinary PAS teams. Search below to find accredited centers near you.
This directory includes hospitals recognized by the National Accreta Foundation and SMFM as having dedicated PAS multidisciplinary teams. For the most current list, visit preventaccreta.org/find-a-center.