Mum doesn't meet her son for three days after giving birth, and her story is extraordinary

Kristen Terlizzi went along to her 28-week routine scan full of excitement, oblivious to what awaited the mum-to-be.

But it was clear from the minute the scan went ahead that something was not quite right, the images conveyed there was no separation between the uterus, placenta and bladder.

What doctors and Kristen learned that day was the expectant mum was suffering with Placenta Percreta; a condition whereby the placenta invades the uterine wall.

And when it invades the wall, the placenta can then attack nearby organs.

Kristen's first son was delivered by C-section; caesareans put mothers at risk of developing placenta percreta in future pregnancies. 

At 33-weeks pregnant Kristen was brought into theatre where her son Leo was safely delivered as a preemie, and surgeons had planned on removing the placenta.

However, their plans were quickly scuppered when they realised the invasion was much worse than expected, closing the mum up and leaving the placenta fully intact.

The medical team were worried the new mum would begin haemorrhaging or catch an infection; nonetheless, more tests were completed.

Kristen shared: “I felt like a time bomb ready to explode.”

However, following three long days, medical staff coordinated to bring Leo to meet his mum for the first time.

It was the one thing that Kristen says boosted her morale back up, she just needed to see her son. 

Following six weeks of a hospital stay, bruises began to develop on the mum when a blood test revealed Kristen was heading toward liver failure.

Therefore when Leo was just a mere seven-weeks-old his mum went through an emergency eight hour long procedure.

“They removed unnecessary organs, repaired and intervened critical organs and transfused 26 units of blood,” before the mum could be brought to recovery.

But Kristen did recover, and today she gets to spend her days with her family. 

Also admitting that its hard to believe Leo was a premature baby, as he is fiery and wild and so much fun. 

Furthermore the mum has also become a volunteer, speaker on placenta accreta and an advocate for patient safety, as her story is important for all mums to be educated on the condition.