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Original poster

What's the least of the two evils? PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE

34 replies

Lalla525 · 28/04/2020 10:22

Hi all.

I am 30w pregnant and I have been diagnosed with a condition (vasa praevia) which requires baby to be born well before natural labour and possibly before it puts too much pressure down (becomes engaged). Mortality rate if that does not happen is 90+%.

In normal circumstances, I would get hospitalised between 32 and 34 weeks so that they can monitor daily and would deliver the baby hopefully around 36w, however, I would be in the hospital if labour starts earlier and doctors can attempt to do an emergency c-section. (There is no chance of survival if I am at home).

However, the consultant told me that this needs to be balanced with covid risk so ultimately decision is mine (of which risk I prefer). The alternative to hospitalization is going there at 36 weeks for the elective cesarean.

I am lost and worried because I don't want to catch the virus. I'm very much afraid of it. But if I stay home and labour starts before the scheduled cesarean, I lose my baby.

What would you do?

OP posts:
superstar84 · 28/04/2020 10:23

I would go in and stay at the hospital

The risk of covid in my opinion is outweighed by the risk of the condition

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 28/04/2020 10:24

The life of my child would come before the risk of illness for me.

GreenTulips · 28/04/2020 10:25

Have you asked about maybe a different hospital? Some have births only

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Needallthesleep · 28/04/2020 10:27

There seem to be huge measures in place to protect pregnant women in hospitals. I would go in.

KnobwithaK · 28/04/2020 10:29

Sorry you're in this situation Flowers

Did the consultant just say "it's up to you" and not give any actual advice about the comparative risks? That seems a bit rubbish tbh.. did they say what their preference would be? What is the chance that you will go into labour early? Is it increased due to your condition?

On the face of it I think going to hospital sounds like the best plan - the risk to the baby seems too high if you don't Flowers

nightimebrowser · 28/04/2020 10:30

As hard and scary as it is I would go into hospital to guarantee I can protect my baby. They will hopefully be very good about keeping healthy pregnant women away from any trace of Covid.

ofwarren · 28/04/2020 10:32

Are there any maternity only hospitals near you? I would go to one of those.
I had my children in St Mary's women's hospital in Manchester.

Dogsaresomucheasier · 28/04/2020 10:32

Is this your first? “The Onset of Labour” is a very vague term and won’t be sudden. You need to get your doctor to clarify what he means by it. “Proper, established labour” is a risk or one of the many runs of braxton hicks that come to nothing from weeks before? You might even be having some already. Don’t be afraid of making decisions based on your own judgement of what is happening to your body and the baby’s movement. You could also ask to have the baby monitored as an outpatient.

WeddingNameChange · 28/04/2020 10:35

I would go to the hospital and stay too.
The risk of losing the baby would scare me more than covid. There will be measures in place to try to protect you from covid.
Sorry you were having to make this choice Flowers

Original poster
Lalla525 · 28/04/2020 10:37

The consultant will see me again in 2 weeks to measure cervix length and do another test which is basically a good predictor of whether labour might happen in he following 2 weeks. Of course, all this has a degree of uncertainty, as tests and measurements are not 100% accurate.

I have not enquired about other hospitals. I need to be in a pretty major one though as baby might need transfusions/NICU stay etc..

The consultant said that if I am asymptomatic (no bleeding, no contractions etc..) and the risk of labour before 36 is low, I should probably stay home, but it is ultimately my choice. The reason why he said home was because he further mentioned there is no guarantee that even if I am in hospital, and I go in labour earlier than the scheduled c section, they will be able to get baby out in the 5-10 minutes required for baby to survive. Of course, chances are higher if I am in there than if I am at home, but 5-10 mins is really little time.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 28/04/2020 10:38

I'd go in at 32 weeks. For me, it would be a no brainer. They will be observing all the necessary requirements for covid, your mind will be put at rest. The only drawback is that you won't necessarily see your dp for the duration of your stay depending on when lockdown ends.

Original poster
Lalla525 · 28/04/2020 10:39

From what I have read and understood, two things can possibly happen: 1) membrane rupture (like water breaks) and that when baby dies of blood loss. 2) baby puts pressure of those exposed veins and cuts its oxygen supply (this can happen without labour).

OP posts:
Original poster
Lalla525 · 28/04/2020 10:43

I agree that they will be very careful about covid. And this is also what I experienced during the past few weeks as I had many antenatal appointments. However, people can transmit while asymptomatic (other patients and midwives alike) and I will be exposed to many different people across the weeks there and for prolonged periods of time (hence increasing viral load that I get).

They used to have private rooms and I asked if I could rent one of them, but they said that they are using private rooms for covid patients with symptoms, hence they cant provide one

OP posts:
MindyStClaire · 28/04/2020 10:55

I would absolutely go into hospital. Assuming you're fit and healthy, the risk to you from covid would be minimal - it would be extremely shit if you caught it, but unlikely to be fatal. I would want any monitoring I could get in your shoes, and proximity to theatre.

Flowers the very best of luck whatever you decide.

Haffdonga · 28/04/2020 11:25

What a difficult decision. Flowers Can you split the difference and go in at say 34 weeks?

Does it help to look at it very objectively and weigh up the statistical risk to your baby's life of catching Covid in hospital vs the risk of going in to labour at home? It feels brutal but from what you say your baby would have more chance in hospital despite the virus.

ginnybag · 28/04/2020 11:42

This is a comparative odds question.

Option 1 - go into hospital: Small risk to you, small risk to baby.

Option 2 - stay at home; Small(er) risk to you (because you are still being exposed every time you leave the house so your risk is not 0) but significant and increasing risk to baby.

Reality is - you need to be in hospital. If you aren't and something happens the consequences for your child are somewhere between catastrophic and fatal.

Kiki275 · 28/04/2020 12:02

Is there an option for planned ELCS at 34 weeks? Forgive my ignorance but if there is a danger to the baby in the event of natural labour, why not pre-empt it? I only ask as my twins would have been delivered at 34 weeks as the risks of waiting any longer would have been high.

DNAwrangler · 28/04/2020 12:07

No brainer for me, I’d go to the hospital.

Impatientwino · 28/04/2020 12:11

Very difficult situation be in, massive sympathies Thanks

Absolutely go and stay in the hospital. In the event of an emergency delivery every single second counts. Trust me.

MitziK · 28/04/2020 12:12

I'd go into hospital. They aren't offering it lightly.

cookielove · 28/04/2020 12:14

Definitely go to hospital! Total no brainer!!

Prettybubblesintheair · 28/04/2020 12:17

I’d go into hospital at 32 weeks. So sorry you’re in this position and hope all goes ok Flowers

Smallpotatoooes · 28/04/2020 12:19

100% stay in hospital

IncrediblySadToo · 28/04/2020 12:25

I'm sorry, that sounds scary.

Is there not an option for an 'early' planned C?

What does the 'daily monitoring' consist of? Could it be done at home?

devildeepbluesea · 28/04/2020 12:27

I'd go in, wouldn't even be something I'd need to think about.

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