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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Vasa praevia - experiences/hand hold please

27 replies

Brownieb · 24/04/2018 16:41

We have had extra scans and have vasa praevia. This means likely that we will have to take steroids to build baby up and a c - section at around 35 weeks. Obviously this is upsetting as if we don’t do this and go into labour baby could die and I can’t be more than 20minutes from hospital. due to this I will probably have to give up work sooner rather than later as planned. Currently 29 weeks and I have no one in the same position.... anyone had similar? Any positive stories? Will baby recover properly from such an early delivery? Feel very much the failure for not being able to protect my baby...

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Thistles24 · 24/04/2018 18:17

No experience with this, but I would see if your gp would sign you off work for the remainder of your pregnancy so you could save your maternity leave for when the baby is here. Depending on your work sickness policy/pay this may not be an option, but it's worth trying. You are absolutely not a failure, it's just one of these things

Original poster

Brownieb · 24/04/2018 22:13

Thanks thistles, that’s a good idea I will ask about that

OP posts:

penona · 24/04/2018 22:16

My sister in law had this. It’s very rare but like you was noticed in the pregnancy. She stayed closer to home after 30 weeks, close to the hospital, and was delivered by EC at 35 weeks.
She now has a gorgeous, thriving, happy 11 year old girl. She does suffer from asthma but so does her brother so might not be related.

penona · 24/04/2018 22:18

You are protecting your baby, by following the medical advice and looking after him/her until they are strong enough to be delivered. You have absolutely not failed at all.
Wishing you all the very best. I remember how worrying it was for my SIL, but it was all ok in the end.

KadabrasSpoon · 24/04/2018 22:22

It's good that you know about it as undiagnosed VP is very dangerous.
Are you on bed rest? It can be very boring so pack a bag of things to do / read as well as any essentials
I didn't have VP but has DS at 35 weeks due to placenta praevia bleed. Had one set of steroid injections - they hurt but it's ok! He's doing just fine.
And don't worry about work - I hadn't even finished when I had DS - they will cope!

Original poster

Brownieb · 25/04/2018 01:49

Thanks all. Kadabras and penona can I ask - Was the baby in the hospital for longer because they were delivered at 35 weeks or did the steroids help give that growth spurt needed ? I have no idea what’s realistic to hope for on that front. Will have to ask more questions next time I am in but was a bit shell shocked.

OP posts:

KadabrasSpoon · 25/04/2018 13:00

Hi OP the steroids are to help lung development rather than growth especially if a c section delivery. DS could breathe unaided.
We were in 8 nights due to feeding issues and jaundice (jaundice is very common I think over 90% have this but easy to treat)

Original poster

Brownieb · 27/04/2018 11:47

Thanks all, does anyone know if it’s usual to stay in the hospital after 30 weeks? Prior to 35 week delivery?

OP posts:

penona · 27/04/2018 13:27

I can’t recall exactly how long SIL was in for, but think it was only a few days, as would be normal after a CS.
She went into hospital on the day of birth, but did live v close anyway. She was advised not to travel too far after 30 weeks (they had to cancel a holiday in a more rural part of UK). I know that sometimes women do stay in hospital from 30 weeks onwards.
Her second child had no such complications.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 27/04/2018 13:33

Can't talk about vasa previa but my son was playing away with a little boy who was born at 31 weeks this morning. The only reason I know he was early is because his mum told when we first met.

One of my nephews was early week 36 and he didn't need NICU.

Yarnswift · 27/04/2018 13:38

I had this, along with (anterior) placenta previa.

My cs was scheduled for 38 weeks and ds was delivered safely. I was told to take it very easy, not travel, and to remain at all times within x distance of the hospital. Part of that was the pp though, not the pv.

They seemed pretty relaxed about it - as with everything I think the severity varies - the exact placement of the vessels will determine if you’re hospitalised and how far along they will let you go. Mine was judged to be mild enough to let me go to 38 although I was told any hint of a contraction to blue light in immediately.

The steroids are to mature the lungs - many babies born prior to 38 ish need a little extra help with that. 35 weeks though is a good age and while yes it’s premature it’s unlikely you’ll see major effects from it - jaundice and perhaps a spot of help breathing and a few days monitoring most likely.

I lost a lot of blood during the section but that was because they had to go through the placenta in a very specific way as it was at the front - so that’s not an issue you will necessarily have.

Ds was fine. It was all fine. Ask as many questions of the consultant treating you as you need and best of luck!

Yarnswift · 27/04/2018 13:39

Oh and yes - if they’ve found this before birth chances are it’ll be OK - it’s when they don’t and birth has started that you get the really bad scenarios.
Thank goodness for modern medicine and good scanners .

snowballsandsunshine · 27/04/2018 13:46

A friend of mine has this condition, it's rare isn't it. She went on to have a healthy daughter delivered by planned CS at 35 weeks. Baby was on the small side (about 5lbs I recall) but didn't need any special care at all. She's now two and doing fabulously.

They are very cautious with this, precisely because it is so dangerous. Ask lots of questions of you have them, try not to stress (easier said Jan done I know!) and try to stay off Google!!

Original poster

Brownieb · 27/04/2018 18:25

Yeah I went on google, I should have read your advice earlier snowballsandsunshine - that was clearly a mistake and now I am freaking out even more ...... There’s just nothing official to educate myself with even www.vasapraevia.org etc don’t really tell you what treatment is ‘normal’ or ‘standard’.

OP posts:

Yarnswift · 27/04/2018 18:47

Stay off google!!

Remember that those awful scenarios are 99.9% when women arrive at birthing wards in labour and this is discovered.

They’re aware, they’re monitoring you - so those scenarios are off the table unless you go into very premature labour which is rare.

i spent the last ten weeks worried about any tiny twinge being labour so I do understand the anxiety.

Thankfudge · 27/04/2018 19:05

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ as requested by the OP.

Original poster

Brownieb · 27/04/2018 20:23

Thankfudge can I ask what area you are in ? You could pm it if you like. I only ask as I do have a choice of two hospitals and perhaps I could get better treatment elsewhere..... who knows ...

OP posts:

LarryFreakinStylinson · 27/04/2018 20:31

Try not to panic, it’s good you know about it but many many times it’s not picked up until after the placenta is out and we inspect the membranes. That’s not to say it can’t be bad news but the ones I’ve seen the membranes have ruptured around the vessels which is more common when it’s spontaneous. It’s more likely to cause an issue during artificial rupture of membranes (vaginally) which of course won’t be a problem in your case. Take precautions but try not to let it spoil the rest of pregnancy. Good luck ☺️

KoshaMangsho · 27/04/2018 20:32

My good friend had it. Admitted at 32 weeks. In Hospital till week 35 (35+6 I think) when she was delivered by C section.
I was on an antenatal Ward for 10 weeks before delivering my premature baby (not vasa praevia) and there was a lady with VP and her waters broke and they had her under anaesthesia before the trolley was practically out of the room. It was amazing. Mum and baby were fine. But it is a v serious condition. I would ask them what their management plan was.
The RCOG has some excellent green top guidelines on vasa praevia that you should probably read.

LarryFreakinStylinson · 27/04/2018 20:41

Not trying to minimise by the way, just trying to reasssure that the likelihood is you’ll have a lovely rest of pregnancy and ELCS.

Thankfudge · 27/04/2018 20:53

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ as requested by the OP.

Original poster

Brownieb · 29/04/2018 11:33

Oh I am not sure can you not click on the three dots at the bottom of my messages and then it has the option ?

OP posts:

Thankfudge · 29/04/2018 13:33

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ as requested by the OP.

Original poster

Brownieb · 29/04/2018 17:21

Thanks for the recommendation Kosha that is the best recommendation I have seen and it’s obviously something I can use ready for my next meeting

OP posts:

KoshaMangsho · 01/05/2018 09:46

You are welcome! DH is a medic and when he has had to chat to fellow professionals not in his speciality about my or DS2’s care- complication pregnancy and premature baby, this is what he would use as a starting point.

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