Vasa praevia - any experiences?

[Lalla525]

Hi all,

Had a private repeat 20w scan at 22 weeks and the professor found vasa praevia. He said that 90% it won't move and that a cesarean will be necessary at 36 weeks max. I googled and have not stopped crying since. Do you have any experience about how to manage it and what happens?

Thanks all.

Hi OP, I’m afraid I have no personal experience but just wanted to offer some support. Was this not picked up at your NHS anomaly scan?

What about this news has upset you so much? Is it the prospect of having a c-section or something else?

Thanks so much for replying. No it wasn't picked up. After my private scan I went back to the nhs hospital which is treating me and they are going to scan me tomorrow to validate it and decide management.

There are a couple of things which terrify me. For a start, I will have a premature baby (if I get to have one). I am worried that will have a bad impact on baby.

Second, the mortality rate is very high of I go into labour spontaneously (like 60%+). Even if they schedule the cesarean before 40weeks, there is still a chance I will go into spontaneous labour before then, in which case game over.

Finally, the cesarean has a risk of catting these exposed cases, which means baby will be at a very high risk and will need a blood transfusion.

I'm panicking

You have every right to be worried, it’s scary when you learn you have a complication to what we all assume is going to be a lovely, glowy time!

Babies born at 36 weeks have excellent outcomes and will be very carefully monitored and looked after.

The risk of severe bleeding is of course a worry, but your team now know about it so will be able to manage it appropriately. You’re so unlikely to go into labour before 36 weeks and even if you do, you’ll recognise it before you become dilated enough to rupture vessels, so again the medical team will be able to manage it.

It so hard not to think worst case scenarios, but try and keep the panic in check and remind yourself the most likely outcome is a safe c section birth with a healthy baby! I’m sorry you have this extra worry during your pregnancy.

Best of luck with your scan tomorrow - write down some questions you want to ask before you go so that they don’t all fly out of your head as soon as you’re in front of the doctor!