vasa previa and a vaginal birth

[isaidno]

I'm 34 weeks. At 20 week scan my placenta was covering the cervix.
Now it is right at the edge. Unusually the cord comes out at the edge not middle so there are blood vessels and cord about 1.5 cm from the cervix.

Saw consultant today, and having another scan in 2 weeks. He seemed optimistic I could have a vaginal delivery (but at hospital not home as planned) but I can't get out of my mind that I will end up with a section.

Is there anyone out there with a positive experience of a similar situation?

Hi, i'm not sure if Vasa Previa and Placenta Previa are the same thing, but when i had my 20 week scan i was told that i had it, and that my placenta was completely covering the os (birth canal etc). They said i had to wait until 34 weeks for another scan to see if it had moved, and it had! So they said i could have a vaginal birth. Well, by the end of the pregnancy, they were concerned that the baby was large, and so would not let me go over by the usual fortnight etc, and decided to induce me the following day at 40 plus 1. After 2 attempts at inducement with pessaries, that didnt work, I was then given the drip formation, and after 17 hours of that, they finally decided on a c section.

So whatever happens with your placenta, i wouldnt worry too much, you will still get a happy outcome I'm sure... I was really surprised at how simple and quick and painfree the operation was, and apart from slight discomfort when walking around the day after, the recovery from it was very quick and problem free. There were no problems with me getting about and picking up baby etc, the only thing i missed was driving straight away etc.

So good luck with the birth, I'm sure you'll be fine, just enjoy your new baby however he or she arrives!

Thanks; the 2 conditions are related, but while the actual placenta has moved out of the way (just) the cord and blood vessels are still too close.

I know it doesn't matter how the baby arrives, but it's good to hear a cs is not too terrible an experience.

Isaidno, I had undiagnosed vasa previa with my daughter and it's a true miracle that she is alive today. With a diagnosis and having your condition managed properly your child will be fine. But, your doctor does not seem to know enough about vasa previa. You can not under any circumstances have a vaginal delivery. When your waters break, the bloodvessels over or near the cervix will break and your baby could bleed to death within minutes. In the uk there are not standard guidelines for vasa previa yet and many consultants are not educated enough.

The international vasa previa foundation reccomend hospitalisation throughout the third trimester and c-section at 35 weeks. This is because if your waters break you need a crash c-section immediately and your baby may well need blood transfusions. There are very few known cases of children surviving when the waters break at home, my dd is one of them.

I know all this is really scary but I suggest you go to [http://www.vasaprevia.org/] and [http://www.vasapraevia.co.uk/].

Read all the information then contact your consultant asap with this information. You need to act straight away. There is also a vasa previa group at the first website to join where you can get information and advice from other parents who have had vasa previa.

Please act straight away.

Thanks sassa - the cord and vessels are not actually over the cervix, just extemely close. The consultant said it was "technically" still a vasa previa. I think he thinks it will move a little more yet.

Thanks for those websites; I will have a look.

Glad to hear it all turned out ok for you. I will definitely be asking more questions next time I see the doc.

I'm glad you'll read up on it. It's such a hight mortality rate when not handled properly, up to 95% and I would hate anyone having to go through the trauma. The ivpf website will have material you can print out and send to your consultant. Just make sure you don't go for a vaginal birth.