Vasa previa experiences and hand holds xx

[CharTT33]

vasa previa.

Hello so I guess I’m looking for a bit of a handhold. I’m currently in hospital at 33 weeks and six days and I’ve been admitted I won’t be able to leave until I’ve had a plan C-section at 35 weeks and six days . Having vasa previa has been really stressful I’ve had to stop work as a primary school teacher and be in Hospital for weeks on end. I have a two year-old at home. I guess what I’m looking for is someone to tell me their experience I’m so worried about my baby going into nicu. Advice on steroid injections with new guidelines
suggesting that the steroid injections after a certain point of gestation doesn’t help as much and can cause ADHD, autism or neuro diverse issues please help with and personal experiences. Thanks guys xxx

My understanding is that this research is based on multiple courses of steroids, and actually a single course of steroids is incredibly beneficial for premature babies. I think there is an RCOG guideline that’s quite helpful. Sounds really tough, I’m sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like you’re at a great gestation though and hopefully all will go smoothly. You’re in the right place, I hope it all goes well.

My DIL had vasa previa. Baby was born by caesarian at 36 weeks without problems and did not in fact need to go into NICU. She's now 3 years old. I do appreciate it is worrying but you will be closely monitored and there is no reason to expect anything other than a healthy baby.

I don’t have any experience of vasa previa but have had c sections at 36 and 35 weeks, had the steroids both times. The choice was there was it was quite strongly recommended. The 36 week baby had 2 nights in NICU but this was unrelated to anything respiratory and the 35 week baby was able to just be on the ward with some extra care there. One is still very young but no concerns about them or their older sibling now.

wishing you all the best. High risk pregnancies are so tough and it must be difficult being separate from your little one at home.

Absolutely have the steroids. The risk there is if you have them and then dont go on to deliver until term (so e.g. you get them at 32 weeks and then go on to deliver at 40). If you have them and deliver within a week then you're all good. They are hugely beneficial and the NICU team counselled me very very strongly for them both times (I wasnt going to refuse). They sting but are fine.

Just to say I had a very long antenatal admission with a child at home and it was all very miserable for all of us and she does still talk about it now but she wasnt permanently scarred by it and her brother was worth it all and more. You can do this xx

Not quite the same but I had an EMCS at 35 weeks for placenta praevia, and it was so fast that I didn’t have time for steroids. Baby was on cpap then O2 in SCBU for 10 days, so I say take the steroids! Having said that, it all worked out fine - yes it’s stressful having a baby on SCBU, but we coped and still
bonded well and managed to exclusively BF from 2 weeks old. Best of luck.

Thank you allllll for your advice and for sharing your personal experiences! It’s so hard having complicated pregnancies! Xxxxx