Vasa Previa

[bellany]

My sister had this but they missed it at her scan.
She had heavy bleeding just before 35 weeks. They realised what it was just in time and did an emergency ceaser.
Her bub spent a couple of weeks in scn and then joined them at home.

[FabFiona]

My friend had it. She was diagnosed around 25 weeks. Hers was severe and didn't move at all.

She had a toddler and was hospitalised nearly full time from this point. Logistically they called on friends, family and her husband called in some work from home fleixibility for his job to keep things as normal as possible.

My friend was allowed to go home one night a week with very strict instructions around movement and not being alone. I think this was possible because she was only around 10 mins in the car from the hospital. She was told if she started bleeding not to call an ambulance but to get straight in the car.

She had a c/s around 37 weeks and everything was fine. Her toddler quickly adjusted back to life with mum and everything went back to normal.

[LittleGem]

Thanks ladies. It's great to hear so many success stories. I'm not sure how severe mine is, think I'll have to wait for some more answers Tuesday. I am at least 30 mins from the hospital and nearly twice that to the major Hospital with a NICU, so if the diagnosis sticks, I suspect I'll be in for a while. Oh for a crystal ball

[teresa]

hi littlegem

I was diagnosed at 34 +2 weeks with vasa previa. I had my son the next day. I was hospitilised the day before we found out I had it as I had been bleeding and at that stage I was only diagnosed with complete placental previa. I started bleeding the day after the US and my ob decided that he couldn't risk my pregnancy any further and so therefore my son was born that night by c/s. none of the midwives would tell me what it was and it wasn't until I left hospital and googled it did I find out! its very scary to think about. try to take it easy and any bleeding small or large, go straight to hospital!

fingers crossed it moves for you.

[Softkitty]

Hi there,
I was also diagnosed with vasa previa at around my 30 week scan. As I was pregnant with twins, the guidelines for its management didn't really apply to me so it was a bit of a guessing game.
When I was diagnosed I did lots of online reading which scared me mindless, but once we saw our obstetrician he reassured us we would be ok.
With vasa previa singleton babies, delivery must happen via c section by 36 weeks according to the literature. It also recommends hospitalization from second trimester.
As we had twins, I had my boys at 33 + 6 weeks after two steroid shots to help develop their lungs. I was never hospitalized, but then never had any bleeding. My ob said that the umbilical cord is much more robust than a lot of people think, as I was concerned about spontaneous tearing.
I guess my advice is yes it's scary, but talk to your ob, but if you're unhappy with his management plan, make sure you ask his reasoning!
Best of luck!

[kerbear]

How are you going little gem, was just thinking of you xo

[LittleGem]

Hi Kerbear
Sorry I didn't see this until now - need to update my email for notifications . I've been busy pushing for appropriate treatment . I've been transferred to the Mercy Perinatal Clinic for management now, and am so much happier - they are actually familiar with the internationally recommended treatments and studies Sadly no change in diagnosis, and it is right over the os, so not going to happen now. Good news is she is apparently a big girl at 1.5kg at 28 weeks. It doesn't necessarily translate to development, but with her coming early, I'm pleased it 'looks' like she has some extra weight. I'll be in from 32 weeks if all is well until then, with little lady number two arriving before 35 weeks - under 6 weeks until their 'optimal' c-sec date, not long until we meet DD2.

Thanks for sharing and your well wishes Rach & Teresa. It is very scary, I'm so glad your little ones came out unscathed Rach, you are so right about asking for reasoning if unhappy with the management plan. The first management plan I got was CS at 39 weeks (DD was natural and fast at 38 weeks starting with PROM), he didn't have any reasoning either I won't go on, I'll just get angry about it and it's all sorted now