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Thank you for your response.  I think I will take it easy....it seems that could only help.  I also have the velamentous cord insertion.  I am happy to hear that your baby was born healthy.  When did you have your c-section?

Hi Lexi

You might be better joining the yahoo email group we have as not too many members check this forum. The yahoo group has many active contributers and there are quite alot of new members recently diagnosed or who are already in hospital waiting as well as hundreds who have been through it.

The IVPF recommendations are hospitalisation from about 31 weeks and CS at 35-36 weeks unless you have other complications eg you are getting contractions etc. Statistically you are very unlikely to rupture before 30 weeks but that doesn't mean there is no chance of it happening - it can happen in any pregnancy but the rate is very low. The IVPF recs are based on scientific studies that reviewed contributing factors to outcomes. The CS dates were selected based on balancing the risk of rupture with prematurity issues. If you are in hospital for that last trimester then you know you are in the best place should you happen to rupture and they will be monitoring you closely.

Good luck and look into joining the Yahoo group.

Regards

Natasha Donnolley
IVPF Director

Hi, I am a Mum of a little girl who was born with undiagnosed Vasa Prvia and Velamentous Cord Insertion, luckily I had an emergency c section and now she is a healthy 6 month old. If I were you Id probably limit physical activity from 28 weeks onwards, as by this stage bub is starting to put more pressure down there. Any extra strain could cause problems. Goodluck, I hope everywithg goes well for you and your baby. xo

I was wondering if I could continue to exercise before 30 weeks having vp?  I am 19 weeks and have been doing yoga/pilates and walking 2-3 miles a couple of times a week.  I would hate to give this up as I have been keeping fit, but don't want to put the baby in any harm by going into labor too soon.  I am scheduled to have a c-section at 36 weeks and probably will be in the hospital earlier than that.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi, I was diagnosed with vp just last week.  I will be 19 weeks tomorrow and thus far have had a great pregnancy.  I am 39 years old and this is my 2nd pregnancy (I have a 9 yr old).  I do not seem to have any of the risk factors that are mentioned in why vp may occur.  I have so many questions, but am also very concerned about when to go in the hospital.  I think I will go in earlier, but not sure how early?  Could people share when they had their c-section?  Has anyone had the membranes rupture earlier than 30 weeks?

This feels good to be able to share this with people who are in similar situations.  This is so rare and difficult to find much information on. 

thanks so much for the information. im having a really hard time with the hospital trying to get through to blue cross and blue sheild. im praying that they will accept the early hospitalization. i guess we will play it by ear and see what comes of it. thanks again. im sure im in the right hands.

Hello "halfpint"

Congratulations on your diagnosis. It is the first step to making sure your baby survives this condition. The next step is getting the right management plan in place. It is impossible for any of us to give you advice on the exact time you should be admitted, without the benefit of a crystal ball we can't predict when anything might happen. But, having said that, the IVPF recommends hospitalisation from 30-31 weeks with a CS at 35-36 weeks depending on individual circumstances. If you had other complicating factors, eg incompetent cervix, uterine irritability and contractions etc then you should be hospitalised earlier and your CS date determined based on those other factors. The recommendations are based on research conducted by Dr Yinka Oyelese (his papers are available from the site) that examined the factors that most influenced outcomes for VP babies. The two things that had the greatest impact were prenatal diagnosis and early CS. There is no evidence that admitting you any earlier than 30 weeks will make any difference (unless you have other complications). There is no way for me to say that nothing will happen prior to 30 weeks and there is always a risk that something may happen sooner, but there isn't any evidence with VP that in general ruptures would happen that early. Given your distance from a hospital I would err on the side of caution, but you have to balance that with your emotional and mental health too. If you have no other complications then you can consider sticking with the IVPF recommendations. Do not wait until the actual CS to be admitted (as your Dr suggests). The reason for early admission is to make sure you and the baby are being monitored regularly (you can't always feel contractions and you certainly won't have any outward signs that your cervix is dilating) and that in the rare event that you should rupture early, then you are much more likely to get an emergent CS and your baby transfused if necessary if you are already in the hospital. The IVPF doesn't have a single record of a baby dying from VP when prenatally diagnosed and managed according to our recommendations. You need to be in a tertiary hospital with high level NICU and onsite surgeons though.

You might consider joining up to the IVPF yahoo email group as there are several women also waiting for hospitalisation or are in hospital and many, many more who have been touched by VP (not all had a happy ending as they missed out on the benefit of prenatal diagnosis).

Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions here or better still on the email forum.

Regards

Natasha Donnolley
Director
IVPF

Hi everyone.i am 26 years old and this is my first pregnancy. i have lost three prior to this and am trying to find some help with a question im having. i am 25 weeks along today, and i have been diagnosed with vasa previa since week 20. we saw a specialist yesterday and he said it looks more concerning than originally thought. i guess my placenta is right over my cervix and it has been split right down the middle by the umbilical cord? he said he thought i should "live my life normally, nothing can be done if something would happen early anyway. come in at 35 weeks and we will do a c section." Well my doctor, the one who found it first and the nicu drs both think i should be hospitalized right way and keep an eye on the baby. I have to say i agree with them, as i am two hours away from their hospital and they seem to really know what they are talking about. I will have to be there for nine weeks then? is that way too soon, or does that sound like a good precaution? im kind of town. i would rather not be so far from my husband and family during this last part of pregnancy, but we all agree we want this little miracle baby to be safe? any advice would be helpful. i have seen the normal recommendations, i was just curious if anyone else was advised to go in way early?

It is a good idea to request one doctor, particularly one that has experience with VP, but it is up to the practice how they manage their patient case-load. You can request one but they won't necessarily agree. The most important thing is that they agree to manage you according to the IVPF recommendations and don't try to treat it like placenta previa. When you see multiple doctors you often find that they all have a different opinion about whether you need to be hospitalised and when your CS should be.  That makes things very difficult and you should all be on the same page.

Good luck and regards

Natasha Donnolley
Director
IVPF

From my usual OBGYN I was transferred to an office who treats high risk pregnancies. I have Vasa Previa and currently I'm 25 weeks. This is new to me as I have 2 other children. I'm new to this office and they have 5 doctors I will be seeing and one at the hospital at all times but they rotate from 3 diferent offices. Would it be too much to ask if I can have an assigned doctor. It would make me feel comfortable a bit if I can see only one and have that one doctor do my c-section. What if the doctor on duty that day has no clue about Vasa Previa? I don't want to sound demanding...