Vasa previaThis little known condition, known by its Latin name, vasa previa, has been attracting media interest across in the US, where the International Vasa Previa Foundation (IVPF) has been set up to alert pregnant women and members of the medical profession to the dangers of this rare, but serious, condition.
What is vasa previa? Vasa previa is an especially cruel condition because it can lie undetected until late in pregnancy, just when parents are looking forward with excitement to the birth of their healthy baby. Although the incidence of the condition is rare, (one in 3,000 mothers suffers), it is frequently fatal unless it is detected by pre-natal scans. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases (70 to 90 per cent), vasa previa isn't diagnosed until after the damage has been done and parents have been dealt a devastating blow. The condition occurs when fetal blood vessels lie across the entrance into the birth canal and rupture when the cervix dilates in readiness for birth, or when the membranes rupture during labour. Vasa previa has a high fetal mortality rate due to the high risk of rupture of these vessels and consequent foetal hemorrhage. The fetus is little able to cope with the effects of such haemorrhage and the mortality rate is reported to be between 33 and 100 per cent. One mother's experience of vasa previaCarol Prentice, whose own experience of the condition has prompted her to set up a UK support system to help women suffering from this condition, insists that the fact that her daughter is now a happy and healthy little girl is something of a miracle. "I suffered undiagnosed vasa previa and Rebecca was delivered by emergency C-section. She did not breathe for six minutes, had no heartbeat and lost half her blood. But, she survived and spent six days in the Special Care Baby Unit." "I would not wish the following two years of worry on anyone as we were told she would probably be severely brain damaged. Fortunately, she is a happy, healthy girl and we are very lucky and thankful indeed." Vasa previa is most likely to be present if any of the following conditions exists:
If you are aware that any of these conditions applies to you during your pregnancy, consult your doctor and ask for a colour Doppler ultrasound, which is used to measure the velocity of blood flow around the womb and can diagnose vasa praevia in good time. Where to next?
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