Jun 22 2008
The Twins Are Coming Early
The countdown to delivery is here. Unfortunately it’s earlier than planned because of a medical condition recently discovered during an ultrasound. I have a “Vasa Previa.”
Let me start off by saying the twins will be fine since they caught this condition now.
Early on in my pregnancy I had “placenta previa”. It is when the placenta covers the cervix. It is not uncommon and typically corrects itself on its own. Mine did not.
Instead the placenta connected to Baby A split in half. The two halves remain connected by a blood vessel. That blood vessel now runs across the cervix. That’s where we have the issue. If I were to go into labor the blood vessel would rupture and Baby A would bleed to death before a C-section could be done.
So, the doctors don’t want me going into labor. That means the girls are coming early (around 34-35 weeks) to prevent anything from happening. Between now and then I will be monitored closely to make sure everything is okay and we can wait until at least 34-35 weeks. The good news is that the doctors and nurses caught this early so we can avoid a tragedy.
Before ultrasounds, this condition was almost always fatal, but now having a C-section and having it early allows us and other women with this condition to give birth to a healthy baby.
In the end, as long as I have two healthy girls, that is all that is important!
These are the latest ultrasound photos of Baby A and Baby B.
Don’t panic! You’ll do fine.
Just be sure to get that nursery ready!
I had vasa previa with my son two years ago. It showed up on an ultrasound at week 24. I, too, had placenta previa that never resolved itself.
My doctor said he’d deliver the baby via c-section at week 36 if the lungs were mature. I had an amnio at 36 weeks and the lungs were not mature. At week 37, I had another amnio and the lungs were mature so I had the baby then. All was fine. Thank God.
I cannot imagine having a stillborn baby because of vasa previa although I’ve read that it’s sometimes not noticed on ultrasounds. It’s not a common occurance - 1 in 3000 pregnanies.
I’m so glad that your doctor noticed it! All will be just fine for you and your babies!
Hi Dayle - your babies will be born beautiful and happy!! I will say a prayer for you and wish you a happy delivery!
Hi Dayle,
You’re going to do just fine. My sister-in-law just delivered at 26 weeks a few months ago and the twins are doing fine and are at normal weight now. It’s going to be so exciting to finally meet and hold them. Parenthood is the greatest joy! My thoughts are with you.
Relax. If you keep calm and focus on those beautiful little girls, everything will go so much easier. Back when I was pregnant, many years ago, I had to have an emergency C-Section. Gratefully, we both made it, and my daughter is now a mom!
It really doesn’t matter how your daughters are born, what matters is that ALL of you are safe.
You are in my prayers.
Hi Dayle, I delivered my twins at 34-1/2 weeks via c-section. They came home after 2-1/2 weeks in the NICU, and are now healthy six-month-olds. Your doctor will likely give you a steroid shot to speed up their lung development. They’re going to be just fine!
Hi Dayle!
I had Vasa Previa with my daughter 15 months ago! Thank goodness for your diagnosis- this is what will save your babies. Are you being hospitalized? The Vasa Previa Foundation recommends hospitalization at 30-32 weeks even without any early labor signs. It’s just the way to ensure your baby with VP is born healthy and alive. I don’t know how much research you have done, but many docs think they can manage this condition at home with bedrest and as you probably know, that is just not the case. If that vessel breaks, you have five minutes until that baby bleeds out completely. I don’t want to scare you, but I want the facts to be out there for you and other mothers with this condition. I sat at Swedish Medical for 10 weeks just in case my water broke. It didn’t thank goodness and Sarah was born at 34 weeks, healthy and wonderful. We originally were scheduled for a 35 week cesarean, but my amniotic fluid levels got too low and they decided to just take her earlier. She has NO medical issues at all and only spent a week in the NICU.
check out www.IVPF.org and there is also a great Yahoo group for VP survivor moms and VP Angel moms.
Congrats on your diagnosis and best of luck!
Dayle,
I had a c-section with my twins. Don’t believe all the sad stuff everyone tells you about that-my babies had high apgar scores and are both in gifted and talented programs-C-sections are not inferior. I was up and around within a couple of days, and everything worked out fine.
That said, my stomach isn’t quite the same, if I knew then what I know now I would’ve been involved in some pilates and yoga almost immediately post partum to work on those stomach muscles.
Best wishes to you. I remember thinking about bringing home the twins and how excited I was!
Hi Dayle,
I had an emergency c section with my boy two years ago and was up and moving the next day. Its not as bad as some make it out to be. I’m just gald they caught the problem early with yours. Hope the best for you and yours. Cant wait to see your girls in person.
Meghan
Hi Dayle!!
I assume you are on bed rest in the hospital. PS/L perhaps? Obstetrix Medical team? My triplet girls are 10 months now and doing fabulous thanks to the wonderful Obstetrix medical team. I was on bed rest for 8.5 weeks at PS/L. It felt like forever, but I knew it was for the girls. They came at 33 weeks.
Thank God they caught your condition in time. Everthing will work out and all this will seem like a flash in time soon.
Our family, and girls, are praying for you. Hang in there and you will be blessed with your twin girls soon!