Pregnancy after stillbirth due to velamentous cord insertion and placenta previa..

[frsttimemama]

Does anyone have any experience? I'm almost 23 weeks. Just curious what your experience was.

 

[Rcx]

Hi don't have any experience but just wanted to say so sorry for your loss and welcome. Hope you're enjoying your pregnancy as much as possible. Xx

 

[frsttimemama]

Thank you. I know it's fairly uncommon so I was just curious about others' experience.

 

[CastawayBride]

Hi there....

I sadly lost my son at 32 weeks from lack of care on my doctors part. They kept saying over and over that what I had going was not normal but not abnormal at the same time and didn't give me or my son the attention we truly needed. We have a new doctor and team and I feel much better, yet nervous, to be in this position again.

Our son was diagnosed with SUA (2 vessel cord). This just meant that we had to ensure he was growing, which he was doing fine, almost 5 pounds at 32 weeks. He also developed a heart murmur where it skipped a beat, which I was told he would out grow by the time he was born as he needed a bit of time to get his electrical system going.....nothing was physically wrong with his little heart.

I felt reduced movement and went to the doctor, no one would listen to me or believe me. I demanded a scan and they found my son in SVT, basically a heart attack. Sadly we lost our son after all this.....when i delivered the doctor did say that my son was wrapped in his cord more than once. We are thinking he was caught in his cord which set him up for lack of oxygen thus the SVT. We just don't know as he was completely healthy and should have survived, if I had been properly watched.

I hope this time around you have a problem free pregnancy. I am so sorry for your loss.....I am also on the Pregnancy after Loss forum and the girls over there are amazing.

 

[frsttimemama]

I am so sorry to hear that! Thank you for sharing.

 

[BabieBeat]

First off, I would like to say how sorry I am to hear of your precious loss. It is surely the most devastating situation to have to endure and there are no words to ease the pain. The path becomes a little less rocky as time goes on but the valleys and peaks remind us of the long soulful journey we all must make.

I am an RN and my husband is an Emergency Room MD. I have four children and never thought anything of it. I had heard of stillbirths but thought they occurred during labor when there was a complication. Why should I think anything different? The medical profession has hidden the details and frequency from us all. 



My info below begins early on in pregnancy, but please use what is relevant for you now and please pass on to others!

So ~ now you are pregnant ~ what should you do? Become your baby's "in utero" advocate. Every mom needs to become her expected baby'sguardian. The latest research suggests you start to sleep on your left side!!! At 10 and 18 weeks, have your baby's estimated placental volume (EPV) measured, this will let you know how the placenta is functioning in relation to your baby (there is an app for your IPhone). At 20 weeks on the anatomy scan, make sure the baby's heart, umbilical cord and placenta are visualized for normal construction and placement; count 10 fingers and 10 toes! Begin a daily journal of your baby's moments at this time.

Insist on an additional ultrasound (an ultrasound is the only way your baby's umbilical cord and placenta can be seen) around 28 weeks to check the umbilical cord and placenta as I have mentioned above. If there is a problem, work with your health care team for a close monitoring solution such as ultrasounds, daily home fetal rate heart home monitoring, Biophysical Profiles (BPP) and Fetal Non Stress Tests (NST), etc. Begin kick counting now three times a day and remember a change in baby's movements such as speeding up or slowing down or changes in sleep-wake cycles could be the sign of a compromised baby. Don't ever hesitate to voice your questions and concerns to your healthcare team, and request additional testing and ultrasounds during this pregnancy.

Your baby may experience “hiccups” which will first be noticed as soft, regular, rhythmic movements in the same place. As your pregnancy progresses, they will feel stronger and will eventually feel like hiccups except in your abdomen!!! Your baby’s hiccups should decrease as your pregnancy advances. Many babies have hiccups and have no problems but past 30 weeks your baby should not have hiccups every day. If your baby has daily hiccups, hiccups lasting longer than 15 minutes, or hiccups occurring more than 3 – 4 times in 24 hours, your baby should be evaluated for umbilical cord issues.

Check out the websites for Group B Strep (GBS), CMV, Toxoplasmosis, etc. Most health care professionals don't mention these viral/bacterial infections to moms, which may be asymptomatic. You can go to the March of Dimes or the CDC websites for some great info. Awareness, a proactive attitude and vigilance is now a must for all pregnant women. With short visits, health care teams are not mentioning the simplest most preventable steps, which can be taken to help ensure your baby arrives safely alive and kicking.

Getting to know your baby's movements is imperative. Don’t ever hesitate to call your doctor, midwife or health care team with any questions and concerns you may have ~ they are there to educate and inform you ~ that’s their job!!! And, trust your gut.

Empowering moms to ask simple questions and become their baby'sguardian will help to ensure a happy, healthy and hearty delivery day for all. And I must say, Rainbow Babies ROCK!!! xo

 

[frsttimemama]

Thank you! I am very blessed to have great doctors taking care of me. They listen to everything and won't hesitate to check it out if I have even a slight concern. I have many ultrasounds coming up. I appreciate your information! I didn't know a lot of that.