[Cecelia87]

I was diagnosed with Placenta Previa at 20 weeks but at my 29 weeks ultrasound last week I was told it had corrected itself but "just barely" and was now just a low lying placenta. He also saw the baby was breach and stated that the umbilical cord was near my cervix which meant I had Vasa Previa. I'm not on any restrictions, he said not to be concerned with my placenta previa anymore, and he simply said if I go into labor it will be a "chinese fire drill" and they'll have to do a c-section right away. Was I misdiagnosed or did he refer to the umbilical cord being under the baby as a simple way to explain it to me? He said it will fix itself and to not worry about it. Everything I've read tells me it's extremely serious and has to do with vessels not just the placement of the cord. I feel like he's brushing it off which makes me think he misdiagnosed me, isn't telling me the real facts, or doesn't know how serious it is. I go for another ultrasound in two weeks

[DoulaLC]

Do you know if this is true vasa previa or just the cord itself low lying? If true vasa previa, my opinion is that he is taking a great risk by allowing you to go into spontanious labor. If the cord itself is low lying, this very well can move just as the placenta can.

Did he say whether another scan will be done in a few weeks time? I would push for one to check both cord and placenta placement at that time.

[Cecelia87]

He said it was vasa previa and told me they'd be keeping an eye on it and that he'd written it in multiple spots on my chart so that they check for it at my follow up ultrasound in 2 weeks.

[DoulaLC]

When you see him for your next visit, I'd ask him about concerns of membranes rupturing as your onset of labor or the possibility of some cervical effacement and dilation occurring prior to labor. Both of these would be cause for concern and there would be no way to know whether either might take place.

[ambjuju]

Your doctors attitude is not acceptable. It sounds like he diagnosed you correctly but his concern for the condition is not where it should be. The concerns is not just labor, it is also the fact that most women dilate some before going into labor, if this happens and your water broke the cord could prolapse and this would cut off the blood and oxygen supply to your baby, possibly ending in death. Were talking a matter of minutes where the brain will remain undamaged without oxygen. I think frequent ultrasounds and cervical exams to check for dilation should be done. I also think that you should either express your concerns and see what your ob is willing to do and/or get a second opinion.