Vasa Previa in Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Vasa Previa is one of the rarest complications that occur during pregnancy. In this condition, some of the blood vessels that connect the fetal umbilical cord to the placenta go across or run through the close proximity of the internal opening of the cervix. These blood vessels remain unprotected and are always at a risk of rupturing whenever there is a chance of breakage of the membrane. In this case, there is a high chance that the baby can lose a lot of blood and the mother can also face some serious complications.

According to the National Library of Medicine, in almost 56% of cases, undiagnosed Vasa Previa can cause stillbirth. Whereas the same study shows that detection during pregnancy, there is a 97% chance of survival of the fetus.

Causes of Vasa Previa During Pregnancy

Usually, amniotic sacs protect the placental and umbilical cord blood vessels. With Vasa Previa, a few blood vessels can be seen outside the sac, and this causes those vessels to remain unprotected.

Some of the major causes of Vasa Previa are

1. Velamentous Insertion of the Umbilical Cord

This is a complicated situation where the umbilical cord itself inserts into the amniotic membrane than the placenta. This causes the baby’s blood vessels to stretch along the membrane from the point of insertion to the placenta. Thus, the blood vessels do not get the protection of the amniotic sac.

2. Multi-Lobed Placenta

In some critical cases, the placenta splits into two or three lobes. The membrane plays a vital role in this split. The exact cause of this complication is not yet known. It may be due to genetics, maternal age, a history of epilepsy, diabetes, smoking during pregnancy, or excessive vomiting. If the umbilical cord gets into one of these membranes due to any other reason, it can cause Vasa Previa.

3. Placenta Previa

Sometimes doctors observe that the placenta gets attached to the bottom part of the uterus and covers the cervix partially or fully. This situation is called Placenta Previa or low-lying Placenta. This is also one reason for Vasa Previa.

[Read : Placenta Previa]

What Are the Signs And Symptoms of Vasa Previa?

No such prominent symptoms are associated with Vasa Previa. It sometimes happens that women have dark-coloured vaginal bleeding without any pain and occurs during the second or third trimesters. If the bleeding is dark in colour, this may cause severe criticality. As the blood of the unborn baby does not have enough oxygen in it, the colour appears darker. It shows that the blood is coming from the fetus, not from the mother.

Who Are at Risk For Vasa Previa?

Women who have certain conditions are at more risk for Vasa Previa. Here are the conditions that can increase the risk

• If the woman has Placenta Previa where the cervix is partially or fully covered by the placenta
• In the case of IVF (In vitro fertilization), there is a risk of Vasa Previa
• Pregnancy with multiple babies
• Pregnancy in the later stage of life
• Chronic health conditions like diabetes
• Habit of smoking

[Read : Your Comprehensive Guide to an IVF Treatment]

Diagnosis of Vasa Previa in Pregnancy

This complication can be identified during the routine prenatal checkup. While performing the ultrasound, if your doctor detects this situation, they can perform a transvaginal ultrasound. There is another procedure, the Doppler colour flow test which indicates the conditions and situations of your blood vessels.

[Read : Doppler Scan During Pregnancy]

What Treatment Options Are Available For Vasa Previa?

Unfortunately, there is no proper way to prevent this critical condition. The early your doctor detects Vasa Previa and starts to manage the situation, the chances of the baby’s survival increase.

• Usually, to check the condition of the blood vessels, your doctor may ask you for frequent checkups and ultrasound examinations. The main aim the doctor will be to have close monitoring and allow the pregnancy to progress for as long as possible (almost up to 35 weeks).
• Looking into your condition, your doctor may advise you to admit to the hospital where they can perform close monitoring and total rest for you.
• Assessing your health condition and the condition of the fetus, the doctor can also advise for a Caesarian section (C-section) between 35 and 37 weeks of gestation.
• In the case of early delivery, there are certain risks for the newly born baby. But these are less critical than if labor progresses normally without the detection of Vasa Previa.

There is no doubt that Vasa Previa in pregnancy is a critical condition and needs many restrictions. Close monitoring, regular checkups, complete bed rest, and all as per the doctor’s advice. But this is a very rare condition. If it gets detected at an earlier stage and managed well, there is a high chance that the fetus remains safe.

FAQ’s

1. What is the Survival Rate of Babies With Vasa Previa?

Vasa Previa is a critical situation where there are no treatment options or prevention methods. Early detection during the early stage of your pregnancy and proper diagnosis results in an almost 97% chance of survival of the fetus.

2. Can Vasa Previa Cause Birth Defects?

Vasa Previa can cause birth defects in cases of rupture of blood vessels. In most cases, stillbirths are common, especially if it is a vaginal delivery. Having said that, timely detection and proper management by an experienced OBGYN can ensure safe delivery through C-section.

3. Can Vasa Previa be Seen in Ultrasound?

Yes, during the regular prenatal treatment and checkups, health parameters detect the conditions of the blood vessels through ultrasound. Usually, to get a better understanding of Vasa Previa, doctors perform a transvaginal ultrasound by inserting a probe into the uterus.

Read Also: Emergency C-Sections – Reasons, Risks And Recovery