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2	"Vasa Previa" Vasa Previa Information provided by: the International Vasa Previa Foundation, Inc.
3	What is Vasa Previa? Vasa previa is a rarely reported condition (1:2,500 births) in which fetal blood vessels from the placenta or umbilical cord cross the entrance to the birth canal, beneath the baby.
4	Vasa Previa
5	Two Forms of Vasa Previa Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord Normal cord insertion with vessels running between placental lobes in a bi-lobed or succenturiate (accessory) lobed placenta
6	Velamentous Cord Insertion Velamentous insertion means that the fetal vessels, unprotected by Wharton’s jelly, traverse the membranes before they come together into the umbilical cord.
7	Bilobed Placenta A bilobed placenta consists of two parts of the placenta. Vasa previa may result from vessels running in the membranes between the two lobes.
8	Succenturiate Lobed Placenta A succenturiate (accessory) lobe is a second or third placental lobe that is much smaller than the largest lobe.
9	Risk Factors Low lying placenta or placenta previa Velamentous cord insertion Bilobed or succenturiate lobed placenta Multiple pregnancies In vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies History of uterine surgery or D & C Painless bleeding
10	Routine Ultrasound The IVPF believes that any woman with the previous conditions should be thoroughly scanned with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound for the presence of aberrant vessels near the internal os. The IVPF also supports making color Doppler scanning of the placental end of the cord a standard part of the protocol during all routine obstetrical ultrasounds.
11	Management of Diagnosed Vasa Previa Bedrest Hospital admission in the third trimester Steroid injections to promote fetal lung maturation Elective Cesarean section at 35 weeks
12	How to Diagnose Vasa Previa Vasa previa can be diagnosed by using transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound.
13	What to Do When Vasa Previa Is Suspected after a Bleed Emergency C-section Aggressive resuscitation of the baby with blood transfusion following delivery Ogita blood testing to determine origin of blood loss (maternal or fetal) for abnormally heavy bloody shows or bleeds that are not considered life threatening when the fetus is not in distress
14	International Vasa Previa Foundation The International Vasa Previa Foundation agrees that vasa previa can, but should not, be a devastating complication of pregnancy. The goals of the IVPF are to raise awareness about vasa previa and seek to adjust the medical rules and protocols worldwide such that fatal outcomes associated with vasa previa can be prevented.
15	"It only takes a moment" It only takes a moment to diagnose life…
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