need to vent :(

mmsweeney1 · May 2014

So I went to my normal appointment and glucose test today and pulled out my usual list of questions for the doctor. I told her that the ultrasound tech mentioned at our anatomy scan that the cord was at the edge of the placenta and that it hasn't been mentioned to me since then. The doctor looked up the report (which she apparently hadn't seen or noticed before!?) and said it's actually a velamentous cord insertion. Well I have read about that issue before, so I was mad/upset that no one felt the need to tell me I had this. The worst part is I had a terrible complication last time with an IUFD at 39 weeks so I am supposed to be watched so closely by this new OB and the MFM. Neither of them saw this on the report until I mentioned it. I just wonder........ 1. Why can I not just have a normal pregnancy? 2. Why can I not have competent doctors?

Rough day

megbmeg · May 2014

I'm sorry!! It's scary to feel like your doc isn't giving you all the info or paying close enough attention.

rmpar29 · May 2014

I'm so sorry that this is happening!!! Huge (((((((((HUGS))))))))) and I hope they get their act together!

mmsweeney1 · May 2014

Thank you! I needed some sympathy today. I think I'll eat some ice cream to drown my sorrows now that the glucose test is over!

becky7683 · May 2014

I actually have velamentous cord insertion too ... and have had issues with different advice from different doctors. I'd be happy to chat if you need to!

princezjk · May 2014

((((Big Hugs)))) I am so sorry that your docs aren't being more proactive with you. I feel like my doctor is always telling me stay calm, but I also feel like if I am not on top of things asking, something could slip through the cracks. I hope that now that everyone is on the same page, you will get the right monitoring. More ((((hugs))))

mmsweeney1 · May 2014

@princezjk My doctor told me not to worry too, but I just can't let things go this time around. She always tells me how she worried after her own miscarriage at 10 weeks and bought a doppler and gave herself ultrasounds all the time. But getting all the way to 39 weeks and having our baby die has made me worry that nothing is ever safe!

@becky7683 Thanks for replying. Do your doctors recommend a c-section? I had already talked to my doctors about inducing around 37 weeks and they are fine with inducing me even with the cord. Then I read online how risky vaginal birth can be...

becky7683 · May 2014

@mmsweeney1 - my doctors didn't recommend a c-section, but they all seem to have slightly different opinions (I'm in a practice with 6 doctors). Most of them think I can go vaginally, but after talking to one of them seriously about the risks he said that I could go vaginally, but there's a strong chance I'd end up with a c-section because the vessels get compressed during contractions and the baby's heart rate would go down. So, my husband and I have opted for a c-section during the 39th week. They would only take the baby at 37 weeks if I had vasa previa (where the cord insertion or vessels are across the cervix) and thankfully I don't. Some of the doctors are still questioning my choice, but some tell me it's the safest. It's hard to make decisions when not everyone is on the same page! I also have an extra lobe to my placenta which helped my decision. There's a velamentous cord insertion group on babycenter (if you google it) that has a lot of success stories and made me feel a lot better. A lot of the stories on google are scary, but I think many of these women had vasa previa. Just have them do an internal ultrasound with a color doppler to check that your cervix is vessel free - apparently that's the only way to be 100% it's just vasa previa. Please let me know if you have any questions or just want to chat!

mmsweeney1 · May 2014

@becky7683 Thanks for the info - I will definitely be checking out the baby center group! I was told my placenta is higher up so it's not vasa previa, but we have an ultrasound in a couple of weeks just to confirm. I also want to know how far away the insertion is from the placenta. I have my regular OB and an MFM and both are comfortable with a vaginal birth. But I am terrified of losing another baby right at the end, especially if it was something I could prevent.

Since I found out about VCI yesterday, I must admit I feel like everything is extra fragile... like when the baby is really moving around I want her to calm down so she won't yank the cord out! I know that's not how it works, but it seems to be my knee-jerk reaction. Have you read anything about the risks of the baby compressing the cord since it's not protected?

I'm glad to have found someone else with this condition just to share some of this stuff! How far along are you? I'm sure I'll keep in touch !

becky7683 · May 2014

@mmsweeney1 - anytime! I totally understand the fear of the baby pulling or compressing the cord ... I have the same worries, but my doctors never mentioned anything about it. I think compression is more likely than pulling it out, but not until the baby is much bigger. Right now I'm 38 weeks. I started having non-stress tests and biophysical profiles once a week at 36 weeks. Before that I had growth ultrasounds once a month to make sure baby was gaining enough weight - that seemed to be the doctors biggest concern (I guess the nutrition can be different due to the cord insertion). I'm counting down the days until I don't have to stress about this cord - though I'm sure the stress will shift to something else.

Keep me posted on what your doctors say!

JCM285 · May 2014

I'm so sorry and you have every right to be mad. Nothing is more frustrating than when doctors without/do not acknowledge important information during such an important period of time as pregnancy!!

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