Posted: 05 April 2007 at 11:18pm | IP Logged

Dear Oprah,

     I am writing about an extremely important show idea: a pregnancy condition called vasa previa which potentially takes the life of 55,000 babies worldwide each year and 1,600 in the US alone. I have a friend who recently lost her baby to this condition.  She had never heard of the condition and neither she nor her doctors knew that she had the condition until after doctors performed an emergency C-section.

   After my friend’s loss, we found the International Vasa Previa Foundation (IVPF) website IVPF.org. They have many heartbreaking stories of families who went to the hospital to deliver their babies and, instead of joyfully taking a new baby home, they had silence and a funeral. The sad thing is that prenatal diagnosis during routine ultrasound can prevent almost 100% of these deaths. Studies show an additional 20 seconds during a routine ultrasound is needed to detect this condition. But checking for vasa previa is not part of the standard of care. It is our hope that you will help us change this.

     Last month after The Sunday Times in the UK published information, facts, and testimonials from parents whose babies had died due to this condition, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists decided to change their guidelines on diagnosing vasa previa; pregnant women in the UK will now be screened during routine ultrasound at 20 wks, subsequently preventing babies from dying.

     Please help save these babies in the US and throughout the world. There are many families who would love to share their story to get the word out about this often tragic condition. The IVPF knows several doctors available for interview who could provide medical information on testing available to detect this condition. The IVPF can be reached at info@vasaprevia.com or by calling 267-790-6693. With your help, someday vasa previa infant deaths will be a thing of the past.

Thank you.

Posted: 05 April 2007 at 11:18pm | IP Logged

Dear Oprah,

     I am writing about an extremely important show idea: a pregnancy condition called vasa previa which potentially takes the life of 55,000 babies worldwide each year and 1,600 in the U.S. alone.  I have a friend who recently gave birth.  She began bleeding upon arrival at the hospital. An emergency C-section was performed and the baby was aggressively resuscitated.  My friend’s son miraculously survived, but most babies with undiagnosed vasa previa do not survive. 

     Afterwards we found the International Vasa Previa Foundation (IVPF) website IVPF.org. They have many heartbreaking stories of families who went to the hospital to deliver their babies and, instead of joyfully taking a new baby home, they had silence and a funeral. The sad thing is that prenatal diagnosis during routine ultrasound can prevent almost 100% of these deaths. Studies show an additional 20 seconds during a routine ultrasound is needed to detect this condition. But checking for vasa previa is not part of the standard of care. It is our hope that you will help us change this.

     Last month after The Sunday Times in the UK published information, facts, and testimonials from parents whose babies had died due to this condition, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists decided to change their guidelines on diagnosing vasa previa; pregnant women in the UK will now be screened during routine ultrasound at 20 wks, subsequently preventing babies from dying.

     Please help save these babies in the US and throughout the world. There are many families who would love to share their story to get the word out about this often tragic condition. The IVPF knows several doctors available for interview who could provide medical information on testing available to detect this condition. The IVPF can be reached at info@vasaprevia.com or by calling 267-790-6693. With your help, someday vasa previa infant deaths will be a thing of the past.

Thank you.