Posted: 09 February 2005 at 12:32pm | IP Logged

My wife, Jamie, and I are friends of Bryce and Miriam Gerritsen.  We are expecting our third daughter in April.  At the ultrasound for determining gender, we asked about Vasa Previa, and if he could check for it.  He basically pooh-poohed us and said that it was rare.  We explained that we had friend affected by it, and what can we do to check for it, and he just blew us off again.  We didn't ask again.

How do you convince a doctor who is sure he knows everything about babies that Vasa Previa is not as rare as he thinks?

Can anyone offer suggestions about how bring it up and how to get RESULTS and COOPERATION from your doctor?

Posted: 11 February 2005 at 6:23pm | IP Logged

Mark,

That's a wonderful question.  If anyone else has had a successful experience with their doctor checking for Vasa Previa, please reply. 
This morning I spoke with a lady in the ultrasound department at the UofU hospital.  She said they have only been checking for the past 2 years, for VP.  She has caught 2 cases personally.  According to a study done by the IVPF in 2003, each OBGYN should see it at least once a year.  The problem is that they disregard it.  The best way, that we've found, is to request (or demand, if neccessary) that it be checked for during the ultrasound.  If you have an experienced ultrasonographer, it takes under 15 seconds to look for it.  Also, when choosing a doctor, it's a good idea to ask if he'd check for certain things like that.  If he/she is unwilling at that point, you might consider using a different doctor.  We're fighting an up-hill battle- the doctors don't take it seriously, because they haven't seen it, but rarely.  Consequently, they don't check for it, causing them to "never see it."  My opinion is that VP is extremely mis or under diagnosed.  How many times have you heard of someone that's lost a child to Vasa Previa?  How many times have you heard of someone that's lost a child due to "complications" or lack of oxygen or pre-maturity?  It's certainly not always VP, but we know it occurs more often than it's found. 

In short: I'd demand to be checked for it.  Chances are that you don't have it. . . CHANCES are. 

Posted: 12 February 2005 at 12:24am | IP Logged

So you say it only takes 15 seconds?  Well, he did look and say that the placenta was low-lying and she's going to get that looked at again at her next appointment.  For all I know, he looked and since it wasn't there, he said it was rare.  But we will press the issue again next visit.

Posted: 21 March 2005 at 3:40pm | IP Logged

I should make an update.  We went for a second ultrasound to check on the low-lying placenta, and it has raised up.  The office we go to has a "grab bag" of doctors and we had another one this time.  We told him why we were concerned and he was more helpful.

Also, they upgraded the gender from a girl to a boy.  To be delivered Apr 12.

Posted: 12 April 2005 at 9:16pm | IP Logged

Hi,

I was diagnosed with complete placenta previa at 17 weeks when i experienced bad cramping and spotting. I have since had two more ultrasounds and have just been told that their previous diagnosis was a little off and that I have partial posteria placenta previa and vasa previa aswell. I also have and irritable uterus which makes things very uncomfortable. I have been on bed rest for nearly 7 weeks so far and am at 24 weeks. They think they will deliver by c-section in 10 weeks time. You really do have to be persistant when it comes to Dr's and ultrasound techs. I am learning to be stern in asking for what I want in the way of testing as it is our right for our babies. At least I am thankful that this has been discovered and diagnosed this early on and as long as I stick to Drs orders and stay in bed we should be alright.