Management of vasa previa
If you’re diagnosed with vasa previa, your healthcare provider will schedule a c-section delivery. Your provider will monitor your pregnancy carefully to maximize the amount of time you’re pregnant while taking care to deliver the baby before you run the risk of going into labor. Your pregnancy plan may include: Non-stress tests. Your provider may schedule you for regular (around twice a week) non-stress tests. These tests assess your fetus’s heart rate and are completely safe for both you and the fetus. Corticosteroids. Your provider may prescribe corticosteroids to help the fetus’s lungs develop in preparation for a c-section delivery. Inpatient management. Your provider may recommend that you go to the hospital early so you can be closely monitored in the days leading up to delivery. Your provider will consider factors like your medical history, your likelihood of going into labor, and how far away you are from the hospital to decide if this is necessary. A scheduled c-section (weeks 34 to 37). Your provider will discuss the risks and benefits of delivery timing in order to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications associated with vasa previa. Many babies require treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit due to early delivery. Your specific pregnancy plan will depend on a number of factors that you should discuss with your provider. Follow their instructions closely to prepare for a successful delivery.