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What Are The Possible Effects On Fetus When Diagnosed With Velamentous Cord Insertion?
Question: i have been diagnosed today with a velamentus cord insertion and apparently the cord is running along or closed to the cervix and my placenta is laying low and the cord is attached completely away from the placenta. I'm 16 weeks and 4 days pregnant. This is my first and only pregnancy and i'm 38 years old. I received ivf because my husband had had a vasectomy 1o years ago. So we had sperm extraction, egg retrieval, embryo freezing and embryo transfer. I was told that if the placenta moves away from the cervix because of the uterine expansion and if the cord moves as well i can be ok but if not I will need to be hospitalized and watched closely to be induced earlier and receive a c-section. My worry is the proper growth of the baby if the umbilical cord did not insert in the placenta.
how is this affecting my baby? how and why did this happened? i have been exercising for the pregnancy? Should I stop?
how is this affecting my baby? how and why did this happened? i have been exercising for the pregnancy? Should I stop?
Brief Answer:
Increased risk of cord rupture during labour
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Velamentous cord insertion means that the umbilical cord is inserted in the fetal membranes instead of the middle of the placenta, which is its normal position. In this condition, the cord is not covered with protective wharton jelly, and hence there are increased riskof its rupture during delivery. If such a cord lies near the cervix,there is a high chance that it may rupture causing fetal death as soon as the labour starts.This condition is known as vasa previa.
Velamentous cord insertion will not affect the fetus before labour, but poses high risk of fetal death at the start of labour.
Velamentous cord insertion is common in IVF pregnancies, because the embryo implantation in lower uterine segment during the embro transfer procedure.
You should not do rigorous exercises as the this can cause cord rupture.
You should get a elective caesarean section at 37-38 weeks pregnancy, or emergency caesarean section if the labour starts early, to prevent cord rupture.
I suggest you not to worry and be positive and hopeful.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma.
Increased risk of cord rupture during labour
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Velamentous cord insertion means that the umbilical cord is inserted in the fetal membranes instead of the middle of the placenta, which is its normal position. In this condition, the cord is not covered with protective wharton jelly, and hence there are increased riskof its rupture during delivery. If such a cord lies near the cervix,there is a high chance that it may rupture causing fetal death as soon as the labour starts.This condition is known as vasa previa.
Velamentous cord insertion will not affect the fetus before labour, but poses high risk of fetal death at the start of labour.
Velamentous cord insertion is common in IVF pregnancies, because the embryo implantation in lower uterine segment during the embro transfer procedure.
You should not do rigorous exercises as the this can cause cord rupture.
You should get a elective caesarean section at 37-38 weeks pregnancy, or emergency caesarean section if the labour starts early, to prevent cord rupture.
I suggest you not to worry and be positive and hopeful.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Deepti Verma
OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Practicing since :2009
Answered : 5064 Questions
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