[Erin84]

We had our last meeting today with our midwife, Susan, who got a copy of our hospital records from UCSD Medical Center - Hillcrest. The three of us sat down and went over the records in detail, and I'll share this now.


There was definitely a velamentous cord insertion present. This is when the cord is inserted into an outlying portion of the placenta, and not the meat of the placenta itself. Also present is the lack of a protective covering of the cord at the point of insertion, which means that the cord can easily break away from the placenta, and in our case, that's part of what happened. This is found in about 1 in 100 babies.


Additionally, and there is no proof of this because it can't be diagnosed after the baby is born, but the doctors strongly believe vasa previa was also involved. This is when the baby's blood vessels cross the cervix and run between the cervix and the baby, blocking the exit path. This is found in about 1 in 2500 babies. This also could have been why I went into back labor -- because the blood vessels were blocking where his head should have been hitting, and he was therefore deflected into my back.



The things you would expect to see with either of these conditions were not apparent in my pregnancy. Drew was a single baby, and this is more likely to occur in multiples. There was no bleeding, the placenta was placed properly... There really were no warning signs that would have called for either of the high-risk type ultrasounds needed to diagnose VCI or VP.


Also found was that blood was not properly circulating through the placenta, the cord was unusually short, and the placenta itself was very small, in the bottom 10% for size, none of which would be fatal if it weren't for the blood loss he experienced.



After Drew was born and they were working to get the placenta out, that's when they discovered that the cord had torn away at some point during labor and/or delivery. This is one thing that would have led to his 50% blood-loss. Him crossing the potential vasa previa is another thing that could have caused him to bleed so profusely, although again, that is just suspected (although highly suspected), and the VCI is for certain.


I was allowed to push him out because I was "complete," meaning I was fully dilated, fully effaced, and he was already engaged in the birth canal (+2 station). They wanted to do an emergency C-Section, but when they re-examined me and saw that he was already so deeply engaged, they told me to push him out because it would be faster. Him being so deeply engaged is part of the reason my body's natural expulsive reflex kicked in. There is no assurance that a C-Section would have made things any different, as similar (nearly identical) cases have been presented in which the C-Section did not save the baby's life, since his heart rate was alluding to signs of trauma before I pushed him out. This could have been because of pressure on the VP, or it could have been because the cord was beginning to tear away. But it is certain that VP is fatal when undiagnosed and accompanied by a vaginal delivery.


He was delivered vaginally, with no drugs, an episiotomy that became a 3rd degree tear, and a vacuum-assist.



Poor little guy... His little life was extinguished so quickly... It's just not fair that he didn't even get a real shot at life. But at least we have all the answers we could possibly have now. There are questions that can never be answered, but I guess the "What if"s are just part of life.


Thanks to everyone who has shown us support during such an unbelievably excruciating time in our lives. It means a lot to be surrounded by so much love.

[.:Shortcake:.]

Super big massive hugs! Thank you for sharing you & Andrew's story.

[lindsey2000k]

You are such a brave woman for what you went through.
The loss you had was so much greater than anything I could even imagine.


I hope this information helps with TTC again.

[MeganMomof5]

Erin (((Hugs)))...I understand it's so hard to go over things that happened...I remember that appointment I had just like it was yesterday...I know for me it made me feel better, knowing that it was nothing that anyone did wrong...Just pure bad luck...I also wanted to say that I had the same thing happen to me when I was born...My cord had pulled away from the placenta during my mom's labor (Over half the placenta was also dead too)...I was very ill when I was born, and they thought for sure i'd have massive brain damage etc....I'll keep you and Drew in my prayers (((Hugs))) again

[KDD]

T&P for you and Andrew.

[luvmykids623]

Great big to you! I've told you this before, but you are an amazingly strong woman, and he is such a precious, beautiful little boy! Thank you for sharing Drew's story.

[ohnicole]

Erin, the whole situation is so sad for your little boy and for you and your DH. The other ladies are right- you are a very strong person!

[asunflower]

Thank you for sharing. I hope there is some closure for you and your family now. You are a strong woman and I could not have imagined going through anything like that. God bless you and your family.

[mmllhh]

Erin, I had no idea that you went thru this. My heart breaks for you. I cannot even imagine having to endure this.

[TnPhotoMama81]

Originally Posted by luvmykids623

Great big to you! I've told you this before, but you are an amazingly strong woman, and he is such a precious, beautiful little boy! Thank you for sharing Drew's story.

I couldn't agree more. <3 and hugs

[Joanna1127]

sending you massive hugs!

[Halfbaked]

You are such an amazing person. Drew is lucky to have you as a mom.

[j&jmom]

Thank you for sharing your story. My heart breaks for you.

[Tammyms]

I am new to the board, but wow, I'm so sorry for what you've been through!

[*Tracy*]

[StaceygirlPa]

Erin, Sending you lots of hugs. Thank you for sharing Drew's story with us. I agree with all the other ladies. You are a very strong women.

[KCMomma]

I too am new to this board and want to say that I admire your strength. Thank you for sharing all of that information. I can't even begin to imagine what you went through and have no idea what I would do. Thank you for being you and for having the strength to move forward. Sending you all of my prayers.

[OwensMommy25]

Wow, your body and Drew had so much working against them. I'm glad you got the information. *big Hug* You are very strong!

[Brittanie]

Wow, that's a lot to digest!

So are they going to give you those in-depth ultrasounds now, just in case?

[missy123]

Your story is heartbreaking. I am so sorry (Hugs). It took a lot of courage to share that with us.