Your #firstlook at the placenta that supported this baby's life, while simultaneously threatening it. Sound complicated? Read on! ➡️ #firstlookfriday Vasa previa, sketched here by a Calgary OB, is a rare pregnancy complication, occurring in approximately 1 in every 2,500 births. The placenta drawn top left is typical, where the umbilical cord inserts into your placenta. The placenta drawn at the bottom shows Type II Vasa previa, where the placenta has become bilobed (split into two halves), with the umbilical cord connecting one lobe to the other (rather than inserted directly into one half). With vasa previa, not only are the blood vessels of the umbilical cord more exposed, but they are also low lying in the part of the birth canal that’s vulnerable to pressure during childbirth. Vasa previa is a clear indication for a Caesarean section birth; no amount of enhanced monitoring or tests could turn this into a safe labor or vaginal birth for baby or birth-giver. Many of us spe...