A pre-labour c-section could have saved Freya

After spending a lot of unnecessary time on things that are not very significant in the grand scheme of things recently, I was sent this article by my friend Sharon, who has kindly agreed to let me post her story on my blog.

Like so many of my friends I met Sharon because she received one of our Joshua's Boxes this summer. Anyone who subsequently contacts us, I follow up. Due to our endless late night conversations ! we became email friends.

I have endless admiration for her, and her long path and struggle to becoming a parent. Despite all the problems and great sadness she has endured, she still has time and energy to devote herself to raising very publically the profile of this charity and the work they do.

I wish her every success, she is truly an inspiration to me!

Please read this article and pass on the information included to prevent this most terrible of conditions happening.

"A pre-labour c-section could have saved Freya"

Published date: 01 February 2012 | 

Published by: Rhian Waller

A FAMILY whose beloved baby died just hours after birth are raising awareness of a potentially deadly pregnancy complication.

Simon Cheffings of Rhyl and his wife Sharon who now live in Holywell recently launched an appeal to raise funds and spread information about Vasa Praevia.

The couple were looking forward to the arrival of daughter Freya, who they conceived using IVF, in August after a gruelling pregnancy, but the healthy 7lb baby suffered a haemorrhage soon into labour and died later at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

Sharon said: “We were told after her death it was confirmed she had Vasa Praevia, and a medical professional said it was are and nothing could be done. But I found out later that one in 2,500 births are affected by it and one in 300 with IFV pregnancies.

“If they had diagnosed it during the pregnancy, I could have had a pre-labour caesarean and she could have survived.”

The couple, who met while working for Flintshire family services, had dealt with nine months of pain and scares, but had been told all was going to plan when they had a scan just hours before Sharon’s waters broke while she was visiting friends.

Sharon, 34, said: “That was until I looked down to check and the terrifying realisation that I was haemorrhaging blood everywhere hit me. It was like a scene out of a horror film, the blood was everywhere.

“Then the terror struck me, I shouted my husband then waited for what felt like an eternity for the ambulance. Thank goodness for my husband and our friends Nicki and James that night. The ambulance arrived and we rushed to the hospital. The crew were so kind, but we knew we were in serious trouble.”

As Sharon was put under general anaesthetic for an emergency C-section, Simon, 40, was forced to wait outside.

She said: “I told him I loved him and told him to phone family members. I remember asking the nurse on the way if our baby would go straight to my husband when she was born.

“My poor husband was left alone whilst I was put under general. He stood outside the theatre the minutes ticking by, each feeling like hours.

“He had to make those terrible calls to family, was worried about me and our baby. I can’t begin to understand how horrendous that time was for him. Many people often forget about the fathers. The staff were amazing. They did everything possible.”

Despite the best efforts of the Glan Clwyd midwives and doctors, Freya lost a great deal of blood and died a few hours after her birth.

Sharon said: “It was catastrophic. I can’t describe it any other way. All the excitement and things you are looking forward to in a second turn to terror.

“The only consolation is that we can raise awareness and hopefully stop people going through the same thing. So many families we’ve got in touch with have been in the same situation. It’s tragic.”

To help Sharon and Simon’s cause and to read their whole story, visit the website :www.justgiving.com/Freya-Lilian-Marie-Cheffings.

Vasa Praevia facts:

Vasa Praevia is a condition that affects the umbilical cord and occurs when blood vessels cross the entrance to the birth canal.
When the baby moves during labour, this can compress or tear the vessels leading to oxygen deprivation or haemorrhage.
The condition can be detected through a Colour Doppler Ultrasound scan, but these are not routinely used.
The following signs can indicate Vasa Praevia risk:

• Painless bleeding in pregnancy
• A low lying placenta/placenta praevia
• A IVF/twin/multiple pregnancy
• A history of uterine surgery
• A previous c-section/ or dilation and curettage
• A velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord
• A bilobed or succenturiate lobed placenta