There are many blessings in life but I am truly blessed to have my little boy, Noah.  My husband and I tried for 4 years to conceive.  We were both getting older and the natural way was not working for us.  So we decided to try IUI and when that didn’t work we went right to IVF.  I got pregnant the first time around so we were super lucky. 

     The pregnancy was going along smoothly until my 20 week ultrasound.  My doctor called us into her office and told us that I had placenta previa and I would need to go for a level 2 ultrasound.  After my level 2 ultrasound they discovered that I had vasa previa.  In all the years my doctor has been practicing she has never seen a vasa previa.  There’s always a first.  Of course the first thing I did was jump on the internet.  Luckily I found the International Vasa Previa Foundation (IVPF).  The support I got from the foundation and from Dr. Oyelese was amazing.  I will be forever grateful. 

     I had to scheduled ultrasounds every 4 weeks to make sure the baby and I were ok.  I did start to ask when I would be admitted and the doctor (not my OBGYN) said there was no need and I would be fine.  As I continued to read and talk with others who had similar situations I felt the risk was too big.  So I wrote a letter to my doctor (used template on the IVPF web site).  Plus I talked to my OBGYN and finally they listened. 

     I was admitted to Brigham and Women’s hospital on April 13th at 32 weeks.  I was supposed to deliver Noah on April 27 but the doctor (same one that didn’t want to admit me) would not deliver the baby unless I agreed to an amnio which I was totally against.  But my husband and I weighed the options and we felt that this was the only way she would do the C-section.  Unfortunately the baby’s lungs weren’t developed enough at 34 weeks so she wouldn’t deliver him.  I was devastated to say the least.  I was so afraid that my membranes would burst which is the worst possible thing to happen with this condition even if you are in a hospital.  I waited another week.  I did have some minor contractions but nothing major. 

     On May 1st at 35 weeks my little miracle was born.  The doctor who delivered told me I was one lucky lady because if we would have waited any longer the membranes would have burst and I think we all know what that means.  It brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.  One because all along I felt very alone and that I was the only one fighting to save my baby so by the doctor saying that to me it made me feel justified.  No one really understood how serious the condition is, except for all of you at the vasa foundation and a handful of doctors.  And of course I cry for joy that my son was born, happy and healthy.  My outcome was positive because I was persistent and because I had the International Vasa Previa Foundation.  Thank you all for encouraging me and supporting me.  I will never forget.

~ Meri Grogan