.:*Velamentous Insertion*:.

An abnormal condition in which the umbilical cord does not insert into the placental mass but, instead, traverses the fetal membranes before it inserts into the umbilical cord. The main danger is vasa previa, a condition in which the blood vessels may be lodged between the fetus and the entrance to the birth canal. The unprotected vessels may rupture at any time during pregnancy, causing fetal hemorrhage and death.

                                                      Normal Placenta                                                          Velamentous Insertion Placenta

Above is a picture of a normal placenta(left) and a velamentous insertion of the placenta(right).

The difference between the two umbilical cords and placentas is very small, but very important.

As you can see, the vessel from the cords are not laying within the V.I. placenta like they are in the normal placenta.

In Dominic's case and all other babies who's placenta's are like this, the vessels hemorrhage

and stillbirth becomes inevitable. Despite what many people think, the babies who are stillborn from this

are 100% healthy. If not for the formation of the placenta, they would still be alive on earth.

Causes:

Two theories of pathogenesis:
• (1)Abnormal implantation with embryo facing away from endometrium

 so that vessels have to reach chorionic plate through membrane
• (2) Trophotropism where placenta has "wandered" by atrophying on one side

 and proliferating on the other (away from cervix and placenta previa to fundus)

with the result that the cord may be left in the membranes
• Neither theory proven and condition is not genetic

Statistics:

Velamentous Insertion occurs in 1% of singleton births(one baby).

It's more heavily associated with twinning and single umbilical artery.

Most of these go undetected.

Note from Dom's Mom:

Ever since Dominic's birth, people have given me loads of grief that I chose not to have

an autopsy performed on my son. I knew he was perfect and I know he still is

and so doing that was pointless. I have fought hard to prove it wasn't him that had the problem

and still whenever I tell people "No I elected NOT to have an autopsy"

the look on their faces is sometimes very dissatisfying, almost like I can taste the foul characteristics of their shock.

Automatically, they assume that there was something wrong with my Dominic, but NOW

I have his pathology report in my hand, in black and white for ALL to see. My beautiful son would still be here

if that umbilical cord had just held strong a bit longer. This happens to just ONE PERCENT of non-twin babies, further

supporting that God chose my child to be an angel and chose us(his parents) to be lucky enough to have him.

I mean, out of all the people in the world, two twenty year olds and their only glimmer of hope

was taken away. Babies dont just die... there is ALWAYS a medical reason, but Anthony and I were just lucky

enough to find out the medical reasons of why... now if we could only talk to God and find out His reasoning.

I recieved Dominic's pathology report on March 3rd, 2008.

It took me a long bit of time to build enough strength to call and get it, but I did.

I thought I did something wrong and the times I considered getting it before, I decided not to in fear

I would open that envelope and see that my babies heart stopped beating because of me.