A friend I have known for many years (Sharon Cheffings & her husband Simon) who I met through work had IVF and after 7 years of trying for a family were pregnant with a full term, healthy baby girl....we would talk about pregnancy in work and the joys of parenthood, me being a dad to a beautiful little girl already and another baby on the way.....but then tragedy struck one night when Sharon suffered a huge bleed and her daugher was later born by emergency c-section. Undiagnosed Vasa Praevia stole the life of their little girl just 3hrs and 42mins after her birth. But baby Freya, a full term healthy baby, could have lived..... please read why Im helping to raise awareness and funds for VPRA in Freya's memory.

Vasa Praevia affects 1 in 2,500 pregnancies and 1 in 300 IVF pregnancies. It occurs when one or more of the baby's blood/umbillical vessels cross the entrance to the birth canal beneath the baby. With the onset of labour these vessels can become compressed or tear causing rapid fetal haemorraghe. These are full term healthy babies...it is labour that s catastrophic! (see the picture in my gallery)

Sadly 95% of cases not diagnosed before birth will result in the death of a full term healthy baby at or shortly after birth, the few that survive suffer harrowing birth experiences and risk serious complications such as brain damage and life long disability.

However this can all be prevented!! When diagnosed in pregnancy by a simple colour doppler ultrasound scan and a management plan is observed there is a 100% infant survival rate (as an early c section can take place before the onset of labour). Full term healthy babies need not die at birth!! we just need to be aware of the risks so screening can take place as currently VP is not routinely screened for.

Women in high risk groups include: bleeding in pregnancy, low lying/placenta preavia ( if this later rises in pregnancy the risk of VP must be eliminated!) IVF/twin/multiple pregnancies, velemantous insertion of the umbillical cord, bi-lobed or succenturiate lobed placenta, history of uterine surgery/c-section/D&C

Sharon was in at least four of these high risk groups and despite RCOG guidelines published Jan 2011 was not told about or reffered fro screening of VP. Sharon & Simon are urging everyone, especially pregnant women and medical proffessionals to be aware of the risks, to ask about VP at antenatal appointments and to join VPRA - vasa praevia raising awareness ( who also have a facebook page) . They also ask that you share this information and encourage everyone to visit  www.vasapraevia.co.uk today to help save a baby's life...........

Please keep an eye on my page for further information about my fundraising event..........

I will be taking on the three peaks challenge on the 30th June 2012. I know times are hard, but please dig deep for such a worth while cause. But more importantly spread the word about Vasa Praevia! my two good friends Jami jennings & James Bellis are also taking part take a look at their links on Freya's team page.

You can read Freya's full story on Sharon & Simon's page by clicking on Freya's team page below.

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