Definition: A situation where the umbilical cord inserts into the fetal membranes (amnion and chorion), rather than the body of the placenta. This occurs in about 1% of singleton pregnancies and about 8-9% of twin pregnancies. Around 8% of these pregnancies will also have another complication, including vasa previa. This can be diagnosed using a color doppler ultrasound during your pregnancy. It can increase the risk of stillbirth but may also be found after an uneventful birth during the normal placental exam.
Examples:
There was a velamentous cord insertion found on placental exam after the birth.
