Ture knot in umbilical cord??? Are there any links to autism?

[flumpybumpy]

My DS was born 11mths ago with a true knot in the umbilical cord. After a lot of talks with the doctors in hospital and a bit of internet research by me, I have found out that these are very rare, less than 1% of all pregancies and even rarer for the baby to survive. DS was 1 week late and after a 10 hour labour was delivered by EMCS. If he had been born naturally he would have died as the cord would stretched and the knot tightened cutting off the blood supply.

I have since heard that a friends brother had a true knot and also survived but also has autism.

I hadn't really made a connection to this until I started to worry about DS's development (he is only just sitting up and not crawling etc... yet).

Now I can't get this out of my head. I am starting to get irrational about this and in a bit of a state.

Does anyone know of any complications that occur as a result of a true knot or can point me in the right direction where I can find out.

There is not much info on the net as most babies are stillborn so not much is reported about the babies that survive.

FB x

[NotADragonOfSoup]

Well, BabyDragon (18 months) apparently had a knot in hers and was born naturally at home, in a pool. I assume she's fine as she met her milestones early/on time.

[missgriss]

My DS had a true knot in the cord (I didn't even realise until I was pregnant with DD and the consultant was going through my previous pregnancy notes with me!)

He was walking at 9 months and he seem ok so far touch wood (he is 2.3 now)

I wouldn't worry, they all develop at different rates.

[hollyh1075]

Is it possible that your sons delays are due to possible oxygen deprivation during the birthing process? Have the doctors done any testing? I would have him screened by a developmental pediatrician. It also sounds like he would benefit from some therapies to work on sitting up and crawling.
My daughter had a true knot in her umbilical cord... she barely made it. In the process, she suffered very severe brain damage. She just turned four but developmentally she is that of an infant.
Best of luck to you!

[bookthief]

Ds had a true knot in his cord. The midwife pointed it out to me after he was born but didn't seem all that perturbed, just "ooh look at this, very rare".

His heart beat did drop at one point during labour and things got a little panicked but it went back to normal after I was turned onto my side. No one said whether this was to do with the knot but I suppose it might have been. I assumed it only tightened at the end of labour.

Anyway, ds's apgar score was fine and he is developentaly normal so far (9mo) and as I said, no one suggested that there were any problems or potential future ones.

[nbee84]

My ds had a true knot in his cord. He was born after a 2hr labour with a 6 minute 2nd stage, the cord was also round his neck. During the 2nd stage the knot was tightened and he was born with pinprick bruising to his face and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot. His apgar score was 8-9 and they were not worried about possible brain damage, though it was something that prayed on my mind for some time.

He is now 14 and incredibly bright so I think I can relax now about any possible side effects!

[ladytophamhatt]

someone I used to know had a baby with true knot, it had also gorwn into teh skin on his neck so had to be cut to be removed.

He was born by CS too but was a happy, contented, boy. Not signs of any delays at all when I alst saw them a few yrs ago when he woudl have been around 2-3 yr old.

Also my ds2 and ds3 didn't crawl until after yr old. ds3 was sitting at an early age but made no attempt to get mobile. Both didn't walk until about 15-16 months.

[Scotia]

My ds was born naturally with a true knot in the cord. He had a very low apgar score at 1 minute (2) and was resuscitated for several (can't remember exactly how many) minutes. His apgar score at ten minutes was 8. He recovered very well though, and was taken to scbu to be warmedup a bit but brought back to me within half an hour. We were discharged from hospital after twelve hours.

He is now 4 and has just started school, and is very bright for his age, with no lasting problems from his traumatic birth.

Hope that puts your mind a rest a bit

[likessleep]

My DS is 10 months old and had a true knot too, which the midwife said at the time was very rare.
No complications during labour and he has reached all of his developmental milestones - has been sitting up since 5-6 months old and is starting to just get mobile now (he was also 4 weeks early).
Not sure if this helps, but I think all babies develop so differently.

[gotmyhandsfull]

I am so glad to hear so many positive things relating to a true knot. My daughter is 8 weeks old and my GP/HV are frightening me as they are concerned she is not smiling. She was born with a true knot, delivery was very very fast and without complication. I am praying she will be fine.

[123andaway]

I've seen some research tentatively linking hypoxia at birth and autism (DS1 was born a pretty shade of blue and has HFA). Although many children with autism were not oxygen deprived, and many children who were oxygen deprived aren't autistic, statistically it does seem to increase the chances (as do genetics and other environmental factors).

[mongra]

My DS is 11 and severely brain damaged. He had a true knot in his cord. He almost died at birth. He was born weighing only 4 pounds. He is a happy boy though.His mind is like that of a three year old.

[Charliedarling]

Just to put a positive... My daughter was born at 40+6 with a true knot in her cord. She was delivered by forceps after failed vontous healthy and well. She's 4 now and ahead in all subjects at school. I still now search for reasons and possible outcomes of why it happened. I guess it means we were both very lucky! I kept the bit of cord with the knot and dried it out (gross I know) I just had to!

[Sparklingbrook]

DS1 had a true knot. The midwife showed us and declared him a 'lucky boy'. He's 15 now and has had no problems developmentally.

[Dirtypaws]

My ds had a true knot. He was born at home in a birthing pool. As As i understand it, a true knot is only a problem during birth if it gets tightened whilst being delivered. My MW explained that ds's cord was long so posed no problems.

He is 8 now and he is fine

[SantiagoSky]

My DS had two(!) knots in cord, he must have been playing water ballet in the womb. They didn't tighten during birth. He is nearly three now and fine. Maybe ask a doctor if you are concerned?

[bellybuttonfairy]

The umbilical cord is a slippery slidey thing. The vessels are very well protected inside the outer thicker spongy sheath. You would have to pull pretty tightly to have an impact on the circulation. Ive delivered a few babies in my career with these knots. Im suprised there arent more as babies tend to have high activity levels in utero.

I really do not think there is a link to autism.

Infact dc3 had one. I had a quick labour with no complications and he was and is absolutely fine!

[MollyBdenum]

No experience of a true knot but DD sat at 8 months, crawled a week before her first birthday and didn't pull up to standing until she was around 14 months. She is 8 now and one of the top pupils in her year both academically and in sport.

[IAmNotAPrincessIAmAKahleesi]

One of my sons was had a true knot, we were incredibly lucky he survived as he was starting to become oxygen deprived before labour began and had I not been in hospital for a different reason on a monitor he would have been stillborn

He was born by crash section and needed to be revived as his heartbeat had slowed and then stopped before they got him out. Once he was breathing he was fine

He was quite delayed up until about the age of four, our health visitor did suggest that asd might be a possibility and might be linked to oxygen deprivation at birth as 123 said. But since he started school he has completely caught up and now seems totally NT

Interestingly I read that once one cord accident has happened it was more likely to happen in future pregnancies and I had a serious but complelety different cord accident with my next baby!

[Taljaxkin21]

My son was born with 2 true knots. His heart rate kept crashing through labor. It was seriously one of the scariest times of my life. They didn't know he had 2 knots till he was born. My doctor looked at me and said if he would of stayed in one more day he would not of made it. (I was 35 wks pregnant). And that someone was definitely watching out for him.

He is now 2 and was just diagnosed with very high functioning autism. The only problems we face is the non verbal and a bit of anxiety. I never asked if his traumatic birth had anything to do with his autism but I am definitely going to ask!

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

DS1 had a true knot, we were told at the time that it was fortunate that the placenta came down immediately following him. He's 26 and no issues.

[Imnotaslimjim]

My DD had a true not too. She was born by elcs for an unrelated reason and the midwife was very vocal that she was lucky as her chord was short.

Interesting about the hypoxia being linked to autism though - DS was hypoxic at birth with a low apgar at 1 minute but up to 10 by 10 minutes. He was very dusky. He is HFA. I've never considered the 2 could be linked.