Uncoiled/ straight umbilical cord: any experience?

[barabasiAlbert]

Straight cord identified at the 20-week scan. Anyone got anything to say about this?

OK I can read the (fairly small amount of) research literature going back 25 years, but what that really doesn't really tell me anything about is how many people recently have had it diagnosed at a scan, been monitored through the rest of the pregnancy, possibly delivered by caesarean, and had it turn out OK - as opposed to the more common occurrence in the literature, of having it diagnosed intrapartum when major difficulties arise. I'd rather read papers by obstetricians and paediatricians, than by pathologists...

[vallinnapod]

Hi - not that was identified at my scans but when DS was born (water birth) I scooped him up whilst on my knees and had to hold him at pelvis height as my cord was so short. Had had no impact on my pregnancy, birth or his development.

Mentioned this to my MW when I had DD who was completely unperturbed and DD must have had a 'normal' length cord as I cradled her at chest height when she was born.

[barabasiAlbert]

Sounds good vallinnapod

Straight umbilical cords compress too easily and have flow problems (apparently normal coiling helps keep bloodflow pressure up), so are associated with IUGR & low birthweight, higher risks of intrauterine death, foetal distress, heart rate problems and acidosis during labour leading to emergency csections, premature labour and early (