Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Can i refuse - risk of cord prolapse

116 replies

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 12:50

Second baby, gestational hypertension being controlled with meds, also small baby. Was having a planned csec due to previous birth anyway but they have no space to book me in and baby is transverse so they are admitting me Sunday with a plan to fit me in in between emergencies in the consultants words @when they can fit me in some day next week whilst I am already in hospital

I have a child at home already I live 10 mins from hospital I dont want to just be admitted potentially for a whole week before my baby even comes. I also work for myself so wasn't going to go on many leave until baby is here and now losing a weeks pay before I even start when I am having very short mat leave already

Name change as very specific situation lol

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 17:30

GlitteryFarts · 22/02/2023 16:21

As an ex midwife and a mum of 4, I can honestly say at 37 weeks with a transverse baby this would be one if the very few reasons I would leave my children and stay in hospital. The risk is just too great. There is nothing more terrifying than a cord prolapse IN hospital, never mind out. I've been wheeled down the corridor kneeling on a bed under a sheet being pushed full pelt down to theatre with my hand trying to keep a baby's head off a cord more than once and the adrenaline rush is unlike anything else. We literally have minutes to get that baby out. Please don't risk this.

100% this.

Isthisexpected · 22/02/2023 17:31

What statistical risk would make it ok to go against the advice and stay at home when the outcome could mean the death of your baby?
It's only a week when all said and done.

^ We all look at risk differently. People on here regularly post they moved their newborns into their own bedrooms at under 6m because they want to sleep, despite all the SIDS evidence with significant risk.

TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 17:32

Isthisexpected · 22/02/2023 15:29

No reason they can't phone you on the day if you're so close to them. Unless they are suggesting you need continuous monitoring?

No, they need her to be in the actual hospital because if the cord prolapse there are literally just a few minutes to do a section and get a live birth.

TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 17:39

I remember being scrubbed for an elective section and just waiting for the patient to be wheeled in, when the doors suddenly crashed open and a woman who had had a cord prolapse was hurled on to the table. There was a midwife with her hand up the woman's vagina, keeping the baby's head off the cord.
It's always the most terrible nightmare because the delivery of a live baby is not guaranteed.

gemloving · 22/02/2023 17:40

Hi OP, I had the same thing and went home at my own risk. Baby was delivered safely via c section the week after.

mummyh2016 · 22/02/2023 17:41

I know someone who suffered a cord prolapse and despite the ambulance crew arriving in less than 5 mins from being called her baby had already passed away.
The hospital aren't asking you to hang around for a laugh.

Grumpybutfunny · 22/02/2023 17:54

OP you have the option of going in and having a free section or paying for one when you want. It is disgraceful that they can't offer you a slot tho, maybe they need to bump some to VBACs etc or close the ward as no slot on a open unit sounds dangerous. I don't think I would be pleasant about it, keep on top of pushing your case to get down to theatre.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 22/02/2023 18:02

On a practical note OP, for planned C-sections before full term they used to give 2 steroid injections a day or two apart to minimise potential breathing problems. Not sure if they still do but if it's something you would have then perhaps enquire about having them asap in case a slot comes up.
Also I was advised by hospital staff that in the event of a cord prolapse I should get down on all fours and stick my bottom in the air (!) to keep pressure off the cord.

Newnamedaily · 22/02/2023 18:07

When I was pregnant- my child was footling breach position and I was told if my waters break I need to get into hospital in few mins for emergency section.
The instructions I was given was to get immediately on all my four and called ambulance- request blue light ambulance immediately.

They booked me for elective C section but in the week 38.5.

I lived about 10-15 mins from the hospital and I was so scared to even move as we lived in first floor flat with very narrow steep staircase so if I would be on my fours I could not imagine how would they take me out into the ambulance..
I also wasn’t admitted, this was from week 36 to 38.5

ittakes2 · 22/02/2023 18:08

I was on a maternity ward for 2 months and one of their biggest fears was high blood pressure in pregnant woman they have a very short time frame - one woman passed out and since her curtains were around her bed they only knew because she fell out of bed and her neighbour called the nurse - if someone had not noticed her they said she would have died and after that no one with high blood pressure on the ward was allowed to even shut their curtains. I think you are being admitted for a reason.

MoserRothOrangeandAlmond · 22/02/2023 18:09

@gemloving yes but if your water broke naturally at home it wouldn't have been ok. That was the risk you chose to take which fortunately had a good outcome.
I wouldn't actively encourage for someone to take that risk.

@MissAtomicBomb1 in my trust it's normally under 38 weeks they give the steroid injections.

@Isthisexpected yes we all perceive risk differently and if we had a magic ball we could know what happens in the future. But if OPs water breaks naturally at home, (which from 37 weeks it happens as babies are classed as full term) with a transverse baby, so the head isn't facing downwards and when the amniotic fluid comes out it takes the cord with it causing a cord prolapse. You have a few minutes until baby dies as all blood flow to baby has stopped.
If this happens in a hospital setting baby has a chance at survival

Newnamedaily · 22/02/2023 18:15

@MoserRothOrangeandAlmond I had footling breech child in 2011 and I know that footling breach has the highest risk of cord prolapse, reading all this I actually surprised they did not admitted me for this too.
I was sent home in week 36 ( when I popped in for low movement check up) and I was told that I have footling breech and to call fast ambulance while waiting on my fours.
Now I know that if it would happened at home, there was no chance I would make it to hospital in 4 mins as we lived approximately 10-15 mins away..

bumpytrumpy · 22/02/2023 18:16

SheilaFentiman · 22/02/2023 17:27

They may be thinking, if they admit you Sunday, then you will be right there if any other planned c sections don’t happen and you can go straight away

This.

I was admitted with transverse baby for same reasons. I hated it but didn't feel like I had much option. The reasons for being on site are

1 - if the cord prolapses you are into theatre inside 10 mins & baby has a much better chance. This would be an "emergency" c section.

2 - they will take you for "elective" c section anyway as soon as there is a gap in their lists. They don't want you taking up a bed for longer than necessary but by being on site you can get a slot more easily. I was in for 4 days I think and then they came to me at 10pm and said I could go to theatre at 7am the next day as first on the list.

Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 18:28

ittakes2 · 22/02/2023 18:08

I was on a maternity ward for 2 months and one of their biggest fears was high blood pressure in pregnant woman they have a very short time frame - one woman passed out and since her curtains were around her bed they only knew because she fell out of bed and her neighbour called the nurse - if someone had not noticed her they said she would have died and after that no one with high blood pressure on the ward was allowed to even shut their curtains. I think you are being admitted for a reason.

I have had high since week 27, I have checks three times a week for it. Weirdly its the most common pregnancy complication apparently! I think because its controlled they aren't overly worried. I am ringing in the morning to get a second opinion as I believe they should be treating it as an emergency from what people are saying

OP posts:
Sirikit · 22/02/2023 18:44

Isthisexpected · 22/02/2023 17:31

What statistical risk would make it ok to go against the advice and stay at home when the outcome could mean the death of your baby?
It's only a week when all said and done.

^ We all look at risk differently. People on here regularly post they moved their newborns into their own bedrooms at under 6m because they want to sleep, despite all the SIDS evidence with significant risk.

That's a silly comparison; room sharing reduces the risk very slightly, but not sharing doesn't increase it. Stop trying to scare people unnecessarily.

PremiumB · 22/02/2023 18:56

OP I hope it goes really safely for you . I had a cord prolapse recently and am emotional reading about the babies here who didn’t make it as it was so close for us and our baby was resuscitated after a category 1 section . We owe our midwife and the medical team his life and I would always gratefully follow their advice with stakes like this but also sorry for you it’s not easier practically .

Twinedpeaks · 22/02/2023 19:07

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 14:45

I hadn't thought about the fact that even if planned I could get bumped. I just feel guilty leaving my first born with a mixture of almost strangers as we have no reliable childcare for him, especially not for days on end

Wouldn't they just stay with dad?

RandomMess · 22/02/2023 19:08

You get warned about cord prolapse when you have an ARM (as it increases risk) and yep it's very clear - you wheeled into theatre epidural will become spinal block and baby out. They even triple check when you last ate in case GA needed.

I think as a society we forget just how risky childbirth is.

Emmamoo89 · 22/02/2023 19:16

I wouldn't risk it

ringoutsolsticebells · 22/02/2023 19:17

hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 14:44

It's a tricky one, they say he is small on my growth chart but at 35 weeks his estimated weight was 5lb5oz so average for that gestation in the general population. They don't explain the risks or why they have made the decisions they have so I don't feel very informed

Ask for more information then so that you can make an informed decision. Having said that, I don't understand why you would take risks with the pregnancy

Ruffpuff · 22/02/2023 19:17

Hmm I completely understand. I’d hate to be waiting around in hospital for a week. Try to balance the risks though. What are the risks of something happens while you’re not there, can you get to hospital easily?

TheShellBeach · 22/02/2023 19:20

Ruffpuff · 22/02/2023 19:17

Hmm I completely understand. I’d hate to be waiting around in hospital for a week. Try to balance the risks though. What are the risks of something happens while you’re not there, can you get to hospital easily?

There are only four minutes for the baby to be even remotely safe if there's a cord prolapse.
Not enough time to get to hospital.

Original poster
hbbyno2 · 22/02/2023 19:30

RandomMess · 22/02/2023 19:08

You get warned about cord prolapse when you have an ARM (as it increases risk) and yep it's very clear - you wheeled into theatre epidural will become spinal block and baby out. They even triple check when you last ate in case GA needed.

I think as a society we forget just how risky childbirth is.

Weird I had ARM with first and don't remember being warned! Not feeling very confident

OP posts:
iwasthewalrus · 22/02/2023 19:42

@hbbyno2 I was in a similar situation with a transverse baby and a hospital who didn’t really explain it all to me. I had to turn to mumsnet to figure out what was going on.

Lots of knowledgeable posters have explained it well but essentially from 37 weeks the chance of your waters breaking increases as you are ‘full term’. Because your baby is not head down, if your waters break the cord can literally fall out. The cord falling out cuts off the baby’s oxygen supply. 5 minutes later the baby will have suffered major permanent brain damage. And 5 minutes after that, it’ll be dead.

This doesn’t mean that your baby is at risk by not being born. And the longer he or she stays inside the better as they’ll be growing and developing and with less chance of needing special care. So they won’t want to give you a c-section now. But they do want to make sure that if your waters break before then that you are close to an operating theatre. And by close they mean, next door. Not into the car and a 10 minute drive. That’s 10 minutes too long.

It’s really shit. Everyone I met with transverse lie felt the same. You’re wanting to enjoy the last few weeks before baby arrives and then you are told you can’t leave the hospital. But you have to trust that they know what they are doing and they wouldn’t admit you without good cause.

So spend this week nesting and relaxing, go to hospital on Sunday with things to read and do. It’ll feel like a long time but soon you’ll have your baby in your arms and, as you’ll have read from some of the other very sad posts, that makes you (and me) very lucky indeed.

mummyh2016 · 22/02/2023 20:23

iwasthewalrus · 22/02/2023 19:42

@hbbyno2 I was in a similar situation with a transverse baby and a hospital who didn’t really explain it all to me. I had to turn to mumsnet to figure out what was going on.

Lots of knowledgeable posters have explained it well but essentially from 37 weeks the chance of your waters breaking increases as you are ‘full term’. Because your baby is not head down, if your waters break the cord can literally fall out. The cord falling out cuts off the baby’s oxygen supply. 5 minutes later the baby will have suffered major permanent brain damage. And 5 minutes after that, it’ll be dead.

This doesn’t mean that your baby is at risk by not being born. And the longer he or she stays inside the better as they’ll be growing and developing and with less chance of needing special care. So they won’t want to give you a c-section now. But they do want to make sure that if your waters break before then that you are close to an operating theatre. And by close they mean, next door. Not into the car and a 10 minute drive. That’s 10 minutes too long.

It’s really shit. Everyone I met with transverse lie felt the same. You’re wanting to enjoy the last few weeks before baby arrives and then you are told you can’t leave the hospital. But you have to trust that they know what they are doing and they wouldn’t admit you without good cause.

So spend this week nesting and relaxing, go to hospital on Sunday with things to read and do. It’ll feel like a long time but soon you’ll have your baby in your arms and, as you’ll have read from some of the other very sad posts, that makes you (and me) very lucky indeed.

Excellently put.