Anyone (medical professional?) here who could answer a question about my birth?

Lulucaz2 · 2025-10-19T11:22:40+00:00

I’m awaiting a debrief for my birth but it takes a long time with my trust.. I was induced, which ended up with a trip to theatre for forceps and episiotomy - after the birth the doctor who stitched me up came to speak to me and said they had to cut the umbilical cord while baby was still inside, why would that be? Baby boy had the cord wrapped round his neck twice and they also said I’d never have got him out myself

everybodystalking · 19/10/2025 16:38

Hi,
That sounds stressful for you. I hope you are both OK.

The umbilical cord is attached to the baby and the placenta, during birth the placenta remains attached to the wall of the uterus until after the baby has been born. If they cut the cord whilst your baby was still inside you (inutero) it will have been because the cord would have been too short and tight to let him be born, effectively as he was being born the cord would have tightened around his neck and pulled tighter and tighter. It would have been in danger of strangling him and/or possibly breaking causing a heamorrhage. By cutting the cord inutero he was born and then the placenta was born without this danger.

Babies often do come out naturally with cord around the neck and it is cut quickly outside the mum but it sounds like this would have been dangerous in your case.

I know it is likely to have been a big shock for you and not how you hoped/planned for your birth to be. But it sounds like there was good quick action to help you both through the birth process and now you are both well in the outside world.
I hope you are enjoying him and despite the exhaustion and healing process are moving towards feeling ok.

Original poster

Lulucaz2 · 19/10/2025 19:27

everybodystalking · 19/10/2025 16:38

Hi,
That sounds stressful for you. I hope you are both OK.

The umbilical cord is attached to the baby and the placenta, during birth the placenta remains attached to the wall of the uterus until after the baby has been born. If they cut the cord whilst your baby was still inside you (inutero) it will have been because the cord would have been too short and tight to let him be born, effectively as he was being born the cord would have tightened around his neck and pulled tighter and tighter. It would have been in danger of strangling him and/or possibly breaking causing a heamorrhage. By cutting the cord inutero he was born and then the placenta was born without this danger.

Babies often do come out naturally with cord around the neck and it is cut quickly outside the mum but it sounds like this would have been dangerous in your case.

I know it is likely to have been a big shock for you and not how you hoped/planned for your birth to be. But it sounds like there was good quick action to help you both through the birth process and now you are both well in the outside world.
I hope you are enjoying him and despite the exhaustion and healing process are moving towards feeling ok.

Thanks so much for your response, it was a big shock. It was a complete whirlwind, I think knowing what happened will help me process the whole thing. Very much happy in our little bubble and glad we’re both doing well despite it all!

OP posts:

Blingismything · 19/10/2025 19:39

I had this, it was because the cord was wrapped around baby’s neck and also looped around her shoulder, there was no chance of her coming out without the cord being cut before she was born. The midwife compared it to the baby bungee jumping with each contraction.