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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What if cord wraps around babys neck!?

24 replies

CrapBag · 27/01/2011 10:50

Baby is breech. ECV failed but the other day she turned and engaged then unengaged and turned back again. Someone on here pointed out to be aware of cord getting wrapped around her neck.

Obviously if I notice less or no movements I can go to the hospital but wouldn't it be too late by then? I am worrying now as I know of a friend of mine that lost her first baby years ago as the cord was around his neck.

OP posts:

sh77 · 27/01/2011 11:11

I watched OBEM t'other night and one of the babies was born with cord around her neck even though he/she was head down. was quite blue when born but once they unravelled it, baby was fine.

TBH, watching this really worried me and so I can understand. However, bear in mind that this could happen anyway regardless of being breech. Just be vigilant with movement.

naitimum · 27/01/2011 11:18

My little boy was born with the cord three times round his neck, and although he got a bit stuck on the way out, in the end he came out and he was absolutely fine. Please try not to worry ladies as it doesn't necessarily mean that things will go wrong. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend CrapBag, but just wanted to say that it doesn't necessarily mean that the baby will come to harm if the cord is round their neck.

moregranny · 27/01/2011 11:39

My son, now 27 and a strapping great 6ft 2, was born a navy blue colour,cord wrapped neatly round neck, not crying or moving, frightened the life out of me then and still does now ! Take care and try not to worry :)

Tortoise · 27/01/2011 11:42

My DD2 was born with the cord round her neck too. She was fine.

yomellamoHelly · 27/01/2011 11:44

I'd just make sure you voice your concerns to your mid-wife and ask to be well monitored in labour (though the flip side is that if you're tied to a bed it'll slow everything down). Then you can at least say you did all any reasonable person could do.
FWIW one of our dc had the cord around his neck and was v blue at first but revived quickly. He has CP now - but there was nothing that anyone could put their finger on for causing it so we consider it to be just one of those things.
Hope that doesn't scare you even more.

belgo · 27/01/2011 11:47

One third of babies are born with the cord around their neck and most are absolutely fine. It is very sad about your friend.

My dd2 had the cord twice wrapped around her neck and was born fine; ds had the cord once around his neck and was also fine.

CrawlingInMySkin · 27/01/2011 11:50

I just thought I would say DC2 had a very long cord and my mw as a result held in her hand the heart moniter from the CTG machine and everytime I pushed she just slipped it on my bump I didn't even notice it.

She didn't make me move and just touched the pad on my bump (no matter what position she had to go on she was on all fours on the floor with me at one point) got the reading in a few seconds and then took it away. You could ask for something similar.

tlise · 27/01/2011 11:55

I think quite a lot have cords round their necks xx

ThatllDoPig · 27/01/2011 12:01

My dd had it wrapped around neck twice. Try not to worry, it happens to so many babies, and midwives know how to deal with it.

nickstermum · 27/01/2011 12:05

both I and my DS were born with the cord wrapped twice around our necks... we are both fine and dandy :)

shitmagnet · 27/01/2011 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MandaHugNKiss · 27/01/2011 14:17

I could see the cord was wrapped around DS1's neck in some of the late scans I had - the three little tale-tale bubbles right up under his chin.

In the event, it was so tightly wrapped (twice, I think) that once his head was delivered and they couldn't slip it over, they clamped and cut it before I even delivered him! Was quite panicking to be told that when they said 'push!' it was really important to push hard and get him out as soon as possible. He actually flew out but I suppose if not they could have manipulated him?

He needed some resus but that was more to do with the pethidine in his system (narcan given too).

Right now, he's 13 and currently shouting at his television (inset day). And let me tell you, this is normal behaviour for a teen playing xbox live! He's absolutely fine, and I'm sure your little one will be too.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 27/01/2011 14:19

I think all 4 of mine had it wrapped around except DD.

DS2 wins hands down though as he was born in the sac and his cord had a true knot in it - the midwfe was very impressed!

I wasn't!

bandgeek · 27/01/2011 14:29

Both of mine had the cord wrapped around their neck when they were born too. It was less of an issue for DD as she was born my c-section, but DS had shoulder dystocia and got stuck. He also had a true knot in his cord so needed some oxygenwhen he finally got out. He is absolutely fine through, just a normal 5 year old

tlise · 27/01/2011 14:48

xbox live....shudders don't remind me, 45 minutes and counting down till peace shatters.

Hubby had it so tight round his neck, he still has a scar now.

And I am pretty sure thats another reason why they tell you to pant during labour, so they can manoeuvre and move the cord. Either that or they are just very sadistic lol.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 27/01/2011 14:51

My DD had hers wrapped around too and was fine. They cut it before she was fully delivered.

juuule · 27/01/2011 14:52

My dc5 had a true knot in the cord, too. I was told that it was very rare. Seems quite common on this thread:)

Some of mine had their cords around their necks. Nobody seemed to make much of it, though.

Scouseem · 27/01/2011 15:33

My DS was born with cord wrapped round neck an came out blue but we was home 6hrs later and he's now a little 4year old terror. I think its actually really common. Everytime my friend had a scan the cord was wrapped round her babys arms and legs but he was fine when he came out.

Original poster

CrapBag · 27/01/2011 20:05

I didn't realise it was so common!

I feel much better now thanks. I stupidly thought that cord equalled cut off oxygen and resulted in what happened to my friend.

I'm also having an ELCS due to baby being breech (unless she turns again, she did the other day then bloody turned back again as soon as I went to bed) so won't be going through labour anyway.

OP posts:

Northernlurker · 27/01/2011 20:11

There's no getting away from the fact that some babies die as a result of cord accidents but it's unpredictable and unavoidable. All you can do is keep an eye on the movements which you are doing - and which you should do anyway even if you dn't know where the cord is (iyswim)
The cord is carrying oxygenated blood so has long as some flow is possible baby is still getting oxygen. Just read this 'The umbilical cord is covered with a thick protective coating known as Wharton's Jelly. This is like gristle in texture and prevents the baby from compressing the arteries and vein that run through the cord. So the cord being wrapped does not usually pose a problem for baby' - how amazing is that!

bibbitybobbityhat · 27/01/2011 20:13

It happens and it is very common.

Cord compression also leads to complications.

ButterflySally · 27/01/2011 20:15

Just to add yet another post of reassurance: my little nephew was born with the cord around his neck - he was bright blue, scored a low Apgar score (3 or 4 I think) and needed suction at birth.

He is now 3.5 years old and perfectly healthy. He is quick and bright and has great language skills, good hand-eye coordination etc. So it hasn't affected him one little bit :)

I think my father was born with cord around his neck too and he was alright.

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 27/01/2011 20:19

The cord is very thick, slippery and gelatinous so even if there is a true not or it is tied around the neck several times it is unlikely to cause problems as it would be hard for it to remain tight and therfore cut off oxygen supply. HTH.

NormalityBites · 27/01/2011 20:29

Smart babies have the cord round their necks. Wrapping the cord around their necks lessens the risk of it being trapped against the mother by the baby's head, or prolapsing.Having their lifeline round the narrowest point of their body as they emerge is a good thing.

Cord knots and compression are not good but cord around the neck (nuchal cord) is very normal.

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