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Original poster

Cord around babies neck at 39 weeks

98 replies

MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 09:31

I've been having growth scans due to my history. Had a stillbirth with twins in 2015, then 4 early miscarriages in the space of 14 months.

I then went on to have my daughter who is now 2 and her pregnancy was a text box dream. No issues at all. I was induced at 38 weeks due to history.

I'm now 39 weeks pregnant with my second daughter, again text box and she's been a dream. Had my last scan yesterday and they saw the cord round her neck, said no concern. A few hours later I get a call and a consultant has reviewed the scan and wanted me to go to triage to speak to the doctor to get the baby out. So in my head I instantly thought I was about to have the baby last night. So set myself up it was going to be a section.

We get there at 5pm, get monitored, baby met all criteria on the monitor. We then waited 5 hours in the corridor for the doctor. Finally see the doctor who had consent forms and was ready to admit me for a section. So I said is this happening tonight and she said no, she'd just admit me and if a slot came up I'd be in it but could be waiting till Saturday. So I was a bit taken a back since it was so "urgent"

Asked how urgent it was before I just signed consent forms and they said "semi emergency" I then asked to speak to her boss who literally couldn't or cared less. I was begging for them to just advise me so I could make a choice. It's major surgery to be signing up for. They didn't give any urgency for me to sign on the dotted line there and then.

I then declined and come home and they said I could ring back this morning with a decision. Rang them this morning and I've said I'd like to speak to the day doctor to get some more clarity really. I requested an induction at my 20 week consultant appointment and I was refused and that is really angering me because I could of had this all booked and not been left in the stress and anxiety I'm now in.

Have the worst worst feeling I've made the wrong choice and now my baby is going to die and it'll be my fault

OP posts:
IDontFeelItAnymore · 14/06/2024 13:38

I get that they've confused you with all of the different opinions, and it's been unhelpful.

I just think if I heard the phrase' 'cord around the neck' I'd have signed there and then.

ParentsTrapped · 14/06/2024 13:54

IDontFeelItAnymore · 14/06/2024 13:38

I get that they've confused you with all of the different opinions, and it's been unhelpful.

I just think if I heard the phrase' 'cord around the neck' I'd have signed there and then.

But “cord around neck” doesn’t really mean anything by itself.

The baby is floating around in liquid and moving all the time, and the cord is long and stretchy and is on and off babies’ necks (and arms and legs and tummies) allll the time. If the OP had a scan now she might well see that it was no longer wrapped round the neck. But even if she did see that it could be back round the neck 5 minutes later.

Problems arise when the cord is short, or wrapped many times, or the baby is at a weird angle, but no one can really predict these things and the NHS doesn’t bother because it is all changeable up until the moment of birth.

That’s not to say the OP shouldn’t be able to have a c section if she wants one, but it is equally not a reason for a c section if she doesn’t want one.

Upinthenightagain · 14/06/2024 13:56

I don’t think I’d be happy that firstly they were talking about it being a semi emergency. Now they haven’t got space it’s suddenly fine.

Original poster
MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 14:00

@ParentsTrapped thank you! This is exactly what the doctor said regarding the cord. Could be off and on. Baby will grab it, it'll be in many positions. They've also said they aren't inducing me for cord related reasons they are inducing me because I've asked and I'm 39 weeks so it's their duty of care to do so. But she said they'd never normally induce for the cord being round the neck and wouldn't intervene with a section unless absolutely needed and wanted

OP posts:
Natsku · 14/06/2024 14:17

The cord could easily unwrap by the time you give birth so understand your reluctance to have a CS just because it was wrapped round at the time you had your scan but my own experience of labour with the cord wrapped round (though it was twice in my DS's case) is that I wouldn't choose to labour through that again. Progress was very difficult and DS was in distress (showing on the heart rate monitor they put on his head) with every contraction when we got nearer the end.

Holidaaaaay · 14/06/2024 14:22

Sounds like typical NHS, one hand doesn't know what the other is doing and nobody can agree on a decision. I feel for you, awful to be left know knowing what to do or why you should do it.

IDontFeelItAnymore · 14/06/2024 14:33

Upinthenightagain · 14/06/2024 13:56

I don’t think I’d be happy that firstly they were talking about it being a semi emergency. Now they haven’t got space it’s suddenly fine.

Exactly this!

MrsCarson · 14/06/2024 15:52

It's a semi emergency as they will monitor the baby's heartbeat and if it is stable it'll continue to be a semi emergency. If it starts to drop then it becomes a proper emergency.
Go back and sign the papers and wait for the C-Section

BirthdayRainbow · 14/06/2024 15:56

MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 10:35

Well update to the this. The doctor rang me and said there is no reasons to indicate why I should have a section unless I wanted one and they'd give me. Said the baby has beautiful growth, beautiful monitoring yesterday. She's now given me an induction date and offered me a sweep today.

So thanks for the people saying "you'll die"!! People come here for advise and reassurance, remember that unless you're a doctor!

I'm pretty sure that no one said YOU might die but people were concerned for your baby. I'd rather flag than be wrong than say nothing and it ends in tragedy. Reassurance is not the right thing to do when things look worrying.

But you do you.

itsallabitofamystery · 14/06/2024 15:57

We lost our niece due to the cord being around the neck. Doctors reassured her normal delivery would be safe, and sadly this was not the case. I would have signed for the section there and then, but that's with knowing what I know. No one can make the decision for you, and if your comfortable with the decision you made then that's fine. Medicine is far more advanced now than it was when we lost my niece, and it appears you have received a lot of reassurance.

Lovecatsanddogs · 14/06/2024 16:02

It all depends on your how you perceive the risks. Personally I would have a section as the worry to me of potentially losing my baby or having a healthy baby suffer brain damage and requiring lifelong care I could not live with.

MessyNeate · 14/06/2024 16:06

I'm sorry for your previous loss OP.

Cord around the neck can be dangerous, but reading the full thread you don't seem to want to hear about the dangerous sides.

I'm a NICU nurse, a lot of my crash calls are to resuscitate a baby born with cord around the neck.

I'd have signed there and then. It sounds like the maternity team aren't communication well, in your shoes I would ask for another scan and appt with consultant

TheShellBeach · 14/06/2024 16:11

About one in three to four babies are born with the cord round the neck. It's generally only noted at delivery, and almost all of them are very loose. Even the tight ones can be cut during the delivery, once the head is out.

I wouldn't panic about this and I certainly wouldn't have a section over it.

Original poster
MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 16:21

MessyNeate · 14/06/2024 16:06

I'm sorry for your previous loss OP.

Cord around the neck can be dangerous, but reading the full thread you don't seem to want to hear about the dangerous sides.

I'm a NICU nurse, a lot of my crash calls are to resuscitate a baby born with cord around the neck.

I'd have signed there and then. It sounds like the maternity team aren't communication well, in your shoes I would ask for another scan and appt with consultant

If this is the case coming from a professional, why wasn't this stated when last night I was pleading and begging with them to give me facts and advise regarding making my choice. I do want to hear all sides to it, hence why I was begging and pleading

OP posts:
Original poster
MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 16:23

TheShellBeach · 14/06/2024 16:11

About one in three to four babies are born with the cord round the neck. It's generally only noted at delivery, and almost all of them are very loose. Even the tight ones can be cut during the delivery, once the head is out.

I wouldn't panic about this and I certainly wouldn't have a section over it.

Thank you💗 I've beat myself up all day about if I made the right choice or not and there isn't a right or wrong. They weren't saying to me you need this and you need it now, so the fact that wasn't happening or the fact they didn't tell me what would happen with whatever choice I made, I had no back up to make a choice there and then last night. It's major surgery, I have to factor that in as well as my 2 year old I have at home

OP posts:
Original poster
MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 16:25

Just to add to this, hindsight is a funny thing and if we knew an outcome it had knowledge of what would be the outcome it would be a lot easier to make a choice. But no one knows till it happens and everyone has their own outcomes, all being very different experiences but no one knew that outcome till they were in that situation and then can speak on it from their personal experience

OP posts:
Original poster
MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 16:26

Lovecatsanddogs · 14/06/2024 16:02

It all depends on your how you perceive the risks. Personally I would have a section as the worry to me of potentially losing my baby or having a healthy baby suffer brain damage and requiring lifelong care I could not live with.

If that was stated last night (which it wasn't) I would of signed the papers straight away. But I was asking all this and it wasn't answered

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 14/06/2024 16:29

MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 10:35

Well update to the this. The doctor rang me and said there is no reasons to indicate why I should have a section unless I wanted one and they'd give me. Said the baby has beautiful growth, beautiful monitoring yesterday. She's now given me an induction date and offered me a sweep today.

So thanks for the people saying "you'll die"!! People come here for advise and reassurance, remember that unless you're a doctor!

Nobody has said you’ll die, and Mumsnet has not removed a comment to that effect.

Soontobe60 · 14/06/2024 16:36

Coastallife36385 · 14/06/2024 11:40

One of my children was born vaginally with a cord around their neck. No complications.
Unfortunately people on here have jumped on giving you their unqualified medical advice, which isn’t helpful at all.
Good luck with your birth!

Statistically, 1 in 3 deliveries of babies with an unchallenged cord will suffer no ill effects. That sounds great odds, but in reality it means 2/3 WILL suffer side effects.
I have taught 5 children with cerebral palsy in my career, 3 of whom suffered brain injury due to lack of oxygen and had a nuchal cord that was only apparent during delivery. Its not a risk any parent should be faced with.

RedHelenB · 14/06/2024 16:38

kiwiane · 14/06/2024 09:41

With your history I would consent and go back in to the hospital to wait for a C-section; they will put emergencies first - your risk is lower.

This.

flamesdancing · 14/06/2024 16:49

This thread is crazy, so many people telling the OP what she should do, some of them in a really rude and patronising way. And I’m guessing most don’t have medical qualifications.

Sorry you’re in this situation OP, glad you managed to get some more clarity from the hospital and I hope that continues. Good luck with the birth and new baby 💐

Demelzatheredhaired · 14/06/2024 16:51

Soontobe60 · 14/06/2024 16:36

Statistically, 1 in 3 deliveries of babies with an unchallenged cord will suffer no ill effects. That sounds great odds, but in reality it means 2/3 WILL suffer side effects.
I have taught 5 children with cerebral palsy in my career, 3 of whom suffered brain injury due to lack of oxygen and had a nuchal cord that was only apparent during delivery. Its not a risk any parent should be faced with.

Show quote history

Your maths must be off.
If one in three or one in four babies born vaginally are born with the cord around their neck, then there is no way 2/3 of them suffer ill effects such as cerebral palsy. Or about one in 12 babies would be born with cerebral palsy

MessyNeate · 14/06/2024 16:53

flamesdancing · 14/06/2024 16:49

This thread is crazy, so many people telling the OP what she should do, some of them in a really rude and patronising way. And I’m guessing most don’t have medical qualifications.

Sorry you’re in this situation OP, glad you managed to get some more clarity from the hospital and I hope that continues. Good luck with the birth and new baby 💐

I do have a medical qualification. I have also attended MANY resus situations where baby has been born with a cord around the neck.

OP - I don't think you've spoken to the right person, in my opinion. And in your shoes I would be asking for another ultrasound and an appt with my consultant,

flamesdancing · 14/06/2024 17:07

MessyNeate · 14/06/2024 16:53

I do have a medical qualification. I have also attended MANY resus situations where baby has been born with a cord around the neck.

OP - I don't think you've spoken to the right person, in my opinion. And in your shoes I would be asking for another ultrasound and an appt with my consultant,

Show quote history

Then it’s good that the OP is in regular contact with the hospital and being monitored by medical professionals who can assess her individual risk.

Original poster
MissDolly95 · 14/06/2024 17:15

@Soontobe60 I've quoted where it said it, read again!

OP posts: