Cord around babies neck at 39 weeks

[MissDolly95]

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

You quoted me and I said your baby could die, not you. So you are now repeatedly doubling down on being wrong.

@IDontFeelItAnymore you feel need to just take a step away from this thread please. I didn't make it for people like you to get on your high horse and think you're a medical professional with the right answers

Never claimed a medical opinion, just one as a mother. But you only came to get back up on your decision anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can you link the research that supports this contention?
I'm a midwife and I do not agree that two out of three babies born with the cord round the neck have such catastrophic consequences.

It just isn't true.

@TheShellBeach I’m wondering if @Soontobe60 hasn’t mixed up the stat of 1/4 or 1/3 babies born vaginally having the cord around the neck (and the vast majority having no issues) with an imaginary stat of 1/3 babies born with the cord around the neck having no resulting issues.

Yes, probably.

OP I can’t believe how certain posters on this thread are talking to you. Of course you more than any of us know what is at stake here. My heart goes out to you, going through this process after the loss of your first babies .

It’s good you’re getting monitored closely and I’m sure the doctors who are looking after you are the best placed people to advise you on risks rather than people on the internet. Best of luck with your delivery - hope you’re not waiting too long now to meet your little one.

I had an induction with my second and the cord was round her neck but we didn't know until some time in. Very stressful and wouldn't recommend. Go for the section.

Should have added sorry, she was absolutely fine but it was stressful for her and me and if I'd known I would have asked for a section, no doubt.

OP, I hope you’re sorted now.

But I don’t understand why you are confused about what your doctors have told you? And why you feel the need to “beg and plead” when you have the facts you need to know already?

In case this helps:

• You have a high risk obstetric history
• Your baby is full term and ready to be delivered
• Your baby has the cord around its neck. Which might be fine, but is a RISK FACTOR for significant birth injury or still birth. Vaginal delivery would increase this risk versus c-section.
• If you have a vaginal delivery, there is a good chance everything will be fine (eg cord will be loose or will have come off already). However, there is a small risk of significant risk to the baby.
• A c-section is a semi-emergency in your case. It is not a category 1 emergency (eg operate immediately no matter what time of night it is, or else someone may die). You cannot be given the option to have the r surgery immediately as they are probably operating on another patient who is more urgent.
• It is not elective (as otherwise you wouldn’t get a slot anytime soon).
• It is a semi-emergency (so you wait on the emergency list and get done within 72 hours), this is a suitable timeframe for you.

I would choose to have the c-section within the next couple of days, when they have theatre capacity. Knowing the cord was around the neck, I would not choose to have a vaginal delivery.

Everyone saying "I would have signed then and there" - OP wouldn't be in any different position than she is now, because they said they didn't have capacity to do the section anyway!

FWIW I think you were sensible to step away and think on it. I hope you've been able to make the right choice for yourself. If you do choose to go into labour, just don't assume that everyone will have read your notes properly. Make sure you say out loud, to everyone who comes into the room, that you have a high risk history, and that the baby has the cord around their neck, and that they need monitoring very closely.

I have had a sweep today, I'm booked in Sunday to be induced, been on the monitor today, baby is all fine, criteria met again today. Have been apologised to multiple times for the alarm and distress I felt last night. High risk midwife who came to see me said I made the right choice last night and she was shocked to come in on shift and read my case.

So thank you everyone for your input but signing away last night wasn't for me and now I've been to the hospital today I feel content with my choice last night. I'll no longer be replying on this thread. My body, my choice, my child.

Good that you've been booked in for an induction on Sunday, so sorry to hear about your previous losses. The good thing about induction is that even if you are waiting around for things to kick off they do monitor regularly. I was induced and was in hospital for 5 days waiting for a space on labour ward, the regular monitoring meant that they were able to pick up on problems with DDs heart rate, first time the emergency cord was pulled, docs everywhere, but they decided that with a shift in position all was good, and did extra monitoring. On the day that she was born her heart rate dipped for much longer. Straight round to labour ward, prepped for c section, calmed again, induced, waters broken and when she was born the cord was around her neck and across her chest, was thankful for the longer stay in hospital at that point.

To update this thread for anyone who finds themselves in this situation. Was induced today, had the pessary in at 11:50am, by 4pm I was 4cm dilated, 4:27pm my waters broke, 17:09pm baby was out. All on just gas and air and vagina delivery. Babies cord was wrapped around her neck once, she was a bit floppy on arrival, alarm pressed for assistant, she then cried 2 minutes later and she's as perfect as ever

Thank you for all the supportive ladies on this thread. So happy I made the choice I did, but also very aware I am very lucky

@MissDolly95 Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl 🥰

massive congratulations on the birth of
your baby girl. You made the right decision and she is here safe and sound. The medical team on the first night should either have presented you with a problem clearly defined in terms of risk and options with actual advice not have felt you floating around anxious and with no direction, dreadful communication and a lack of professionalism on their part. Sorry you were put in that situation

Congratulations on your baby girl!

Well done for not rushing into something unnecessary because of poor communication and an inexperienced registrar. So easy to be pushed around for no reason.

It's easy to say in retrospect that you did the right thing.

I am very glad the baby is here and safe.

Many congratulations!
Well done, OP!

@MissDolly95 Congratulations. What a wonderful induction story, too!

I've been reading this thread - I can't believe some of the responses you had. And all I could think was ultimately if you hadn't have had that scan you never would have known any different - most people don't have scans at that stage and wouldn't know! You made the right decision.

Thank you so much for returning to this thread with your update. That sounds like it was an incredibly speedy labour! Congratulations to you.

That's amazing - congratulations 🥳

Congratulations, glad it all went well and everyone is safe.