Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

DH's mother's best friend's daughter, who is now 25, suffered severe brain damage b/c this happened to her during delivery. Everytime I see her I think this could happen to my baby too. I was reading about it online and apparently the cord can wrap itself around the baby's neck while we are still carrying as well. Just another thing to worry about.

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

There is so much you can read that can get you nervous - just have to stop reading - lol.

Seriously - this scared me because this happened to my mom with her first child. She carried the baby to term and lost him due to umbilical cord wrapping. But today technology is a lot different and so much more there to help prevent things like this. I know in the process of pushing with my son, my doctor yellled in a panic to me to stop pushing (which isn't easy when you are mid push and been pushingg with passion for over 2 hours!) because his cord was wrapped twice around his neck and heart rate dropped - happened during the pushing process - freaked me out big time. But the doctor quickly did some snipping (thus my need for an episiotomy) and all was fine in seconds!!!

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

I wasn't until my BIL mentioned this to DH. "Luckily" for me I will have frequent sonograms b/c I have placenta previa, so I am hoping that this is "good" b/c I will see the baby often.


BTW I worry about everything, so I can relate

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

My friend is an L&D nurse. She said it's so common & usually not to the point of causing any harm.

It did occur to me when there was a lot of movement but everything was fine.

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

That's awful what happened to your friend Was the baby's heartrate dropping or anything during birth?

II was worried about this too, and the dr told me most of the time the cord does go around the baby's neck as they decend down the birth canala nd it's common during vaginal births but rarely will do damage. he did also tell me that if the baby was in danger, his/her heartrate would fall.

When I gave birth to DD, the cord was around her neck, right before i pushed her shoulders out, the dr removed the cord from around her neck and the rest of her came out.

It's def nerve racking, i couldn't wait to hear that cry.

Message edited 2/6/2007 10:34:32 AM.

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

I worry too...
my son did have the cord wrapped when he was born and was not breathing right away but the Dr. had him breathing within seconds and everything was fine!
It's prob pretty common and they know exactly how to deal with it quickly so everything is ok.

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

Andy was born (v-birth) with the cord wrapped around his neck twice and both my OB and Andy's pediatrician assured me it's VERY common and he is fine. My OB didn't even mention it until Andy was being cleaned up, at which point I could hear him crying and had heard his APGAR scores so I knew he was fine.

With all the monitoring they do now compared to when we are born it's something you don't really have to worry about, they'll know pretty quick if there is a problem.

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

The cord was around Emmas neck during delivery which made her heartrate decel every time I had a contraction which is why I ended up with an emergency C. Monitors are wonderful things

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

My son had the cord wrapped around his neck. When I was puching they made me stop when his head was out so they could unwrap the cord. They took him right away to check on him and he was perfect!

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

So as long as the heart rate is ok, the baby is ok??? This is good to hear. I thought it may cause damage that we would not be able to measure or learn of for some time. Now I feel a little better.

Re: Does anyone worry about the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby's neck during pregnancy or labor?

I had to stop reading everything and reading into everything. I was making myself nuts
With modern technology these days those types of delivery injuries dont occur to that degree as often because of emergency interventions.