In plain words
Cord prolapse happens when the umbilical cord comes down through the opening of the cervix ahead of the baby. It is rare. It is more likely when the water has broken and the baby's head is not yet fitted into the pelvis, or when the baby is in a breech or sideways position. The cord can be squeezed between the baby and the pelvis, which can slow the baby's heart rate and cut off oxygen. Cord prolapse is an emergency, and the care team responds right away, often by moving quickly to birth. If you notice something coming through the vagina, or a sudden change in the baby's movement or your sense of the baby, tell a nurse or call for help at once.
The deeper version
Cord prolapse is the descent of the umbilical cord beside or below the presenting part after membrane rupture, with incidence reported around 0.1 to 0.6 percent of births across series, higher with breech presentation, high head at rupture, and polyhydramnios. Fetal from cord compression is the main hazard, and the standard response is emergency delivery, with favored in most cases where vaginal birth cannot be achieved quickly. Breech presentation carries a higher risk because the breech is a poorer wedge than the head. Neonatal outcomes depend on the interval from to delivery, and the ACOG practice bulletin on intrapartum and related guidance addresses recognition. Controversy persists about the role of planned cesarean in breech births.
Where it comes up
- Breech baby and turning optionsPregnancy: Your Body
- Hospital, birth center, or homeGetting Ready for Birth
- Early labor at home: when to go inGetting Ready for Birth
- When your water breaksGetting Ready for Birth
What mothers here say about cord prolapse
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 106: Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring, 2009, reaffirmed
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists — Green-top Guideline No. 50: Management of cord prolapse