Umbilical Cord Prolapse

Umbilical Cord Prolapse is an obstetric crisis during pregnancy or labor that endangers the life of the fetus. It happens when the umbilical cord comes outside of the uterus while the fetus is still inside. It is an obstetric emergency during labor or pregnancy that imminently endangers the life of the fetus. Cord prolapse is often synchronized with the rupture of the amniotic sac. When this occurs the fetus will move downward into the pelvis and puts pressure on the cord. Consequently, oxygen and blood supplies to the fetus are limited or cut-off totally for the baby to be delivered quickly.

Umbilical cord prolapse is a complication which happens prior to or during delivery of the baby. In this case, the umbilical cord drops (prolapses) from the open cervix into the vagina in advance of the baby. The cord will then be ensnared against the baby’s body during delivery. Umbilical cord prolapse normally occur in every 300 births.

Causes of Umbilical Cord Prolapse

The major cause of an umbilical cord prolapse is the premature rupture of the membranes that contain the amniotic fluid. Other causes include:

• Premature delivery of the baby
• When an umbilical cord is longer than expected
• A situation when more than a baby is being delivered per pregnancy
• Breech delivery. This is a situation when the baby brings legs instead of head first.
• Too much amniotic fluid.

Circumstances for Umbilical Cord Prolapse

There are various circumstances that bring about umbilical cord prolapse. Some of these circumstances are:

• A situation where the baby is a premature can cause umbilical cord prolapse. In this case, if the water breaks before the expected time before 34 weeks to be precise, the expected baby may not be in a head down position.
• A baby that is lying sideways across the uterus. In this situation, the baby’s body will be unable to fill the woman’s pelvis completely which will in turn gives room for the umbilical cord to slip past the baby and down through the cervix.
• If the babies are more than one. If the first twin wasn’t head down, there the tendency that the first twin’s cord can prolapse.
• If baby is in a breach position which implies that one or both feet are down very close to the to the woman’s cervix. This will create excessive space in the woman’s pelvis for the possible prolapse.
• When a baby’s head is high or unengaged, the baby’s cord will prolapse.

On a final note, nothing can be done to prevent umbilical cord prolapse, and occasionally it happens in entirely healthy and low-risk pregnancies in which no one would have predicted it. Close examination and monitoring of the mother and baby during labor can identify the early signs of umbilical cord prolapse and other symptoms of distress or problems with the delivery. Women that have high risk pregnancies may want to discuss with their obstetricians about the potential complications that could appear during labor, and how they should respond; for example, if complications do emerge, a woman may prefer a cesarean rather than an attempt to deliver vaginally to avoid endangering the baby.