Umbilical Cord Prolapse
Umbilical cord drops through cervix before baby - emergency requiring immediate C-section.
Affects: 0.1-0.6% of births
Overview
Umbilical cord prolapse is an obstetric emergency where the umbilical cord drops through the open cervix ahead of the baby, usually after water breaks. The cord can become compressed, cutting off oxygen to the baby.
This requires immediate emergency cesarean delivery. Every minute counts, as cord compression reduces oxygen flow to the baby. Healthcare providers keep pressure off the cord until delivery.
Risk is higher with breech presentation, multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, and preterm birth. Most cases occur in hospital during labor where emergency delivery is available.
🩺 Symptoms
- •Visible or palpable cord in vagina
- •Cord protruding from vagina
- •Sudden changes in fetal heart rate after water breaks
- •Feeling something unusual in vagina
- •Usually occurs during labor in hospital
🔍 Causes
- →Water breaking with cord in lower position
- →Cord slips through cervix before baby
- →More common when baby not engaged in pelvis
- →Can occur with artificial rupture of membranes
⚠️ Risk Factors
- •Breech presentation
- •Transverse lie (baby sideways)
- •Multiple pregnancy
- •Polyhydramnios (excess fluid)
- •Preterm labor
- •Long umbilical cord
- •Low birth weight baby
- •Multiple previous pregnancies
- •Artificial rupture of membranes
🔬 Diagnosis
- →Visual inspection - cord visible
- →Pelvic exam - cord felt
- →Sudden fetal heart rate decelerations
- →Usually diagnosed during labor
💊 Treatment
- ✓Emergency cesarean delivery
- ✓Provider keeps pressure off cord until delivery
- ✓Mother positioned to relieve pressure (knee-chest)
- ✓Filling bladder with saline to lift baby off cord
- ✓Oxygen for mother
- ✓IV fluids
- ✓Immediate transfer to operating room
- ✓Minutes count - must deliver quickly
🛡️ Prevention
- →Cannot always be prevented
- →Controlled rupture of membranes
- →Avoiding artificial rupture if baby not engaged
- →C-section for high-risk positions (breech, transverse)
- →Careful monitoring during labor
⚠️ Potential Complications
- !Fetal oxygen deprivation
- !Brain damage
- !Stillbirth
- !Emergency C-section complications
- !Most babies do well if delivered quickly
🚨 When to Call Your Doctor
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:
- ⚠Feeling cord in vagina
- ⚠Something protruding from vagina
- ⚠After water breaks - call immediately
- ⚠If occurs at home: Call 911, get on hands and knees, keep pressure off cord
- ⚠This is life-threatening emergency
Related Conditions
This information is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.