Anyone had a bub born with this? If so, was it determined before or after birth? Did you have a VB or C-section? Any complications besides bub not getting any cord blood?
My cousin's first baby had two. She had a placenta that had some things the wrong way around (the details are a bit hazy, it was nearly 5 years ago!) and the baby was getting reduced rations, so he was teeny, but it didn't come up in scans for some reason. He was born at 38 weeks, but treated as prem because of his size. Her labour stopped progressing in the birth centre and she was transferred, where it was decided to do a c-section. His cord was too short to let him get out AND it was wrapped around his neck, to boot. If someone's gonna have a medical oddity, it'll be her - she has a long list of aberrations! He is fine now and there were no issues after she was discharged, but as I said, he's nearly 5 and I don't think that's long enough to be able to declare him complication-free in an evidence-based manner, but we hope it is.
Her second birth was normal, much to everyone's shock.
I figured it was because he was so small that he had enough room to pull that kind of manoeuvre, and he was so small because he had one channel of nutrients rather than the two arteries from the placenta. None of this was picked up in earlier scans and the pregnancy was otherwise normal until that point when he wanted out a couple of weeks sooner.
I've heard of knots before, but can't remember from whom - not common. I'm guessing the flip flopping gets the cord into a knot and then when the baby is starting to position and engage it tightens the knot, so closer to the end? In layman's terms!
ETA: posted at the same time, Arcadia! Yes, my cousin was induced, in the end, because they didn't know what state the baby was in, except that his heart rate had dropped below what they were comfortable with in the ward, once she'd transferred.
Last edited by Smoke Jaguar; October 11th, 2013 at 12:33 PM.
My ds had two true knots and the cord around his neck five times (I will see if I can find a picture).
He was long and skinny and in perfect health. He was such an acrobat in utero and used to make me feel sick with his spinning.
My labour was very unusual. Short sharp contractions coming sporadically and a fast second stage. it was a lovely birth really. Read my birth story. My midwife thinks ds controlled the labour so he was safe. If I had been induced she thinks it would have been a csection for sure because he was so entangled and could only cope with short sporadic contractions. It was a really humbling experience in that way.
There was plenty of whartons jelly and placenta was good so he wasn't undernourished or anything.
My understanding is that knots and entanglement are only dangerous if there are other placental problems or a very short cord.
Ds's cord was over a metre which is twice the average. Studies suggest cord length is relative to baby's activity: ie active babies generate longer cords. Makes sense really.
I didn't have any scans after 20 weeks, so didn't know until birth. I am glad I didn't know. Trusting your body and your baby is very important in birth.
Very interesting Arcadia-I'd love to see a photo! Your labour sounds very different to mine with DS- but he was born direct OP too (nothing like making an entrance!). From what I have been told, which may be crap, is that true knots wont necessarily be picked up on routine scan unless they are doing doppler studies(?) or something. I had 4 scans and it was never spotted.
Was your DS able to get cord blood or had it pulled tight as he was born?
ETA: Perhaps I can blame the lack of hair compared to DD on the knot.....
Last edited by Lily Dust; October 11th, 2013 at 01:42 PM.
Yeah SJ it sounds like there was a placental issue with your sister's baby.
In a normal pg knots are not dangerous because the whartons jelly stops the veins and arteries being compressed. I have never heard of them being dangerous as such. Same with cord around the neck. Baby can't strangle because they don't breathe. It's only a problem if the cord is too short and baby can't be born (again your sister's story).
I don't know about cord blood after birth. I assume he could because the jelly in the cord endures the blood can flow unhindered. I looked through the photos and they're dark and blurry (perfect birth pictures haha). I can only see one knot too, so maybe I have exaggerated that story for two years lol.
Yes his birth very different from my dd who was prom at 38 weeks and 18 hours until established labour then a textbook 5 hour labour.
I think babies have so much influence on labour. We really don't understand the process at all.
Moderator
True knot in umbilical cord
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks