hypercoiling of the umbilical cord

Hi everyone

Have any of you heard of this condition or loss an angel to it? I found out on Friday that it is the likely cause of my little boy's death.

My obstetrician once again proved his worth by telling me that he's never heard of the condition and will have to find out more about it. It would've been useful if he actually did some research before telling me that but I'm changing obs anyway so I don't care what he thinks.

But any real life info any of you can share with me would be most appreciated.

I'm so sorry Hammi for the loss of your little boy Hamish :hug:

I actually had never heard of that either - and while I'm obviously not an obstetrician I've at least heard of most obstetric complications even if I don't know alot about them...it prompted me to go off and do some research and it does seem that this complication is extremely rare. Obstetricians are the undisputed experts in complications of pregnancy, so the fact that your OB hadn't heard of it would testify to just how rare it is. You might well find that unless you seek out an OB who deals only with high risk pregnancies (for example one that works from a tertiary hospital - and that may well be a public OB, not a private one because the public OB's in the larger hospitals tend to deal with the really specialised cases), that you'll get the same response from other obstetricians as well.

From what I've been reading it seems that it may implicated in second trimester losses more often than it is actually recognised - again because it is so rare pathologists may not pick it up.

I'm so sorry hun, I know you must be hunting high and low for answers right now and it's important that you get them. I hope you find a caregiver who can give you that.
Take care :hug:

Oh thank you Tobily for even doing research for me! I fluctuate between wanting to know more and thinking that's enough explanation.

I took the report to my GP today and she explained some of the words that I didn't understand to me. I got a ridiculous amount of joy from the fact that the report states how perfect my boy was and it was that stupid placenta and cord that took him away from me.

I'm glad you got some explanations today Hammi. It must be absolutely devastating to know that you lost a perfect, healthy little boy. I hope that knowing that this is a rare, one off thing will strengthen you in the future if you decide to try again. Your body can and does make perfect little babies...this was an awful, random event :hug:

It's so normal to swing between wanting to know more, and not wanting to know more because it's too much to deal with...just take your time. The answers you need will still be waiting there, even if it's months or years from now before you decide you're ready to seek them.
Hugs to you, I'm so sorry hun.

Hammi--I'm so sorry, hon, I've never heard of this before, so I can't answer your question... I just wanted to let you know that I'm always thinking of you and :pray: for you and your little Hamish! :hug: :hug:

hi hammi,
yes i too lost my little girl lara at 25 weeks due to hypercoiling. I was shocked because this is a quite a rare occurence. It was extremely hard as you probably know giving birth to her and everything. But you know what? my Ob said that i would not be extremely high risk and that the next pregnancy should be fine. its a 1 in 1000 chance of happening again. We will get through this and have beautiful babies. I also lost a little boy at 11 weeks before that too so it seems like an eternity that i have to wait again to to see my beautiful little baby. Are you trying again soon? my partner and I have seen a naturopath and we are doing a detox so we will try again in about 4 months. Im really sorry this happened to you as well, good luck for the future...

I'm so sorry for your losses Hammi and Tiffy01. I too lost my little boy at almost 21 weeks, althought not because of hypercoiling, but because of a large fibroid that decided to die on me and caused my uterus to contract. For a while I too agonized if there was something wrong with him, but he was so perfect it was such a relief.

It's so easy to be afraid of a re occurance, but as hyprecoiling is so rare, I'm sure it won't happen again to either of you. Please be kind to yourselves, as although mother nature can be so cruel sometimes, I believe that it shapes us to be stronger women for enduring what we have endured.

I wish you all the best for 2009, I hope all your dreams come true. I'll keep your precious angels in my prayers.

Beata.

Hi Tiffy and Beata. First of all, I'm sorry for the losses of your beloved babies. It shocks me every time I meet someone new who has lost a child in the second trimester. Before April, I didn't know that such horrific things happened.

Tiffy, are you in Holland Park, Brisbane? I lived there for year when I was little. Was Lara's hypercoiling mild? Hamish's was and when I took his autopsy report to another obstetrician he said "mild" usually means very little and not really a cause of death. He said my case would be considered as unknown causes since there was nothing wrong with me or my baby. So I'm not a high risk either. I'm in the same boat as you, a miscarriage at 6wks then Hamish at 22wks. We've just started trying again after seeing a naturopath, homoeopath and acupuncturist (I don't do anything in moderation!) since April. When you're ready to try again, join the Trying to Conceive After Stillbirth thread. Everyone there is great. Good luck to you too, and may Lara and her brother watch over you.

Beata, I've not doubt that Joshua was perfect. People do not realise how developed babies are at 21 wks. Did you get to hold him? Did the midwives make mementos for you to keep? I also wish for an earth angel for you in 2009. Do join the TTC After Stillbirth thread when you're ready, you'll find so much support there.

Hugs to you both.

Hi Hammi,

Thanks so much for your kind words. I too didn't think you could lose a baby that far into the pregnancy. I agonised for the first 12 weeks ( if things gonna go wrong they do during those weeks, right ? ) and then every week was a milestone. I started to really relax after my 20 week scan and then went into labour a few days later. I got to cuddle and spend some precious time with my little boy, and the fantastic midwife took some lovely photos of him ( they're my most treasured possesions ).

So far I've found some great support on BB, and you're no exception ! Thanks very much Hammi, my heart goes out to you :hug:.

All the best with your journey.

Beata xxx

hi hammie,
yes i do live in holland park brisbane its a lovely suburb my partner and i bought the house a year and a half ago. Yes apparently my umbilical cord was quite long and that was the reason she passed ( lack of foetal movement alerted me and they found no heartbeat after i had been in for a doppler check just 2 days before and there was a heartbeat.). I had a 13 hour labour but i pushed through with no epidural. She looked just like me she was so sweet. I got photos and everything which was lovely. I only found out today about the hypercoiling as i say quite a shock.Its hard because i had two girlfriends who were close to me in gestation so they are still pregnant and i am not. I am on an organic diet now and i execise every second day and i am feeling good, i cant beleive how much it has helped. Has the naturopath and everything helped you?
thankyou beata as well for your sympathies. One day they will find a way to prevent this from happening to us at all!!
ps beata and hammi im sure all three of us will have our beautiful children soon. i know it feels like an eternity to wait to hold them in our arms but it will happen. Yes it is amazing how developed they are at that age everything in the right place. I actually attended antenatal classes with my girlfriend who has 3 weeks to go 2 weeks after i had lara because her partner left her. It was pretty tough but i knew i had to do it for her she had no one else to turn to. She emailed the midwives who did the workshop after the class and told them about me and they could not believe it. But you know what? it has actually helped me start moving on. I still look at her photos now and have a cry and that is part of the healing process. Look forward to seeing you both in TTC.

hey Tiffy01,

You are such a wonderful friend to have gone to your girlfriend's antenatal classes with her and give her support and strenght when she needed it most, I think it's just so beautiful and so brave of you. You've put your firend's needs ahead of your own, and that's so amazing. Good on you hun ! And see how you've benefited ! The universe works in mysterious ways, hey ?
I truly hope you get your miracle soon, see you in the TTC section soon !

Merry Christmas and may all your wishes come true in 2009 !

Love and hugs

Beata xxx

I can't tell you enough how sorry I am to hear of your loss. I too have lost a child to a hypercoiling cord. I was 23 weeks pregnant and didn't feel him kick for 2 days and went in just to check. That's when I found out that he had died. I would be due next month. Your posting is what brought me to this site. I am still trying to find info on this rare occurence. And I am still so lost.
How are you dealing with your loss now? Is there hope for the future? I know you came looking for answers and here I am asking you for help.
I pray that things are better and easier everyday for you. Thank you for posting and helping me find somewhere to go for support.

hi
my name sarah and this to has only just happended to me, i was 21weeks and 5days and went for a normal ultrasound and there was no heartbeat. i received me autopsy results yesterday and there was an extermly hypercoiled umbilical cord that was 9cms longer than average. Same as most the baby is completly fine but there is a complication with the cord and the result is saying good bye to your beautiful little baby.

im so sorry to hear of you loss im sure he and all these children would have been beautiful and are dearly loved.

sarah xx

So sorry for your loss Sarahh, fly free little lillygrace!