Prolapsed Umbilical Cord

The umbilical cord is the tube full of blood vessels that connects you to your baby while you're pregnant. The cord comes out of the baby's belly button, which is called the umbilicus. The umbilical cord carries blood with nutrients and oxygen from your placenta to your baby. When you give birth, usually the baby is delivered first and then the umbilical cord comes out after the baby.

A prolapsed umbilical cord is an umbilical cord that has fallen out in front of your baby during delivery. When this happens, the umbilical cord can get pinched shut between your baby and your pelvic bones. This cuts off the baby's blood supply, which can be rapidly fatal.

Placenta, Cord, and Fetus

Obvious prolapse can happen when:

• Your water breaks early (also called premature rupture of the membranes)

• Your baby hasn't moved down into your pelvis before your water breaks

• Your baby comes out feet first or bottom first (breech delivery)

Doctors can usually see a prolapse when the umbilical cord is sticking out of the vagina. If the cord isn't sticking out, doctors suspect a prolapse if your baby has an unusual heartbeat.

If the cord is sticking out of your vagina, your doctor will do a C-section right away. Until surgery begins, a nurse or doctor holds the baby's body off of the cord so that the baby's blood supply isn't cut off.

If the cord isn't sticking out of your vagina, doctors will have you lie in a different position to take pressure off of the cord. You may need a C-section if this doesn't work.