Do they check the umbilical cord when labour starts?

[i.love]

I was just wondering if doctors check if the umbilical cord is not wrapped around the baby when you come into hospital for labour?

I think it should be possible to check it using ultrasound, right?

 

[i.love]

OMG just noticed I'm a watermelon!!

 

[rachyryan]

Not that i know of. My son was born with the umbilical cord round his neck. He was absolutley fine. It meant i didnt get to hold him right away though as they took him away (still in the same room) just to do some checks on him i think. It wasn't until i started pushing that they mentioned the cord was round his neck and they explained to me that my dh couldn't cut the cord and i had to stop pushing at a point to make sure they got him out safely.

 

[i.love]

right... so it's not that dangerous I guess?..

 

[rachyryan]

Not an expert, all i know is my son had it round his neck and he was fine. It just meant that they gave me specific instructions as to when to push and not push as he was being born. Sorry i cant be much more help. My husband fainted though, he got such a shock seeing him like that lol. I would ask the midwife, infact i'm gonna ask next week when i'm there too.

 

[Susanne]

No, they don't. Both my kids had their cords around their necks, and the midwives both times told me that the majority of babies do and 99 out of 100 times it is not a problem at all. I think they just check once the head is out and loop it over the head if possible before the body comes.

 

[mum2b410]

I've been thinking about this too...........I was reasoning to myself that whilst the cord is intact baby is receiving oxygen etc via the placenta and therefore if it was tight round their neck it wouldn't be too much of an issue until they started to breath?? Dunno, but I would hope that they can just loop it over their head if it was round the neck........it seems scary but if it's a common as susanne says then they must keep a good eye on things and know what to do xxxx

 

[i.love]

yes I'm sure that they know what they are doing... I just always thought that it is very dangerous for some reason!

 

[littlemiss83]

No they dont check, & I agree,its very scary

They are able to tell if baby is in distress though.

 

[Jayceesmumma]

Jaycee was born the same way as rachyryan's son.. They don't check.. If you don't stop pushing when they tell you to it can be bad.. I know someone from my old school sued the hospital because they didnt tell her to stop pushing and her baby died unfortunately but that's a rarity.. Mws can blatantly see the cord around the neck and I'm pretty sure as soon as the head is out that's what they look for
Don't be frightened if the cord is round baby's neck just do as ur told when they say stop pushing.. It's so hard to stop yourself but you have to..
Sorry to have been such a downer in this reply x

 

[i.love]

thanks girls... I will be listening to mws and will not push if I'm told not to!

it's just strange they don't check this, as a scan is supposed to show the cord. I know they send girls for a scan a week before they are due in Latvia to check this. But I guess even if the cord is wrapped around the baby, there is nothing they would be able to do to change it anyway...

 

[Jayceesmumma]

I don't know why they do coz like u say there's nothing they can do and tbh no damage can be done to the baby in the womb (as far as I'm aware!) only when it comes out..

 

[vickib_1984]

No they don't they have you on a heart moniter though to check baby out xx

 

[i.love]

Jayceesmumma yeah I guess the scan wouldn't help much, and if it showed the cord being wrapped around the baby, it would just might make the girls worry more...

 

[titch]

my LO was so tangled in his cord that he couldnt decend through the birth canal, I was having monster contractions and the midwife felt him coming down and bouncing back up They didnt realise why until his heart starting to go and I had an emergency section and the surgeon said he was very tangled and I had a short cord. I was in labour for days and it was so intense it was ridiculous. I had a scan on my due date (9 days before birth) and I often wonder if the consultant shouldve seen the cord if it was that tangled Id love to know if this could be seen on a scan. I was told my baby wasnt going anywhere cos of cord entanglement and I cant help thinking the put me through a long hard labour for no reason...

I wouldnt worry about it too much in terms of baby's safety, they were very quick and on the ball and baby had no problems once he was born. They would be able to tell if there was a problem with the cord.

 

[mum2b410]

Does anyone know how or if they still check for this if u have a water birth? ..........I know baby doesn't start to breath until it hits the air but think I've read they may try to breath too soon if startled.........would someone feeling around the neck for the cord therefore startle them?
Any thoughts?

 

[i.love]

hun they do not breath under water. And mws can use mirrors to have a look at things xx

 

[i.love]

titch oh that must have been stressful! I'm pretty sure they can see such things on a scan, but I guess it's possible that the cord got tangled only in the last 9 days?... Strange though!

 

[mum2b410]

hun they do not breath under water. And mws can use mirrors to have a look at things xx

Thanks hun. Thought I'd read somewhere they may breath if startled or disturbed (hence the concern over MW checking for cord round neck whilst still under water).....but if they can just look with a mirror that shouldn't disturb bubs. Am really hoping I get to use a pool, but will just have to wait and c! xxx

 

[i.love]

mum2b410 I also hope to use the pool! But I guess it's a bit of a gamble - my hospital has only 1 pool (but apparently you can also labour in a big bath, which I might try if the pool is taken!)

I am sure they know what they are doing, and there must be a safe way for them to check the cord while the baby is under water xx