Umbilical Cord Prolapse

Overview

Definition

The umbilical cord connects the fetus to the placenta, an organ that provides nutrition and oxygen to the fetus. Umbilical cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord passes through the birth canal and into the vagina in front of the baby's head. It occurs after the membranes have ruptured.

As the baby passes through the birth canal during labor, it puts pressure on the prolapsed umbilical cord. This compression of the umbilical cord decreases or can completely cut off blood flow and oxygen to the baby.

Umbilical cord prolapse is a dangerous condition that can cause stillbirth unless the baby is delivered quickly, usually by cesarean section (C-section). Most babies delivered quickly through cesarean section do not suffer from complications caused by this condition.

Umbilical Cord Prolapse
Prolapsed Umbilical cord
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Causes

Umbilical cord prolapse is cause by the umbilical cord coming out of the uterus before the baby's head.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase your chance of umbilical cord prolapse:

  • Having a baby that is in the breech position
  • Premature rupture of the membranes
  • Having multiple births in one pregnancy
  • Having an unusually long umbilical cord
  • Having too much amniotic fluid around the fetus—polyhydramnios
  • Artificial rupture of the membranes

SymptomsandDiagnosis

Symptoms

Drastic changes in the fetal heart rate during labor can signal the doctor to check for a prolapsed umbilical cord.

Diagnosis

Seeing or feeling the umbilical cord in the vagina before the baby's delivery during a pelvic exam confirms that diagnosis.

Treatments

Treatment

Treatment options include:

  • Delivery by C-section—If the baby cannot be quickly delivered vaginally.
  • Removing pressure from the cord—In some cases, the doctor may be able to move the baby away from the cord so as not to cut off oxygen supply to the baby. The mother may also be asked to move into a position that removes pressure from the cord and protects the baby.
  • Rapid delivery—If the mother is ready to deliver, the doctor may try to deliver the baby very quickly using forceps or a vacuum extractor.
Cesarean Delivery
Cesarean Delivery
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Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent umbilical cord prolapse.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Edits to original content made by Denver Health.

RESOURCES

American Pregnancy Association http://www.americanpregnancy.org 

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.org 

CANADIAN RESOURCES

The Canadian Women's Health Network http://www.cwhn.ca 

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) http://sogc.org 

References

Holbrook BD, Phelan ST. Umbilical cord prolapse. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2013;40(1):1-14.

Umbilical cord prolapse. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:  http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T900149/Umbilical-cord-prolapse . Updated December 15, 2014. Accessed September 28, 2016.