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Once the head was out, I would unwrap
the cord if it was loose enough, birth the baby through the cord and somersault him/her through it, or just birth the baby
and untangle the baby immediately after the birth--whichever seemed prudent at the moment, based on the circumstances at hand.
If the cord could not be removed because
it was super tight around the baby's neck, etc, I would consider double clamping and cutting it in the middle of the
clamps, then I would push the baby out as quickly as possible, being prepared to administer CPR and/or call 911 if I
felt it was necessary for some reason.
However, this would be a last-ditch-effort
on my part, because I do believe the baby's lifeline at birth is literally the umbilical cord, so in that respect, allowing
the cord to stay connected between the baby and placenta until the baby has received all of the highly beneficial nutrients
and oxygen rich blood is always my personal goal whenever remotely possible.
~Carrie
UC Board CL
From my research on the subject, it is
my understanding that around 3 out of 4 babies born have their cord wrapped (usually loosely, sometimes tighter) either around
their necks like a necklace or around their bodies/arms/legs. I've read that it's a fairly good thing if it *is* wrapped because
it prevents the cord from falling down before the baby and prolapsing.
It's not as big of an "emergency" as often
portrayed on telivision shows ect. I've read that if you can get your finger under the cord around the neck, simply lift it
off. Or hold the baby's head steady and "sommersault" the baby out as the body is birthed, thus untangling it.
karly
You can try to unwrap it, or cut it if you feel it is necessary. We never checked.
Nothing big here...If it's loosely there, then deliver, or remove it then deliver and if it's tight you can,
if need be clamp the cord and cut it, away from the baby, etc. That is very rare though.
Tina Mom to Quentin 3/4/97,
Ashton 6/23/99, Owen 4/11/01 first UC, Due again May
The cord is often wrapped loosely around part of the baby, and will not usually cause a problem (two of my three
had the cord wrapped over their shoulders, with no problems). If the cord is wrapped tightly enough that you feel that the
baby is having trouble emerging, you can try to get a finger under it and loosen it a bit. If the head comes out, but the
body is held back by the cord, you can hold the baby's head by the mother's thigh and "somersault" the baby's body out.
I
would not try to cut the cord on a baby that is still in the mama's belly, due to the possibility of seriously injuring the
baby with the scissors, but I suppose that taking that risk when all else is failing might be worth it.....
Beatrice--
mama to Max (6, CNM hospital birth), William (4, LM home waterbirth), Dora (2, family UC), Wee One (in belly, arriving late-Winter,
UC)
*Bee's Official Disclaimer: All of my answers express my own personal opinion, and as I am not a trained birth
professional, but better, an experienced mother, none of it ought to be construed as medical advice.*
I'm not worried... I figure that if the cord's wrapped around the neck, baby and cord will just pop out together
on the next contraction.
This, in fact, is what my former midwife felt her big job was. To check for the cord around
the neck as the baby was being born, so she could slip it over the baby's head and out of the way. This was also her excuse
for not letting me push on the floor with Hannah. I had to squat on the bed, holding onto pillows, when I would have preferred
to push on the floor, holding onto the bed.
Ruth
Ella's cord was around the back of her neck and she wouldn't come all the way out. Hubby simply hooked his finger
under it & the baby came out. :) He said it was really simple.
I don't know how I would have handles it without
him, since I didn't know her cord was around her neck? I imagine she would have made it out eventually? :)
Aubrey
W/ both my UC's the cord was wrapped. W/ Taegan I birthed her through a loop we made. W/ Balen I did
not check and when I brought him up to me he was turning purple from the cord being tight. I just unlooped it.
Annabelle
Mom to 4 girls and a boy! Makaley 2/24/94, Arden 2/24/94, twins by c/s, Anniston 11/12/95, HB w/ midwife, Taegan 12/30/98,
UC, and Balen 12/7/00, UC.
Cord should not be an issue in unhindered, gentle birth ...
In my own situation (obviously I cannot speak
for others,) I knew that the baby would move down through my vaginal canal quickly, since there would be no interference to
keep my body from doing what I had already seen it could do perfectly well. So it was not even an issue -- I knew there would
hardly even be time to check for the cord. She was born in two pushes.
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