Umbilical cord compression is the obstruction of blood flow through the

umbilical cord In placental mammals, the umbilical cord (also called the navel string, birth cord or ''funiculus umbilicalis'') is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta. During prenatal development, the umbilical cord is physiologic ...

secondary to pressure from an external object or misalignment of the cord itself. Cord compression happens in about one in 10 deliveries.Childbirth Complications
at medicinenet.com. Last Editorial Review: 1/30/2005

Causes

Nuchal cord A nuchal cord is when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the fetus's neck. Symptoms present in the baby shortly after birth from a prior nuchal cord may include duskiness of face, facial petechia, and subconjunctival bleeding, bleeding in t ...

, when the umbilical cord is (tightly) around the neck of the fetusP02.5 Fetus and newborn affected by other compression of umbilical cord
in

ICD-10 ICD-10 is the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), a medical classification list by the World Health Organization (WHO). It contains codes for diseases, signs and symptoms, ...

, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases *Entanglement of the cord *Knot in the cord *

Cord prolapse Umbilical cord prolapse is when the umbilical cord comes out of the uterus with or before the presenting part of the baby. The concern with cord prolapse is that pressure on the cord from the baby will compromise blood flow to the baby. It usuall ...

, where the umbilical cord exits the birth canal before the baby, which can cause cord compression. *As a complication of oligohydramnios in which there is insufficient

amniotic fluid The amniotic fluid is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a gravid amniote. This fluid serves as a cushion for the growing fetus, but also serves to facilitate the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products betwee ...

*Compression during

uterine contraction Uterine contractions are muscle contractions of the uterine smooth muscle that occur during the menstrual cycle and labour. Uterine contractions occur throughout the menstrual cycle in the non-pregnant state and throughout gestation. Throughout ...

s in

childbirth Childbirth, also known as labour and delivery, is the ending of pregnancy where one or more babies exits the internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or caesarean section. In 2019, there were about 140.11 million births globall ...

Diagnosis

cardiotocography Cardiotocography (CTG) is a technique used to monitor the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy and labour. The machine used to perform the monitoring is called a cardiotocograph. Fetal heart sounds was described as earl ...

(CTG), umbilical cord compression can present with

variable decelerations Cardiotocography (CTG) is a technique used to monitor the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy and labour. The machine used to perform the monitoring is called a cardiotocograph. Fetal heart sounds was described as earl ...

in fetal heart rate.

Treatment

Umbilical cord compression may be relieved by the mother switching to another position or through maternal hydration. Secondary treatments include amnioinfusion. In persistent severe signs of fetal distress,

Cesarean section Caesarean section, also known as C-section or caesarean delivery, is the surgical procedure by which one or more babies are delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen, often performed because vaginal delivery would put the baby or ...

may be needed.

References

External links

{{Medical resources , DiseasesDB = , ICD10 = {{ICD10, P, 02, 5 , ICD9 = {{ICD9, 762.5 , ICDO = , OMIM = , MedlinePlus = , eMedicineSubj = , eMedicineTopic = , MeshID = Human pregnancy