A quick check on social media groups frequented by pregnant mums and new mothers in Kenya reveal a common occurrence of babies being born with a cord around their neck, with some dying and others being saved just in time. It is for this reason that many mothers fear this pregnancy complication and are always looking for information on ways to prevent it. Unfortunately, prevention of such a situation is impossible as it is usually caused by frequent movement of the baby resulting in the cord going around their neck.
Is the cord around the baby’s neck dangerous?
Having the cord tied around the neck is common in babies and should not get you worried as long as it is not causing any obstruction to its normal functions. Even so, if during your antenatal clinic sessions doctors find out about the wrapped cord they will be able to monitor you closely to ensure that the baby is safe.
During delivery, your doctor will monitor the heart rate of the unborn baby as the labour progresses so that the midwife on standby will quickly slide the cord, which is usually loose, over the baby’s head and deliver them safely. However, if the umbilical cord is much tighter on the baby’s neck it may negatively affect the heart rate because of the decreased supply of oxygen as well as blood. In such cases, the delivery may be done through a caesarean section to ensure that both mother and baby are saved.
