Q: Can anyone tell me the specifics of knots in cords at birth? What,
if any, are the complications that might occur; can a knot in the
cord often produce a stillbirth; and finally, are there any
preventions?
-Jenna Tamura
A: True knots in the cord can occur when there is a long cord and the
baby has moved so that the knot occurred. I have seen several where
there was no problem but did have one woman whose baby was stillborn
at term and the only apparent reason was a tight knot in the cord.
The baby had been breech. We sent her to the OB for a version, and
when she got there the baby had turned itself already. The heartbeat
seemed fine on the monitor, but the next day when she came for a
visit there was no heartbeat. The mom did not want an autopsy so we
don't know if something else occurred besides the knot in the cord.
This was one incident out of maybe five or six with true knots, out
of about 600 births altogether.
I don't think there is any way to prevent a knot from forming.
-Pat Chirumbolo CNM
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 22 June 2, 2000)
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