15 weeks, cord making me nervous

[WantsALittle1]

Had a private scan today, and baby's cord was wrapped around the back of her neck. I know nuchal cords are very common but I am one of the very rare cases where a nuchal cord was not just a 'normal thing' that worked itself out over time. It nearly cost my daughter her life in utero.

My daughter was born via EMCS at 31 weeks because of a triple nuchal cord that was wrapped so tightly around her neck that her movements caused placental abruption. She then went into severe distress and stopped moving altogether. I noticed her lack of movement, went in, they discovered the distress and delivered her. They said if we had waited a few more hours, she might not be here.

Needless to say, I am terrified of umbilical cords around the neck, even though I know it's common. I know there is nothing they can do about it, but I will bring it up to my OB at my next appointment.

 

[LDC]

It's completely understandable why you'd be nervous given the dangers you and your daughter faced during birth. I would definitely mention it when you see your OB and make sure you let them know how worried you are, hopefully they'll be able to give you some advice or explanations or scans to put your mind at rest.

Xxx

 

[WantsALittle1]

Thank you, yes I plan to. I guess I'm a bit scared that I'm going to get a surly "well there's nothing we can do at 15 weeks if the cord is wrapped, so what's the point of extra ultrasounds?" from them.

I didn't even get a dating scan from them at 12 weeks because I opted for the chromosomal testing, and they've told me no more scans until 20 weeks, which makes me really, really nervous :/

 

[LDC]

Where abouts are you from?

If I'm honest, my consultant told me the same thing (I got the 12 week and will have the 20 week) but they refused me any more and refused me the more detailed 20 week scan, despite there being severe brain abnormalities found with my so at his 20 week scan in July. Yet other people seem to get extra scans for a similar type of thing, it's like it depends if you hit it lucky or not!

I just paid for an extra scan at 16 weeks to be sure everything was OK - more so because I had a bleed New Year's Eve and my hospital refused to scan me until my 20 week on Feb 11th, there no way I could wait until then!

Is that something you could do? Xxxx

 

[Unexpected212]

With my son I went for a 4d scan at 28 weeks and I wish I never went as the cord was tight around his neck.

When I was in labour his heart rate was dropping with every contraction and It was cord compression. He was born healthy and ok via forceps but I'm just saying I get why you are worried. When he came out it was round his neck twice and took them a while to get it off. Very nerve wracking!

 

[WantsALittle1]

I'm in the US and out here I *believe* that the only private scans we can do are the for-entertainment ones, like what I got yesterday.

She could not give any medical advice or opinion. She could only check the heartbeat and take a bunch of cute pictures of baby, but they make you sign all these forms saying that they are not a medical facility.

The only way to get a medical scan is through my OB, and they are not being very sensitive to my history of high-risk pregnancies and emergency deliveries. Both DD and DS were unplanned EMCS for different problems.

 

[WantsALittle1]

Unexpected, yes! I no longer buy the "nuchal cords are nothing to worry about" line. They have the potential to be very, very dangerous. When DD came out, they took the cord off her neck and it had been so tight that my husband said it snapped back like a rubber band when they unlooped it and let it go. To know she was like that, in utero, for goodness knows how long, terrifies me. I don't know how many times in the weeks up to her delivery she had decels (wasn't being monitored) and we just didn't know about it.

ETA: It's kinda crazy, but I found this old post of mine. I suddenly started worrying about cord accidents 2 months before DD was born, for no real reason. I just started worrying... all the time. Little did I know that my fears would come true...

https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/pregnancy-second-trimester/1061209-cord-accidents.html

 

[Misscalais]

Hopefully at your next scan the cord has moved and you can relax a little. Given what you have already been through though i can understand your concerns.