Nuchal Cord

Gasp! The Cord Was Around His Neck!  How often have you been in ear shot and over heard those words?  I've decided to collect stories where cord issues happen but are inconsequential, irrelevant, and unimportant in hopes of alleviating fears. About one-third of all babies are born with the umbilical cord around their neck/body and it does not mean the baby is in harms way. For my Birth Doula Clients, the many pregnant women that hear "scare stories", for the fathers-to-be, the nervous grandparents, here are some great links to read and photos to impress us! Birth is a glorious design. Our babies are brilliant, Our bodies are amazing!

Blissful Hospital Birth With Cord Wrapped Around the Neck FOUR Times

The Unassisted Hospital Birth of Clay (graphic)
Umbilical cord is wrapped around baby's neck FIVE times

Above is what midwife or doctor usually does before baby's body is born. As the baby's head crowns she gently feels for a cord with one finger. Mom may never know since it is such a quick maneuver most of the time.  Most midwife's will tell mom, "Oh he has a cord", as baby slips out...and that's all there is to it.

O' the birthing woman herself may unwrap the nuchal cord like Rixa Freeze did at the recent birth of Ivy. Here is her short video titled appropriately Q: What if the cord is around the baby's neck?

Rachel Reed is a midwife in Australia. Read what she says about nuchal cords in her Midwife Thinking Blog

Here's another, FOUR times around the neck, nuchal cord story at Birth Without Fear.
Cord Around Baby's Neck Is Not an Automatic Emergency

I wish for you a happy baby like this one