A cord prolapse means the baby's umbilical cord has slipped through the cervix and into the vagina. This rarely happens, but when it does, it can be a serious emergency because pressure on the cord can reduce the baby's oxygen supply. Knowing what to do can reduce the risk of serious complications.

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Key Takeaways
  • Cord prolapse is a rare but serious complication. It happens when the umbilical cord slips through the cervix and into the vagina after the water breaks. The cord can become compressed, reducing the baby’s oxygen supply.
  • Certain factors can increase the risk. These include breech or transverse baby positions, preterm labor, twins or multiples, too much amniotic fluid, and some labor interventions.
  • Immediate medical attention is essential. If you see or feel the umbilical cord after your water breaks, call 911 or go to the hospital immediately. Quick delivery, often by C-section, can help prevent serious complications.

What is cord prolapse?

cord prolapse

Cord prolapse is when an unborn baby's umbilical cord slips through the cervix and into the vagina after a mother's water breaks and before the baby descends into the birth canal.

During delivery, the prolapsed cord can become compressed by the baby's body. Because the umbilical cord delivers blood from the placenta to the baby, cord prolapse can compromise a baby's oxygen supply.

In the rare event of cord prolapse, quick treatment from a medical professional is essential. The longer the delay, the greater the risk of complications such as placental abruption, excessive bleeding, fetal injuries, and stillbirth.

What causes cord prolapse?

A common cause of cord prolapse is premature rupture of the membranes, which is when a mom’s water breaks before she's actually in labor and her baby's head has begun to "engage," or settle into, the birth canal.

Other times, obstetric procedures during labor can disengage your baby's head (or the part of his body that's facing down), and the cord can slip past. Obstetric interventions account for approximately 50% of cord prolapse cases.

"I had a cord prolapse and believe the balloon and the breaking of my water during induction caused it," says What to Expect Community mom Paradisebird.

Who is most at risk for cord prolapse?

Some factors associated with cord prolapse include:[1]

Obstetric interventions associated with cord prolapse include:

"I had an induction and labor was going great until they checked to feel the head and felt a cord instead," explains Community mom lindidancer. "Everybody freaked out, and 12 minutes later our baby girl was here after being rushed to an OR for a C-section."

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How common is cord prolapse in labor?

Cord prolapse is relatively rare, occurring in about one out of every 300 births.[2]

What are the symptoms of cord prolapse?

The main symptom of cord prolapse is feeling or seeing the cord in your vagina or at the vaginal opening after your water has broken.

If you're already at the hospital, a doctor may suspect prolapse if your water has broken and fetal monitoring shows your baby's heart rate has slowed to less than 120 beats per minute.

How is cord prolapse treated?

If you have cord prolapse, your baby will need to be delivered very quickly, which may require an immediate C-section. Prompt delivery usually prevents the potential risks of cord prolapse, including those caused by lack of oxygen to the baby.

"From the time they discovered the prolapse to the time they delivered him was under seven minutes, so they worked very fast to get us to the OR and get him out," says Community mom babybabybabyoh24.

What should you do if you think you have cord prolapse?

If you think your baby's umbilical cord is prolapsed and you're not already at the maternity ward, call 911 or go to the hospital right away. While you wait, get on your hands and knees with your pelvis up and head down to take pressure off of the cord. On the car ride over, lie down with your hips elevated.

If you're already in the hospital when the cord prolapses, your practitioner may ask you to change positions to make it easier to relieve pressure from the umbilical cord.

Is there anything you can do to prevent cord prolapse?

No, there's really no way to prevent cord prolapse or to know in advance if your baby's cord will prolapse. Although there are risk factors, it can occur in low-risk women who are delivering their babies at term.

"Definitely a very unexpected traumatic turn of events after three very easy induced vaginal deliveries," says Community mom KrlsS about her cord prolapse.

If you have a complication that increases the risk of cord prolapse, your doctor may schedule a C-section.