Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

What can cause a baby to be born with the umbilical cord tied around its neck?

My mother told me that she had to have a C-Section because the umbilical cord was tied around my neck due to her bending over so much (I came out all purple and nearly suffocated). I am now 6 months pregnant and every time that I bend over to pick up something, my mom gets mad at me and tells me that I need to squat instead. Can bending over cause my baby to be born like I was? Please help!!

Public Comments

1. The baby gets twisted in the umbilical cord because of his or her movements, not because the mother is moving around in a certain way. If that were the case, there would be warnings everywhere about not bending down. My Daughter was born (vaginal birth) with the cord wrapped around her neck twice and she's fine.
2. A lot of things can cause that, but basically it comes down to the fact that the baby turns and somehow gets the cord around its neck. I guess when you bend over, it allows the baby to shift more, and therefore, it can get the cord wrapped. I think all in all, it's sort of a wive's tale. My mom told me if I reached over my head after month 6 that it would have the cord wrapped. If it happens, it happens, the doctors deal with it all the time, and they do know what to do. Good Luck with your new little one.
3. I don't think much of your movement is going to cause the cord to wrap - it's the baby's movement that does it. However, I'll tell you that squatting will be way more comfortable than bending in a short time.
4. well sorta but not really the only way for that is when you bend over to get something you might accidently fall from all the weight trust me
5. It can be also due to anxiety, my brother was born with his cord around his neck, cause my mum was very nervous, my father got lost in the Alps couple of days before due date... You shouldn't worry so much...relax, enjoy your pregnancy....
6. You are probably better off squatting, but more for the health of your back. I have never heard that bending over causes the baby to wrap up in the cord, I always thought it was because the baby twisted and turned in just the right way. If you are worried about this, talk to your OB and have them check at your next ultrasound to see if everything is okay. When I lived in Kentucky an old lady told me that lifting my arms above my head would cause the cord to wrap around the baby's neck. I didn't believe her.
7. I'm with Hoosiermommy on this one.
8. Just the baby moving around
9. Having the cord wrapped around a baby's neck at delivery time is not unusual. Bending over does not cause it. At one time they said if you put your hands over your head such as in hanging out the laundry that you would strangle the baby. If you have questions talk with your doctor. Do not listen to old wives tales.
10. It has nothing to do with mom bending over. People used to say the same thing about raising your arms above your head. That's just an old wives' tale. It has to do with how much twisting and squirming around baby does in utero and how long/short the cord is, etc. There is NOTHING mom can do to help prevent this. It's all up to baby. It IS better for your back if you squat instead of bending over though. AND squatting is good for you in labor, so practicing wouldn't hurt! :-)
11. USUALLY WHEN YOU REACH OVER YOUR HEAD IT CAUSES STRESS TO THE BABY. THATS WHEN THE CORD USUALLY GOES AROUND THE NECK. I NEVER HEARD ABOUT THE BENDING OVER BUT ANYTHINGS POSSIBLE. SOMETIMES THE BABY MOVES AROUND A LOT AND GETS TANGLED UP IN THE CORD. ALSO FETAL DISTRESS IS WHAT THEY CALL IT. MY LAST SON( BY THE WAY I HAVE SEVEN KIDS, LAST THREE C-SECTIONS) CAME OUT ALL BLUE AND NOT BREATHING. THEY WORKED WITH HIM FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE HIS BLOOD STARTED CIRCULATING. HE STARTED TURNING PINK AND CRYING. THE CORD WAS AROUND HIS NECK. I WENT THROUGHT QUITE A BIT OF STRESS WHILE CARRYING HIM. SO TRY NOT TO LET THINGS STRESS YOU WHILE PREGNANT BECAUSE THE BABY WILL STRESS. MY SON IS FINE. HE'S SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OLD NOW.
12. Basically his movements in your tummy. C-sections this day in age there are so many diverse and pain-free during a surgery in the hospitals. Good luck and don't worry. Though the healing process lasts up to 6 wks. (sometimes more depending upon the person...) but this shouldn't matter b/c once you see your little one's eyes and fingers, and just his "littleness" you will be so amazed and so so happy. Congrats and best to you!
13. Nothing you do will cause the cord to go around your baby. There is nothing you can do to prevent it either.
14. ask your doctor he will know
15. You can not do anything to wrap the cord around your baby's neck!!! The own baby's movements accomplish this. Many babies are born with the cord wrapped around their necks, and they are fine. In normal cases, the cord is long enough that this is not a problem.