The umbilical cord is an important part of a fetus’s health during pregnancy and childbirth. In this article, we’ll explain what an umbilical cord is, review umbilical cord abnormalities, and explain how they relate to birth injury law.

Key Takeaways

• The umbilical cord is a tube that connects a fetus to its parent during pregnancy 
• The umbilical cord provides the fetus with food and oxygen and clears away its waste
• Umbilical cord conditions include umbilical cord prolapse, nuchal chord, vasa previa, and more
• A failure on the part of healthcare professionals to properly detect and respond to umbilical cord abnormalities may be considered medical malpractice 

What Is the Umbilical Cord?

The umbilical cord is a tube connecting a fetus to its parent during pregnancy. It begins to form at about four weeks of pregnancy, ultimately growing to be about 22 inches long.

The umbilical cord contains three blood vessels: one vein that carries food and oxygen from the placenta to the fetus and two arteries that carry waste from the fetus back to the placenta. These blood vessels are cushioned and protected by a substance called Wharton’s jelly. 

Umbilical Cord Abnormalities 

There are several umbilical cord conditions that can cause problems during pregnancy, labor, and birth. If a pregnant person has one, they may be detected during ultrasound screenings.  

Umbilical cord conditions include:

• Umbilical cord prolapse - Occurring in one out of every 300 births, this condition happens when the umbilical cord drops into the space between the cervix and the fetus prior to delivery. It is an emergency requiring cesarean section delivery. 
• Single umbilical artery - This rare condition occurs when an umbilical cord has one artery instead of two. It can increase the risk of congenital abnormalities of the heart, kidneys, intestines, or skeleton.
• Nuchal cord - This occurs when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the fetus’s neck or other parts of the body at birth. This can cause heart rate abnormalities and may require a cesarean section.
• Vasa previa - A very serious condition, this occurs when one or more of the blood vessels of the umbilical cord grows near the cervix. Pressure from the fetus’s body or childbirth can cause the vessels to tear, depriving the baby of oxygen. If it is not caught early enough, vasa previa can cause stillbirth. 
• Short umbilical cord - A very short umbilical cord of fewer than 40 centimeters in length can lead to problems such as stillbirth. 
• Umbilical cord knots - When the umbilical cord becomes knotted, it can cut off circulation and deprive the fetus of oxygen. Cesarean section delivery may be required. 
• Umbilical cord cysts - Occurring in about 3.4% of pregnancies, umbilical cord cysts often occur with other congenital abnormalities such as trisomies of chromosomes (13 and 18), angiomyxoma of the cord, and imperforate anus.

Umbilical Cords and Birth Injury Law

Identifying umbilical cord issues and treating them promptly is critical to preventing serious birth injuries such as cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and death. It is the healthcare team’s responsibility to conduct the proper prenatal testing to detect issues with the umbilical cord and respond accordingly, such as with C-section delivery. A failure to do so may be considered medical malpractice. 

If your baby has had a birth injury due to a doctor’s negligence in dealing with umbilical cord conditions, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. It is recommended that you speak to an experienced birth injury attorney who will be able to help you move forward with your case.