How Birth Injuries Can Sometimes Present Due To Nuchal Cord
Fetal hypoxia is one the chief areas of concern when a nuchal cord is detected. At times, a nuchal cord can resolve on its own prior to delivery. When this cannot occur, a nuchal cord can yield serious results such as fetal hypoxia due to a compression and restricted blood and oxygen. Due to this happening, the baby can become “strangled”. The further the baby moves down the birth canal, the cord can become further compressed.
The types of birth injuries that can result from a nuchal cord are as follows:
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): A medical condition that is a result of a decreased level of blood and oxygen (profusion) leading to a brain injury. During a nuchal cord delivery, cord compression can lead to HIE.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS): MAS can be caused by fetal distress. A sign of fetal distress can stem from a baby’s abnormal heart rate. Meconium is the baby’s stool and is dangerous to the baby if inhaled. If the fluid is stained in meconium, doctors will check during delivery to determine if the substance has reached below the baby’s vocal cords.
Death: The lack of blood and oxygen always presents danger to the baby. If this lack of blood and oxygen outpaces the baby’s fetal reserves, death can be the outcome.
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