Hi Sheena,
I am a midwife practicing in Canada. I always chart "cord around the neck" as "nuchal cord." Nuchal means pertaining to the neck. I had an interesting tight nuchal cord the other day. I used the somersault maneuver to get the baby out without cutting the cord. This is described in Varney's "Midwifery". I have used it a few times and find that it works great. Babies don't seem to be so "stunned" or need resuscitation, the way they do if the cord is cut on the perineum.
Here is how to do it. If you have checked for cord and you asses that it is tight and impeding the birth, wait for restitution then flex baby's head tightly toward the (mum's) thigh that it is facing (think tucking chin/head to do somersault). Babe will generally come with next push and literally somersault out so that head stays at perineum with body "flipping over". Unravel cord from neck and stimulate babe if needed. I find they often do need added (gentl) stimulation with a tight cord, and maybe a bit more encouragement to cry well. When the cord is tight the natural expulsion of fluid that usually occurs as the head is born is restricted because of the tight cord. They tend to be a bit more gurgly and may need a good cry to clear the lungs well.
The babe I somersaulted the other day (Apgars 7 and 9), had the cord tight around the neck under the arms and around the body. He never did really cry and pinked up well in mum's arms. He still doesn't cry much and slept through the Guthrie heel poke today. He is feeding well, gaining weight and just mellow.
Meaghan Moon
At 08:00 AM 5/28/04, you wrote:
Thank you to all who replied about the cord around the neck query of mine. Now I have another question, why is it sometimes called the nuchal cord? I have heard of the nuchal fold, but only very occasionally is the term nuchal cord used.
Sheena Johnson
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