Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with cord prolapse, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After membranes rupture cord slips into vagina ahead of baby — compresses and kills baby fast.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Head down knees chest. Hand reduce pressure on cord. No pushing.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden deceleration feeling cord at vagina after gush.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Variable fetal heart if monitored — civilian feels pulsating cord.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cord compressed between baby and pelvis — fetal heart drops.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — More common breech transverse unengaged head.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — 112 cord prolapse — need immediate cesarean.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Knee-chest position hips elevated.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Insert clean gloved hand vagina lift baby part off cord gently.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep hand in place until surgical relief — do not remove.
When and how to get professional help.
Any suspected cord prolapse is immediate cesarean emergency.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Position call reduce compression until surgical team. Do not attempt delivery.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — 112 obstetric code cord prolapse in progress.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ambulance lights sirens direct to OR capable facility.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT push mother to deliver — worsens compression.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT pull cord back roughly.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Push quickly to deliver before cord problem hurts baby
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pushing compresses cord more — elevation and cesarean save baby.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fetal death from attempted expedited vaginal birth.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Breech delivery
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breech presentation delivery imminent — higher risk than head first.
Pregnancy CPR
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cardiac arrest in pregnancy requires CPR with left uterine displacement.
Pregnancy choking
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Airway obstruction in pregnant woman — chest thrusts not abdominal thrusts.
Emergency birth
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Labour progressing rapidly — birth imminent before ambulance arrives.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Category 1 cesarean target delivery minutes matter.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hand elevation maintained in transport.