Ms. Luo, 26 years old, was admitted to Clifford Hospital due to intrauterine pregnancy for 39 weeks and irregular abdominal pain for 9 hours. 

Physical examinations: baby’s head was shown first; cervix had dilated to 2 cm; there was a cord on the left side of the baby’s head. With consideration of occult umbilical cord prolapse and fetal distress, low segment Cesarean section was performed as an emergency treatment. During the procedure, the doctor’s hand continued to push upward the baby’s head from vagina in case of  umbilical cord compression. Later, a baby boy was delivered with 2.5 kg weight. After 5 days, the mother and her baby was discharged. 

Comments:        

Umbilical cord prolapse is an obstetric emergency in which the umbilical cord comes out of the uterus with or before the presenting part of the fetus. The cord is then prone to compression between the fetal presenting part and the surrounding soft tissues or bony pelvis, which can lead to fetal hypoxia. Although not a common obstetric emergency, umbilical cord prolapse is one in which the initial response can make a difference in the quality of maternal and infant outcomes.