Is anyone else out there completely paranoid about umbilical cord accidents???

LilTexasPeanut

I don't know if this subject has been broached, but today Taylor is moving a lot less, so I'm curious (she is moving, thanks goodness, but significantly less). My mind immediately jumps to thinking about her umbilical cord and possible issues. I'm wondering if anyone else thinks about this a lot? I know this is so morbid....but I cannot help but freak out if she's not moving as much. I just keep telling myself to chill out and realize that some days, babies are going to be less active, it's just part of all the growing they do......right?!? 

punkrockabye

That is my go-to worry, yes. That, and that the placenta has failed. 

I have serious problems with worry. I missed days of school in kindergarden on up because I would worry myself (over nothing, usually) into vomiting and therefore I'd seem sick, so I was kept home. Worrying is definitely one of my huge flaws.

But it's true, babies have less active days. I notice them immediately after she has had a very active day; the next day she seems to sleep a lot, and maybe wake up much later on if I'm lucky. I expected pregnancy to put me over the edge and require me to seek some serious help but oddly enough, I have actually been worrying than I thought I would, at least now that I feel movement. It was still pretty bad early on, and I'm still concerned all the time, but somehow I am mostly at peace with the fact that my body is doing what it was made to do in order to keep this kiddo healthy.

DianaChristineB

Thank you for posting this. I feel crazy sometimes because I am constantly worried about my baby's movements. If she is having a quiet day, my mind really starts to wander. I've actually gone in for monitoring 3 times in the past month because I was so concerned about decreased movement. I experienced an early miscarriage last summer and the TTCAL and PGAL have provided me with so much support. However, these boards have also made me realize that late losses and still births (though not common) are a reality. I try my best to enjoy my pregnancy, but I often find myself thinking "what if..." I wish I had some good advice for you, but really the only thing that helps alleviate my fear is talking about it with someone. 

SayAnything84

I could have written this original post word for word. Cord accidents scare the h*ll out of me. My aunt lost a full term baby boy due to a cord accident and she weighs on my mind every time I feel like a few hours go by without some movements. I actually can't wait for this pregnancy to end just so I can stop being so scared about it.

DeputiesWife

Yes, I am definitely paranoid.

AutumnLeaves2

Yes! All the time! I can't help it! Dh is the same way too though. He is so excited for the baby to be here but he still is in the "it's too good to be true" fearful stage. I think the only time I'll STOP worrying is when she's in my arms.

marierk

I feel the exact same way! I know someone who just recently lost a baby about a month ago due to a cord accident....she was full term and they were going to induce within the next week when she lost the baby. Scares the sh!t out of me and makes me worry all the time....I don't ever want to get all the way to full term and then lose my child

babypaloozyvan

I'm with you!  To the point that if he's had a "slow moving" day, I will go lay down on my side and not move until I have felt the 10 times kicking pattern.  It sucks being so paranoid, but I keep reminding myself that it is very rare at this point in the pregnancy (if not high risk) for there to be problems.  Don't feel bad, I think any mother-to-be thinks this way, it's our protective instincts. 

cedenton

I'm trying not to think about, but it's hard b/c I have a co-worker who lost a baby at 9 mos. due to an umbilical cord accident.  I would have preferred if she had kept the details of that to herself.  I suggest if you're worried then download a kick counter app on to your phone (if you have a smart phone) and every few hours use it.  If you're not getting the recommended amount then call your OB.

But, yes, as they get bigger you will feel less movement. 

MrsWhipple

Ok, now I'm starting to worry because I haven't felt LO yet this morning

noah-bear

DS's cord was extremely short and I fear that's the same with this LO and might be the reason I went into PTL with DS. I worry he'll twist the wrong way and rip something in there and cause problems. The Dr said the cord is free floating with no tension, but I know I'll be asking again when they do more ultrasounds.

irer

Yes, I worry about this. I hate quiet days!

LilTexasPeanut

I'm glad to know I'm not "alone" with these scary thoughts.  I hate that we can feel so powerless.  I'm sorry if this post scared anybody, it's just a very real fear for me (and apparantly several mama's).  I needed to ask, and see if what other opinions are out there.

Btw I'm still monitoring Taylor's movements.  She's still not moving a lot.  I'm hoping to not make a visit to L&D today...but if this stinker doesn't pick up the pace this morning. We're going.

ufmelissa

cedenton:

I'm trying not to think about, but it's hard b/c I have a co-worker who lost a baby at 9 mos. due to an umbilical cord accident.  I would have preferred if she had kept the details of that to herself.  I suggest if you're worried then download a kick counter app on to your phone (if you have a smart phone) and every few hours use it.  If you're not getting the recommended amount then call your OB.

But, yes, as they get bigger you will feel less movement. 

I had the same thing happen with my co-worker.  He told me a few weeks ago (when I was 28w) how his wife lost one baby at 28w from toxemia and then at 36w from a cord accident.  I was horrified.  I know these things happen but can you wait and tell me after my baby has safely arrived? 

The only comforting thing at least for now is that this baby is extremely active so I usually don't go more than 10-15 min without feeling her. I've recently noticed that if I lean too hard into my desk, she immediately kicks back so hopefully I can use that trick for a while if I need to.

xokell2

I just freaked out about this on PGAL yesterday, I was nervous because my baby was moving around a TON and I goggled (stupid me) that fetal hyperactivity can be a sign of distress. Urgh

AggieDaner

I'm in the same camp as everyone else, it scares the hell out of me. I get similarly paranoid whenever I get indigestion, my brain is immediately like "ACCIDENTAL LISTERIA INFECTION! WOMP WOMP WOMP!"

Ugh, I'm glad I'm not alone in this.

LilTexasPeanut

C_mo:

punkrockabye:

That is my go-to worry, yes. That, and that the placenta has failed. 

Both of these exactly.

Wyatt was born with a calcified placenta and a true cord knot (meaning it was actually knotted, not just wrapped around him). So yeah, I really worry about the same thing happening with this baby and not being so fortunate this time around. That being said, I keep reminding myself that there is absolutely nothing I can do to prevent either of them, so there is no point in driving myself crazy over it. Chances are that this baby won't have any problems with his cord. True knots are rare, so what are the odds that both of my sons end up with one? Low I hope. 

Looking back, the only thing I have been told (by my doctors) could have pointed to the cord knot was the 'false labor' I had from about 30 weeks on. I ended up in the hospital countless times with what I thought was early labor. I was sent to a big city hospital once at 33 weeks when the FHM showed his heartrate drop drastically all of a sudden. By the time I got to the city (3 hours) everything was back to normal, my FFN came back negative and I was sent home on bed rest. Now they think that the drop was because I was laying on my back which put pressure on his cord, which caused him to go into distress which caused the contractions.

I had a feeling that something was wrong all along. My contractions were not typical of BH or false labor, it was more like early labor that went on for hours and hours (usually starting in the middle of the night, while lying on my back or the wrong side) and then eventually tapered off and then stopped all together. They never managed to dilate me (at all) and I was induced at 10 days past my EDD.

My doctors never clued into the cord knot, despite my concern that something was wrong. They kept telling me that what I was feeling was perfectly normal and that I was just 'one of those women'. Very fortunately, Wyatt was fine and unaffected by his knot, but it scares the hell out of me to think that we might not have the same luck twice. I never noticed any differences in his movements (I didn't have much to compare it to at the time), but I will definitely be more diligent in paying better attention to this baby's movements to be sure.

Mo, this story is incredible.  I still can't believe you and Wyatt went through all of this!!! Holy cow!!! 

 I'm just glad to know all of us mama's are not alone with our maternal-never-ending-worrying.