Umbilical Cord Prolapse When the umbilical cord drops down into
the birth canal, it is known as umbilical cord prolapse. This
rare condition is typically caused by things like premature
birth, certain breech presentations, or the baby's head not
being pressed snugly against the cervix. A cesarean, forceps, or
vacuum delivery may be needed if the prolapse is causing
problems for the baby. The umbilical cord delivers nutrients and
oxygen to the baby. In this sense, the umbilical cord is the
baby's lifeline. If, for any reason, the flow through the
umbilical cord gets blocked, it can cause problems for the baby
(often called "fetal distress"). After the amniotic sac holding
the baby breaks (known as having your "water break"), the
umbilical cord may drop down into the birth canal, and a small
part of it may even come out of the vagina. This is called
"umbilical cord prolapse." While umbilical cord prolapse is
rare, it requires immediate medical attention and possibly an
emergency C-section. Common reasons why th