A true knot in the umbilical cord occurs when the baby’s umbilical cord loops around itself, forming a tight knot that can potentially impact blood flow and oxygen supply.
While some umbilical cord knots remain loose and cause no harm, a tightly formed knot can lead to serious complications, including fetal growth restriction or, in severe cases, intrauterine fetal demise. True knots are often unpredictable, but families may have legal options when they result in preventable harm due to medical negligence.
At TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm, our experienced attorneys help families in Cincinnati, OH, and Covington, KY navigate medical malpractice and birth injury claims related to umbilical cord knots.
If you or a loved one has experienced complications due to a true knot in umbilical cord, contact us online or by phone at (800) 698-4054 to discuss your legal options today.
What is a True Knot in Umbilical Cord?
According to the National Library of Medicine, a true knot of the umbilical cord forms when the cord loops around itself, creating a complete knot. This condition is more likely to occur in pregnancies where the baby has a long umbilical cord, increased movement, or when there is excess amniotic fluid, all of which increase the chances of cord entanglement.
While some umbilical cord knots remain loose and do not interfere with the baby’s health, a tightly formed knot can restrict blood flow, potentially leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as oxygen deprivation or fetal distress. The likelihood of developing a knot of the umbilical cord may also be influenced by gestational age, with knots more frequently identified in later stages of pregnancy.
A prenatal ultrasound diagnosis can sometimes detect these tight knots, allowing doctors to monitor the condition and take precautions if necessary.
True Knot vs. False Knot
It is important to distinguish between true umbilical knots and false umbilical cord knots, as they have different implications for pregnancy. A true knot forms when the umbilical cord fully loops and tightens, potentially compressing the blood vessels within the cord and reducing the baby’s oxygen supply. When the oxygen supply is cut off in the fetus, it can result in severe birth injuries such as brain damage and even fetal acidosis. The presence of a true knot in the umbilical cord is also associated with increased risk factors for reduced fetal movement, distress, or even stillbirth.
In contrast, a false umbilical cord knot is simply a bulge or twist in the umbilical cord characteristics, usually caused by variations in the blood vessels, and does not pose a serious risk.
While not all knots of the umbilical cord lead to serious consequences, healthcare providers must carefully assess and monitor the situation to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes like stillbirth. If you have been the victim of medical negligence that resulted in stillbirth, let the Ohio and Kentucky stillbirth lawyers at TLF help you file a medical malpractice claim and get the compensation you deserve.
How Common are True Knots?
A true umbilical cord knot is relatively rare, affecting approximately 1-2% of pregnancies. While these knots can form at any time during pregnancy, they are more likely to develop in cases where risk factors such as excessive fetal movement, a long umbilical cord, or multiple gestations are present.
True knots occur more frequently in later stages of pregnancy, particularly as the baby becomes more active. A prenatal diagnosis can sometimes detect a true knot through ultrasound imaging, but many knots go unnoticed until delivery. If a true knot is identified, doctors may recommend closer monitoring to assess potential risks and ensure the baby’s well-being.
True Knot Umbilical Cord Survival Rate
The survival rate for babies with a true knot in the umbilical cord largely depends on whether the knot tightens and restricts blood flow. In cases where the umbilical cord true knot remains loose, neonatal outcomes are typically positive. However, when a knot tightens, it can lead to oxygen deprivation, fetal distress, or even fetal death.
Early detection through prenatal sonographic diagnosis and interval fetal testing can help doctors monitor the baby’s condition and intervene if necessary. The timing of intervention often depends on gestational age and whether complications arise as the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta.
What Causes a True Knot in the Umbilical Cord?
Several factors can increase the likelihood of a true umbilical cord knot forming during pregnancy. Extreme umbilical cord lengths, particularly longer-than-average cords, create more opportunities for the baby to move through loops of the cord, leading to a knot of the umbilical cord. Vigorous fetal movements, especially in early pregnancy, and multiple pregnancies (such as twins or triplets) also contribute to this risk. It’s also important to note that studies have suggested that a male fetus may have a slightly higher risk of complications from a true knot, although more research is needed to understand why this occurs.
Excessive amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac provides more space for fetal movement, increasing the chance of a knot forming. Maternal conditions like chronic hypertension and advanced maternal age have also been linked to an increased likelihood of umbilical cord knots. In some cases, a history of previous spontaneous abortion may indicate an underlying risk factor. Gestational diabetes has also been linked to an increased risk of true knots causing complications, sometimes leading to emergency interventions like caesarean delivery.
A true knot can affect perinatal outcomes by restricting blood flow, leading to low Apgar scores, low birth weight, and complications in the birth canal. If the knot tightens, it may limit the cord’s ability to transfer blood, potentially increasing the amount of deoxygenated blood reaching the baby and leading to serious complications.
True Knot Umbilical Cord Side Effects
A true umbilical cord knot can lead to various complications, depending on how tight the knot becomes. One of the most concerning risks is restricted blood flow to the baby, which reduces the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients. This can result in fetal hypoxia, where the baby receives insufficient oxygen, potentially leading to brain damage or long-term developmental issues. Babies affected by true knots may also experience intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to reduced nutrient supply.
If distress occurs during labor, signs like meconium-stained amniotic fluid (indicating fetal distress) may appear. In some cases, newborns affected by a true knot in the umbilical cord require specialized care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to manage complications caused by poor blood flow before delivery. Regular monitoring and awareness of true knots occurring during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of severe complications.
True Knot Umbilical Cord Stillbirth
A true umbilical cord knot can lead to severe complications, including fetal demise, if it restricts blood flow to the baby. When a true umbilical cord knot tightens, it can compress the cord’s blood vessels, reducing oxygen and nutrient supply and causing an increase in deoxygenated blood circulation.
If the knot remains undetected and becomes too tight, it may result in stillbirth. Antenatal detection through routine ultrasounds can sometimes identify an umbilical cord true knot, but not all cases are diagnosed before birth.
True Knot in Umbilical Cord Long-Term Effects
A true knot in the umbilical cord that is undiagnosed or mismanaged can lead to serious complications that affect the baby’s long-term health. One of the most severe outcomes is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.
If the umbilical cord knot restricts blood flow for an extended period, it may also increase the risk of cerebral palsy, which affects muscle control and motor function. Babies who experience oxygen deprivation due to a true cord knot may also suffer from developmental delays or permanent disabilities, which will impact their cognitive and physical abilities as they grow.
Proper prenatal monitoring and early intervention can help reduce the likelihood of long-term effects.
True Knot Umbilical Cord Autism
Research on the connection between umbilical cord knots and autism is still developing. Still, some studies suggest that birth complications involving blood vessels and oxygen restriction may contribute to adverse outcomes in brain development. A tight knot formed in the umbilical cord can lead to serious complications, including reduced oxygen supply, which is considered a potential risk factor for neurodevelopmental conditions like autism.
While a direct link between true knots and autism has not been conclusively established, some cases indicate that prolonged oxygen deprivation at birth may influence neurological outcomes. Given the variation and ambiguity surrounding autism’s causes, multiple factors likely contribute, but ensuring proper monitoring of an umbilical cord knot can help prevent adverse outcomes related to birth asphyxia and developmental challenges.
True Knot in Umbilical Cord Symptoms
Although true knots are difficult to detect before delivery, some possible symptoms or warning signs may include:
- Decreased fetal movement: A noticeable drop in how often the baby moves may signal compromised oxygen or blood flow.
- Abnormal fetal heart rate: Monitors may show decelerations or other irregular patterns of the baby’s heart rate during labor, especially with cord compression.
- Growth restriction: A baby that is not growing as expected could be receiving less oxygen or nutrients due to the knot.
- Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios): May be associated with umbilical cord issues, including knots.
- Distress during labor: Signs of fetal distress may emerge if the knot tightens as labor progresses.
Detecting a true knot in the umbilical cord during pregnancy can be challenging, as it may not always be visible on routine ultrasounds. However, specialized imaging techniques like Doppler imaging can help assess blood flow in the umbilical cord and identify any restrictions caused by a knot tightening.
In any case, prenatal diagnosis of a true knot is critical for improving perinatal outcomes, as early detection allows for careful monitoring and intervention if necessary.
Managing True Knots During Pregnancy and Labor
Proper clinical management of a true umbilical cord knot involves frequent monitoring to detect signs of fetal distress before complications arise. If doctors identify a high-risk knot, they may recommend close observation during labor to prevent issues caused by the knot tightening and restricting blood flow.
In some cases, a cesarean delivery may be advised to reduce the risk of stillbirth or oxygen deprivation.
When Do True Knots Lead to Malpractice?
True knots may lead to medical malpractice claims when a healthcare provider fails to recognize or appropriately respond to signs of fetal distress caused by the knot. If doctors ignore symptoms such as reduced fetal movement, abnormal heart rate patterns, or other warning signs and delay necessary interventions like failing to perform an emergency C-section, the resulting harm—such as brain injury, oxygen deprivation, or stillbirth—may be considered avoidable. In such cases, the failure to act in accordance with accepted medical standards could form the basis for a malpractice lawsuit.
When negligence leads to injury or loss, families may have legal grounds for a medical malpractice claim. That’s when our medical malpractice lawyers in KY and OH can step in to guide you through every step of the legal process and ensure you are appropriately compensated for the harm caused.
Filing a Birth Injury Claim for True Knot in Umbilical Cord
To pursue a labor and delivery malpractice claim for a true knot, it is highly encouraged that families work with an experienced birth injury attorney who can review medical records, consult with experts, and clearly establish that the injury could have been prevented with proper care.
Compensation in a birth injury case involving a true knot may cover a wide range of damages. This can include medical expenses, such as neonatal intensive care, ongoing treatment, surgeries, and therapy, as well as future medical costs if the child suffers long-term disabilities. Families may also recover compensation for pain and suffering, loss of future earning capacity, and, in tragic cases, wrongful death damages.
Holding negligent providers accountable through a birth injury claim can not only help secure the resources a child needs but also encourage safer medical practices moving forward.
How the Birth Injury Lawyers at TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm Can Help
At TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm, our experienced birth injury lawyers are dedicated to helping families in Cincinnati, Dayton, and the surrounding Southwest Ohio areas as well as across Northern Kentucky seek justice for injuries caused by true knots in the umbilical cord.
We thoroughly investigate cases, consult medical experts, and fight to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable. Our legal team works tirelessly to secure compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation, and the long-term care your child may need.
Free Consultations and No Fees Unless You Win
We believe that financial concerns should never stand in the way of justice. That’s why we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. This means families facing the challenges of a true knot in the umbilical cord can seek legal help without worrying about upfront costs.
Contact TLF for Skilled Representation in Your True Knot Birth Injury Case Today
If your child suffered harm due to a true knot in the umbilical cord, you deserve answers and justice, and with the right legal support, you can obtain them. The Ohio and Kentucky birth injury attorneys at TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm are here to fight for your family and hold negligent medical providers accountable.
We understand the emotional and financial challenges that come with a birth injury, and we are committed to securing the compensation you need for your child’s care.
Don’t wait to take action, call (800)-698-4054 or reach out via our online intake form today for a confidential consultation and let us help you seek justice.