nuchal cord

Here is one from the labor suite. You may overhear this term after delivery. It means the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck - a common occurence. Uncommonly, it can cause problems by sort of strangling the baby and cutting off blood flow through the cord. It may be a cause of fetal heart rate decelerations (slowing of the heart rate that may indicate significant fetal distress) that could lead to you getting that emergency C-section.

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