What are the nursing interventions when an umbilical cord prolapse?

Firstly, call for help – umbilical cord prolapse is an obstetric emergency. It should be managed as follows: Avoid handling the cord to reduce vasospasm. Manually elevate the presenting part by lifting the presenting part off the cord by vaginal digital examination.

What does a nurse do for a prolapsed cord?

The nurse or provider should place a gloved hand intravaginally to elevate the fetal presenting part off the cord and be prepared to maintain this intervention until delivery. Minimizing direct handling or manipulation of the cord is extremely important because it can lead to vasospasm and fetal hypoxia.

How do you relieve pressure from the umbilical cord?

One of the leading treatments of umbilical cord compression is amnioinfusion. Amnioinfusion is a process that involves introducing a saline solution, at room temperature, into the uterus during labor in order to relieve the pressure that can potentially lead to the umbilical cord becoming compressed.

When assessing a laboring client the nurse finds a prolapsed cord The nurse should?

The client with a prolapsed cord should be treated by elevating the hips and covering the cord with a moist, sterile saline gauze. The nurse should use her fingers to push up on the presenting part until a cesarean section can be performed. Answers A, B, and D are incorrect.

What happens during a cord prolapse?

Umbilical cord prolapse occurs when the cord drops through the open cervix into the vagina before your baby moves into the birth canal. When this happens, the cord is squeezed between your baby’s body and your pelvic bones. This reduces your baby’s blood supply, leading to loss of oxygen to your baby.

What is the primary nursing action when the umbilical cord is prolapsed?

When cord prolapse occurs, prompt actions are taken to relieve cord compression and increase fetal oxygenation. The mother should be positioned with the hips higher than the head to shift the fetal presenting part toward the diaphragm.

How does a prolapsed umbilical cord happen?

An umbilical cord prolapse happens when the umbilical cord slips down in front of the baby after the waters have broken. The cord can then come through the open cervix (entrance of the womb). It usually happens during labour but can occur when the waters break before labour starts.

What causes pressure on the umbilical cord?

Serious umbilical cord problems can result in brain damage or the death of the baby. Umbilical cord compression occurs when the baby’s weight, the placenta or the vaginal walls put pressure on the cord during pregnancy, labor or delivery. Cord compression during pregnancy is a common problem.

What is the nurse initial action when umbilical cord prolapse occurs?

The immediate priority is to minimize pressure on the cord. Thus the nurse’s initial action involves placing the client on bed rest and then placing the client in a knee-chest position or lowering the head of the bed, and elevating the maternal hips on a pillow to minimize the pressure on the cord.

How is nursing management of umbilical cord prolapse improving?

Advances in the management of umbilical cord prolapse hold promise for reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality. This article reviews traditional nursing management of umbilical cord prolapse and introduces the use of real‐time ultrasound and bladder filling as additional methods of nursing management.

How to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord?

So we want to elevate the presenting part with your hand to relieve pressure on the cord. The mother needs to be put in either knee to chest position to open the pelvis or in trendelenburg to shift the fetus and relieve pressure. While you are doing all of this you are also going to give supplemental oxygen.

How does the Cleveland Clinic diagnose umbilical cord prolapse?

Umbilical cord prolapse is diagnosed by seeing or palpating the prolapsed cord on pelvic exam. In addition, the baby may have an abnormal fetal heart rate known as bradycardia (a heart rate of less than 120 beats per minute). Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

How is the umbilical cord important to the baby?

The umbilical cord is the baby’s lifeline to the mother. It transports nutrients to the baby and also carries away the baby’s waste products. It is made up of three blood vessels – two arteries and one vein. What are the consequences of umbilical cord prolapse?