Is cord entanglement linked to cerebral palsy?
Cord entanglement happens when the umbilical cord twists or wraps around a baby’s body, often during pregnancy or birth. This can squeeze the cord and cut off blood flow and oxygen to the baby. Doctors worry about it most in twin or triplet pregnancies, where cords are more likely to tangle because the babies are close together or share a placenta.[2]
When oxygen gets blocked like this, it can hurt the baby’s brain. Lack of oxygen, called oxygen deprivation or hypoxia, is a top cause of cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy affects how a child moves and controls muscles because of brain damage early in life. Birth injuries from low oxygen rank high among reasons for this condition.[1]
In multiples like twins, entangled cords raise the risk even more. If one twin’s cord gets compressed, that baby might not get enough blood flow. This leads to brain injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. HIE damages brain tissue and often causes cerebral palsy if not caught and fixed fast.[2]
Not every tangled cord leads to cerebral palsy. Many babies with minor entanglements do fine if doctors monitor closely and act quickly, like with a C-section. But if signs of distress show on monitors and care is delayed, the risk climbs. Premature babies face extra danger because their brains are still growing.[1][2]
Other birth issues can mix with cord problems to harm the brain. For example, bleeding in the brain or poor blood flow in brain areas filled with fluid can also spark cerebral palsy. Cord entanglement just adds to these threats by starving the brain of what it needs.[1]
Sources
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/birth-injuries/causes/
https://www.beamlegalteam.com/blog/birth-injuries-in-multiples-why-twins-and-triplets-face-higher-risks/
https://nybirthinjury.com/infant-inclined-sleepers-risks/
