Marginal cord insertion is a condition where the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta’s margin or edge rather than its center. It can pose several risks during pregnancy and childbirth. If you or your baby was harmed by undiagnosed, unmonitored, or untreated marginal insertion of the umbilical cord in Chicago, you could hold your healthcare provider liable with the help of a birth injury attorney. Read on to learn more about marginal cord insertion and its risks and complications.
If you believe your medical team made errors that led to a birth injury in Illinois, reach out to the Chicago birth injury lawyers at Ankin Law for help. Call 312-600-0000 for a free case review.
Understanding Marginal Cord Insertion
The umbilical cord acts as a lifeline between the mother and the baby during pregnancy. It connects the fetus to the mother through the placenta. Nutrients and oxygen from the mother travel to the baby through it. This delivery system facilitates the growth and development of the fetus.
Normally, the umbilical cord attaches and inserts into the center of the placenta. This allows for the optimal flow of oxygen and nutrients. With marginal cord insertion, the cord attaches to the placenta at the edges instead of the center. This can make it harder for the fetus to get the oxygen and nutrients it requires. Just like the common types of maternal birth traumas, marginal cord insertion can result in pregnancy complications. The edges of the placenta are thinner than the placenta’s center. As a result, the thinner placenta’s sidewalls provide less support to the cord attachment than the central area.
An umbilical cord insertion is considered marginal insertion if the umbilical cord’s attachment to the placenta is two centimeters or less from the placental margin. It happens in roughly 10% of pregnancies. Marginal and velamentous insertion are the two types of umbilical cord attachments considered abnormal. A marginal insertion can become velamentous in the third trimester. For velamentous insertion, the cord from the fetus doesn’t attach to the placenta. Instead, it attaches to the membranes outside the placenta. The placenta tends to be smaller, and placenta vessel density is lower in an abnormal cord insertion than in a normal cord insertion.
Who’s At Higher Risk of Marginal Cord Insertion?
Researchers don’t know what exactly causes marginal cord insertion. It’s believed to be due to the placental tissue’s abnormal development during early pregnancy. The condition can occur in any pregnancy without a clearly identifiable cause. However, research suggests there are certain risk factors that make it more likely to occur.
Multiple gestation (pregnancy with twins, triplets, or more) is a well-known risk factor. Marginal cord insertion is much more common in pregnancies involving more than one baby. An analysis of nine studies associated the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to conceive with a 55% increased risk for marginal cord insertion. Other risk factors include:
- Advanced maternal age (35 or older)
- Drug abuse during pregnancy
- Maternal chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension
- Intrauterine device (IUD) use before pregnancy
- Having previous pregnancies with abnormal umbilical cord insertion
- Nulliparity (first time giving birth)
Risks Associated With Marginal Cord Insertion
A marginal cord insertion can cause complications that lead to birth injuries. A birth injury is a physical injury that occurs during pregnancy, delivery, or shortly after birth. Birth injuries are often preventable and the result of negligence. According to the National Safety Council, preventable injuries and placenta cord membranes were among the five leading causes of death of babies under 1 year in Chicago and the rest of Illinois in 2022. Here are some of the risks and complications associated with marginal cord insertion.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
One of the biggest concerns with marginal cord insertion is intrauterine growth restriction. A marginal cord insertion may slow the supply of nutrients to the developing fetus. This could lead to the fetus developing slower than expected. The growth restriction could also cause several other issues.
Low Birth Weight
IUGR increases the risk of low birth weight, which describes a baby born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Such a baby will likely need additional care after birth.
Low Apgar Score
The Apgar test evaluates a newborn baby’s health. A low score could indicate the baby has lung or heart problems. The baby may have to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive additional care.
Preterm Birth
Without proper care, complications from marginal cord insertion can cause early delivery. That can be risky to the baby due to the lungs and immune system not being fully developed.
Placental Abruption
Marginal cord insertion heightens the risk of placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates itself from the uterine wall too early. There could be increased bleeding during delivery as a result, posing a significant hazard to the mother and baby.
Umbilical Cord Compression
A compressed umbilical cord can obstruct blood flow to the baby, affecting the baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate during labor. It could cause long-term complications.
Vasa Previa
Vasa previa is a deadly condition where blood vessels from the placenta cross over or near the cervix. It can result from marginal cord insertion. In some cases, umbilical cord insertion into the placenta’s edge can lead to blood vessels branching abnormally, resulting in vasa previa. The condition is more likely to occur with velamentous cord insertion.
During normal delivery, the amniotic sac breaks to let the baby move down the birth canal. With vasa previa, the fetal blood vessels rupture as the amniotic sac ruptures. That could lead to severe bleeding during childbirth. The baby could bleed to death during attempted vaginal death. The mother could experience a severe hemorrhage.
Marginal Cord Insertion and Medical Malpractice in Chicago
Medical negligence can occur in a variety of ways, including in cases involving marginal cord insertion. You may be entitled to seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim for marginal cord insertion in certain circumstances.
Failure to Diagnose
Early detection of the condition allows for closer monitoring throughout pregnancy and delivery to watch out for possible complications. This can help ensure a good outcome for mother and baby. Doctors following the expected standard of care typically diagnose marginal cord insertion during routine pregnancy ultrasound examinations, which enables them to provide proactive management and care. Doctors who fail to detect this type of umbilical cord attachment may be unable to provide timely interventions for symptoms of distress.
Your ultrasound results may have shown marginal cord insertion, or you may have had clear signs of health problems related to the condition, but your doctor didn’t diagnose it. If your doctor doesn’t diagnose the condition and you or your baby suffers harm, you could hold the doctor liable for the injuries with the help of a birth injury attorney.
Failure to Monitor
After a marginal cord insertion diagnosis, a doctor will typically monitor the pregnancy more closely and carefully, keeping an eye on the size and growth of the fetus. This close monitoring ensures the baby receives enough oxygen and nutrients, grows and develops properly, and prevents further complications from developing unexpectedly. Your doctor may schedule more frequent ultrasounds.
With good prenatal care and management, many women go on to have successful deliveries and healthy babies. The doctor being more involved throughout the pregnancy is key to proper management of the condition. If your doctor doesn’t monitor your pregnancy’s progression and delivery as carefully as required, adverse outcomes like fetal distress and growth and developmental delays could occur. These may merit legal action against your medical care team for acting negligently.
Improper Treatment
Your doctor will need to take aggressive action when complications arise. The appropriate treatment for marginal cord insertion depends on the severity of your condition. For example, blood transfusion, steroid therapy, or early delivery could be necessary if the condition is negatively affecting fetal growth and development. A C-section delivery can be a lifesaver in marginal cord insertion cases with risks of fetal distress, cord compression or breaking, or heavy bleeding.
You may have the right to sue a doctor for a birth injury, or to sue another medical provider, if you or your child suffers injuries due to the doctor or other medical provider failing to give the appropriate treatment or giving the right treatment improperly, for example, by having you perform a vaginal birth when a C-section is the safer option.
An experienced birth injury attorney can review your case to determine if your medical provider’s negligence resulted in your or your child’s injury. If so, the attorney will advise you on your legal options and guide you through the birth injury claim process. A birth injury claim requires evidence that establishes the following:
- A duty of care
- Breach of the said duty
- Causation of the injuries you or your baby sustained
- The resulting damages
Your birth injury lawyer will help you gather the necessary evidence and value your claim to seek a fair settlement amount for your medical expenses, lost wages, ongoing care, pain and suffering, and other damages suffered.
If you believe medical malpractice or negligence played a part in your child’s injuries in Illinois, the experienced Chicago birth injury lawyers at Ankin Law can help. We can provide a free case evaluation and help you explore your legal options. Contact us today for a free consultation regarding your case.