False Umbilical Cord Accidents I never thought umbilical cord accidents happened to baby’s in this day and age. That was until it happened to us. I had a low risk perfect pregnancy. This was my third child. I got to my due date, Friday the 15th September 2006 – I was excited and anxious to meet my baby. By mid morning that day I was beginning to get worried, as I hadn’t felt much movement. At lunchtime I contacted my G. P. He did an ultrasound at his practice. Just saying he was concerned he told us to go to make our way to the maternity hospital. We got there quickly, and that’s when we received the devastating news, “ I’m sorry, your baby has died”. No one knew why but we were told that the reason might be clearer after delivery. Just two days previous I had seen our baby’s heart beating on an ultrasound at my check up. It was like a bad nightmare, our hopes and dreams gone. I was admitted and induced on Saturday morning and on Sunday 17th September our baby daughter, Tara entered the world silently at 10.02am. She was perfect, she weighed 7lb 6oz and was 55cm in length. Her birth revealed a true knot in her umbilical cord. Like every heartbroken parent we wanted to know why? Why us, why now, why wasn’t the knot detected, could I have prevented it … I wanted answers and craved information and so began my research into umbilical cord accidents. My research led to me to Dr. Jason Collins in Louisanna, USA. He is an obstetrician with 20 years experience. Through his research at the Pregnancy Institute, Dr. Collins has learned that in most cases fetal death from an umbilical cord accident does not happen suddenly, but occurs over a period of time. During this time, a baby’s distress may manifest itself through a change in its heart rate to below 90 beats per minute for greater than one minute. This deceleration is noticed at night, right before the mother lies down to sleep. At this time the mother is most relaxed and her heart rate has dropped, resulting in lowered blood pressure. The change in the baby’s heart rate can be detected using an antepartum fetal monitor. Dr. Collins believes that watching for signs of distress during a woman’s most restful hours and acting quickly to address them is crucial to preventing stillbirth from Umbilical Cord Accidents. Through the Pregnancy Institute, Dr. Collins has developed a unique home- monitoring program to help women at risk of recurring stillbirth. In cooperation with the physicians, Dr. Collins monitors the high risk mothers in the last weeks of their pregnancies through fetal readings from his patients at their most restful time. Of the fi rst 25 women in the program all delivered healthy babies. My aim is to make this monitoring program available in Ireland in honour of our daughter. I have been in direct contact with Dr. Collins and he has kindly agreed to assist me, initially as a yearlong pilot project. I currently have made a submission to the HSE and await their reply. If anyone would be interested in using this monitoring system in a subsequent pregnancy following a stillbirth from an umbilical cord accident I would be delighted to hear from you. If you require any further information or would like to make contact with me you can do so through the ISANDS offi ce by writing to me c/ o ISANDS Carmichael House, 4 North Brunswick St. Dublin 7 or by email at info@ isands. ie Thank you Linda Doran isands newsletter 14

False Baby Jake Every night I see a shinning star It shines so bright, I know its you, I feel your glow shinning down on me In the morning light as I go out, I see a cloud so fl uffy so bright I know your there just bouncing all about I know you must have learned to walk and maybe even talked I hope you are alright I hope someone is kissing & hugging you so very tight I will see you again and ask at heavens gates- not for God or St. Peter or anyone but just for you- my baby Jake I will hold you so I want you to be with me and I would never let you go God needs you more than me- to hold up the night star and brighten up the skies I know you are an angel – as good as one can be I send you all our hugs and kisses each night when we say good night In the morning bright I wave and see your face so close your smiling back at me My heart goes all a glow We love you so we know You’re in our hearts forever Lots of love our darling baby Jake Love Mummy, Daddy, Chloe, Kyle & Ben xxxxx I wrote this poem for Jake Manning born 12th Feb. 06 isands newsletter 15