The umbilical cord connects the baby from its umbilicus (tummy button) to the placenta (afterbirth) inside the uterus (womb). The cord contains blood vessels, which carry blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients, to the baby and waste products away. After the baby is born, the cord is clamped and cut before delivery of the placenta.

A prolapse is when an organ or a part of your body slips or falls out of place. In this instance it is when the cord comes through the open cervix (entrance of the womb) in front of the baby before the birth.

The leaflet can be downloaded as a pdf by clicking on the link below.

• Umbilical cord prolapse in late pregnancy – Information for you