Hypercoiling

Coiling of umbilical cord is a normal process during development. Abnormal umbilical coiling is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Hyper coiling of umbilical cord may be associated with increased rate of miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, fetal heart decelerations, cord stenosis and intrauterine fetal death. The difference in coiling has been described as an antenatal marker for fetuses at risk. We describe a patient where hypercoiling in a pre term pregnancy contributed to fetal death in a woman with multiple previous caesarean sections. Routine investigations for fetal death were negative in the postpartum period.