Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests The Loss of My Son

As so many have already said, my condolances to you and your family. This is truly heartbreaking. You will all be in my prayers.

With deep regret my girlfriend and I cannot even phatom your greef where we wrestle with the joyful raising our new born and as a means to an end and a reasons why person to cope one (me at least anyway) must dive into the reasons why and the definitions of and so gain some comfort in understanding I give you this a defintion of the aliment you mentioned causing the death taken from the net

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Umbilical Cord Torsion as a Cause of Foetal Abortion
Disease conditions involving the foetal membranes (placenta) are a major cause of foetal loss and neonatal illness and one such problem is umbilical cord torsion. The umbilical cord is the foetal structure through which blood flows from the foetus to the placenta for oxygen and nutrient exchange. The cord also transports foetal urine from the bladder to the allantoic sac via the urachus. Umbilical cord torsion refers to occlusion of the structures in the cord as a result of either excessive twisting of the cord or strangulation due to wrapping of the cord around the foetus. This occlusion can result in death of the foetus or bladder problems after birth if the structure that transports urine from the foal is compromised.
Care must be taken in evaluating the expelled placenta, as twisting alone is not sufficient for a diagnosis and can be merely an indication of normal foetal mobility. Small fluid-filled swellings, representing mild obstruction of the urachus at a twist, can also be present in the wall of the umbilical cord of normal foals.

To be considered pathologic, twisting has to be excessive with occlusion of the vessels. This is evidenced by constriction of the umbilical vessels at sites of torsion, tearing of the inner lining of the vessels, haemorrhage into the wall of the cord, aneurysms and thrombosis of the vessels and kinking of the cord following manual unwinding.

The University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center diagnosed 168 cases of umbilical cord torsion over a 5 year period, representing 6% of foetal records during that period. The majority were in Thoroughbreds with five other breeds represented. The gestational age of the foetuses ranged from 5-10 months with a mean of 7.5 months. The cords typically were highly twisted with areas of constriction, oedema, haemorrhage, and fluid-filled swellings. The foetuses were slightly to moderately autolysed, indicating death of the foetus prior to expulsion. Dilation of the urinary bladder was observed in some cases. The principal microscopic change was deposition of calcified material in the blood vessels of the placenta. The umbilical cord lengths varied from 62 to 125 cm with an average of 96 cm.

Methods to prevent umbilical cord torsion are not known. The only known risk factor for cord torsion is cord length, however, factors causing excessive cord length have not been identified. Torsion is sporadic with no apparent increased risk for future problems in mares that loose a foal due to this condition.

Damn man. Sorry to hear that.

Thank you all for your prayers. There was a reason that I hadn't started on his room yet. Or that we hadn't even bought the crib yet. The only thing that we knew for sure, was that his name was Nicholas. A Saints name and too coincidental for this time of year. We will find the strength to deal with this and move on. It is hard for us to know we must move on when this part hasn't passed. Waiting around for tomorrow's funeral is hard. Christmas is next week, so that is a hurdle that we know is coming.

At least he is somewhere better

God Bless and be strong.

Ugh.

My wife and I will certainly be praying for you guys; our condolences on your loss.

I'm speechless, if any of the HOuston ceg'ers can do anything (Isneo, H-town, me), let us know,

My prayers are with you Eric, I'm very sorry. . .

Suneil

Wow, I am so very sorry to hear that. My condolences to you and your family.