Unexpected survival after conservative management of cord prolapse in two very preterm babies.

Two very preterm infants (24 and 25 weeks) were born vaginally in spite of prolapse of the umbilical cord. The prolapses lasted 45 min and 2 h, respectively, but though both babies were at first believed to be lost, they survived, only mild to moderate asphyxia, and both were discharged well. One of the babies later developed slight neurological sequelae. Even a very preterm baby has the possibility of surviving vaginal delivery complicated by cord prolapse.