Can Marginal Cord Insertion Cause Birth Defects?

The days surrounding your baby’s birth should feel full of relief and connection. Instead, you may have heard an unfamiliar term: marginal cord insertion. The words may have come during an ultrasound, or perhaps only once your newborn was in the nursery and doctors explained why extra monitoring was needed. 

Now you’re asking exactly what is marginal cord insertion and whether:

• The condition was visible on scans during pregnancy,
• Someone should have noticed signs that the cord wasn’t attached in the right place, and
• Your medical team could have done more to prevent it.

You deserve to know whether proper care was given. 

Hodes Milman has helped parents throughout Southern California find answers when medical negligence during pregnancy or delivery led to a preventable birth defect. 

With more than 30 years of experience and over $200 million recovered, our attorneys understand how to hold medical providers accountable for failures in prenatal and delivery care. 

If your child was affected by marginal cord insertion and you believe the condition was overlooked or mismanaged, we can help you understand what legal options are available. Contact us at (949) 640-8222 for a free, confidential case review with a birth injury lawyer.

What Causes Marginal Cord Insertion?

Marginal cord insertion, sometimes called a battledore placenta, occurs when the umbilical cord connects at the edge of the placenta instead of the center. 

This placement can limit the baby’s access to oxygen and nutrients, raising the risk of low birth weight, distress during labor, or a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. 

The exact cause of marginal cord insertion remains unknown. It develops during the first stages of pregnancy when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall, and this positioning happens naturally and cannot be prevented. 

Because the condition itself cannot be avoided, providers must carefully track the baby’s growth and detect any signs that the cord is under strain. Certain factors are known to increase the likelihood of marginal cord insertion and should alert a medical team to provide closer observation:

• Multiple pregnancies (twins or triplets);
• Use of assisted reproductive technology, such as IVF;
• Placenta previa, where the placenta covers the cervix;
• Maternal age over 35; and
• Smoking or substance abuse during pregnancy.

When these risks exist, consistent monitoring becomes critical. Dismissing marginal cord insertion as a harmless variation can result in missed warning signs or delayed response to signs of distress, putting both delivery and newborn health in danger.

How Common Is Marginal Cord Insertion?

Many parents wonder how common is marginal cord insertion once they hear the term. The condition appears in roughly 5 to 10 percent of single pregnancies. The rate climbs in multiple pregnancies, such as twins or triplets, where it can occur in up to 25 percent of cases.

Because it occurs in a significant percentage of pregnancies, medical providers are expected to recognize it during prenatal care and plan accordingly. Awareness of its frequency helps families understand that while the condition itself is relatively common, attentive medical care is what keeps it from leading to complications.

Do Complications Linked to Marginal Cord Insertion Lead to Birth Defects?

Parents who learn about the condition after delivery often ask can marginal cord insertion cause birth defects and whether warning signs should have been recognized during pregnancy. The condition itself does not. It affects where the umbilical cord attaches to the placenta, not how a baby’s organs form.

Complications arise when the cord’s placement limits oxygen and nutrient flow during pregnancy. This restriction can slow growth and increase the risk of health issues after birth.

Research shows that abnormal cord attachment sometimes appears alongside other developmental problems. One theory is that when the embryo implants in a less favorable location, both the placenta and cord may develop irregularly. A University of California, San Diego study found higher rates of birth defects in pregnancies with velamentous cord insertion—a more severe condition than marginal insertion.

The primary concern with marginal cord insertion is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), where the baby develops more slowly than expected. IUGR can lead to long-term effects such as:

Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Issues

• Learning disabilities: Limited blood flow can affect brain development, sometimes leading to mild learning challenges.
• Cognitive delays: Studies of twins show lower verbal IQ in growth-restricted infants compared to their siblings.
• ADHD: Preeclampsia, which can accompany marginal cord insertion, has been linked to higher rates of ADHD in childhood.

Neurological Conditions

• Cerebral palsy: Severe cases involving oxygen deprivation during labor can raise this risk, particularly for preterm or growth-restricted babies.
• Behavioral disorders: Complications such as preeclampsia have also been connected to higher rates of emotional or behavioral issues in children.

Physical Health Issues

• Growth and stature: Some children affected by growth restriction remain smaller than average but show normal cognitive development.

In rare cases, marginal cord insertion can contribute to stillbirth when not identified or monitored. Because the cord attaches near the placenta’s edge, blood vessels there are smaller and less protected, which can reduce oxygen and nutrient flow. Unchecked, this may lead to fetal distress or death.

During labor, the cord may also be more vulnerable to compression, which can suddenly cut off oxygen. Without prompt intervention, this can cause severe distress or stillbirth.

When marginal cord insertion isn’t properly managed, the effects can reach far beyond delivery. Families have a right to understand whether missed monitoring or delayed response during pregnancy allowed preventable complications to occur.

Hodes Milman investigates cases where medical providers failed to meet the standard of prenatal or delivery care, leading to lasting health challenges for children and parents. Call (949) 640-8222 or reach out to us online for a free case review today.

When Is Marginal Cord Insertion Diagnosed?

Marginal cord insertion is diagnosed most frequently during the second-trimester ultrasound, when the placenta and umbilical cord can be seen clearly. It may also appear on first-trimester scans or later if new questions arise about the baby’s growth.

Parents mainly want to know: Can marginal cord insertion correct itself? In most pregnancies, it does not. The cord remains attached near the edge of the placenta. As the placenta expands, that attachment may look closer to the middle on later scans, but this is only an optical change—the cord does not move or reattach.

To track how the condition affects growth and blood flow, follow-up imaging is essential. When doctors neglect ongoing observation or delay review of results, important signs can be missed. In those situations, the failure to monitor may be considered malpractice.

What to Expect After a Marginal Cord Insertion Diagnosis

A diagnosis of marginal cord insertion can be unsettling, but most pregnancies with proper monitoring progress safely. Once identified, the condition typically leads to a more closely watched prenatal plan.

Your doctor should:

• Schedule additional ultrasounds to track fetal growth and amniotic fluid levels,
• Monitor the baby’s heart rate and movements in later trimesters, and
• Plan for a delivery approach that minimizes stress on the cord.

If your baby shows signs of growth restriction or distress, earlier delivery, sometimes by C-section, may be recommended to prevent oxygen loss. Communication between the obstetrician, perinatologist, and delivery team is essential. Parents can also benefit from discussing delivery plans in advance, understanding how hospital staff will monitor the baby during labor, and knowing when intervention might become necessary.

Monitoring sometimes continues after birth, particularly if the baby was small or required time in the neonatal intensive care unit. Families are often encouraged to schedule early follow-up visits to check feeding, weight gain, and developmental progress. 

If you feel uncertain about how your provider is responding, you have the right to ask questions, seek a second opinion, or review test results directly. Consistent communication and attentive care can determine whether marginal cord insertion remains a manageable condition or develops into a medical emergency.

When Does Marginal Cord Insertion Become Medical Negligence?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet accepted standards of care — the level of attention and judgment another qualified doctor would have used in the same situation.

In pregnancies involving marginal cord insertion, that standard includes:

• Reviewing ultrasound results and documenting the cord’s placement,
• Tracking the baby’s growth through regular imaging,
• Planning for possible delivery complications, and
• Responding quickly to any signs of distress.

Legal action may be possible if:

• The marginal cord insertion was visible on scans but never reported or discussed,
• Follow-up imaging was not ordered despite clear risk factors,
• Fetal distress or restricted growth was ignored, or
• Labor and delivery staff delayed care when the baby showed signs of oxygen loss.

Families who suspect these failures occurred can speak with a birth injury attorney to learn whether medical negligence played a role in their child’s condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marginal Cord Insertion and Legal Options

How do I know if my baby’s complications were linked to marginal cord insertion?

Marginal cord insertion can usually be managed safely with careful monitoring. Problems arise when doctors overlook the condition or fail to act on signs that the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen or nutrients. If your child was small for gestational age, showed distress during labor, or required emergency delivery, it may be worth reviewing how the pregnancy was monitored.

What should I do if I think marginal cord insertion was missed or mismanaged?

Start by gathering your medical records, including ultrasound reports and delivery notes. An attorney who handles both birth injury and medical malpractice cases can review the timeline and help determine whether the level of care met accepted medical standards. This step can clarify whether a claim may be appropriate.

How long do I have to take legal action for a marginal cord insertion case in California?

Most families have one year from the date they discovered the injury or three years from when the negligent act occurred, whichever comes first. Because the timeline depends on your specific circumstances, contacting an attorney soon after you suspect a problem helps protect your right to file.

What kinds of damages can families recover in these cases?

Compensation can include medical costs related to pregnancy and delivery, long-term treatment for the child, therapy or developmental care, and the emotional and financial impact on the family. The specific amount depends on the extent of harm and the evidence of negligence.

Talk to a Birth Injury Lawyer About Marginal Cord Insertion

Families depend on their care team to recognize and respond to risks during pregnancy. When that doesn’t happen, the consequences can be lifelong.

Hodes Milman helps parents across Southern California understand what went wrong and take steps toward accountability and recovery.

Your consultation is free and confidential, and you pay nothing unless compensation is secured on your behalf. Call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online to speak with a birth injury lawyer today.

Related Resources

If you found this birth defects content helpful, please view the related topics below: 

• Orange County Medical Malpractice Attorney
• Is Pitocin Safe for the Baby? The Truth About Labor Induction
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Lawyers

Contact us if you have specific questions on the matter or if you’d like to schedule a free consultation.