Intrauterine rupture of the umbilical cord during delivery

Two cases of bleeding from ruptured umbilical vein during delivery are reported. In one case the rupture was spontaneous, leading to fetal distress. In the second case the rupture was probably iatrogenic, and was caused by forceps delivery. Bleeding from ruptured umbilical vessel should be considered when a combination of variable decelerations during fetal heart rate monitoring, blood-stained amniotic fluid and fetal distress are detected during delivery.