10/19/2026
A TRUE KNOT 🤍🌙
This past weekend, I witnessed something I had never experienced firsthand at a birth: a true knot in the umbilical cord!
A true knot forms when a baby moves through a loop in their umbilical cord, creating an actual knot. They’re relatively rare, occurring in approximately 0.3–2.2% of births!
During pushing, the baby’s heart rate was significantly affected, and there was a bit of a scare as we approached the finish line. What we didn’t know in that moment was that a true knot was present. It wasn’t discovered until after baby was born.
Thankfully, everyone was safe and healthy. 🤍
It’s incredible to think that something hidden within the cord throughout pregnancy would become such a significant part of a birth story, without anyone knowing it was there until the very end.
And beyond the physiology, I found myself reflecting on the spiritual symbolism of a true knot.
There is something beautiful about reflecting on the cord that nourishes and connects a baby to their mother throughout pregnancy, and the symbolism we can find in that connection as baby makes their way into the world.
*Shared with permission and respect for this family’s birth story.*
