Summary
A woman in New Jersey named Karen Brennan experienced a stillbirth at nearly 35 weeks of pregnancy. The cause was two rare knots in the umbilical cord. She is now sharing her story to help raise awareness about this condition and its risk factors.
Key Facts
- Karen Brennan was nearly 35 weeks pregnant when she learned her baby had no heartbeat.
- The baby was delivered on July 1, 2025, and the cause of death was two true knots in the umbilical cord.
- True knots in the umbilical cord occur in about one percent of pregnancies.
- Brennan had four out of five risk factors for true knots, including being over 35 and having a baby that was smaller than average.
- Earlier in her pregnancy, Brennan noticed reduced fetal movement but was reassured after check-ups.
- A 3D ultrasound image showed a cord knot, but it was not flagged at the time.
- Brennan hopes sharing her story will prevent similar situations for other families.
