Lorain, Ohio 44055

I Rkcki I <;S I March 23, 1977

Dear Dr. Apgar:

I recently saw you on the Phil Donahue Show and I enjoverl VOII
very much.
baby's condition when it is first born is excellent. You are
an exceptionally brilliant woman.

I read mith interest a chapter you wrote in the book The Expect-
ant Mother entitled, "How Your Unborn Baby Is Nourished" * Thfs
an4 the Phil Donahiie Show prompted me to mite to VOU.

I think your scoring system for an evaluation of a

I know you are a very busy person, but I hope you Fiill take a few
minutes to answer some questions which have hem on my mind for
some time.

I have a little boy who is almost four years old. Three and one
half months ago I had a full term little girl who was st.ill.Fnm,
She was perfectly formed except that tFe umbilical cord was tied
tn a knot. It wasn't wrapped aroand-her neck, it was jiiflt tied
in a knot. It seems she ha,d died about two davs before I del tvereA .
How did this happen? How and when did the cord tie in a knot, mrl
why did my baby die just before delivery? Could mg,*stretcFin.q,
lifting, too much sctivity, or being very nervous cmse tbig to
happen? These questions have been bothering me ever since I  lo^+
mv haby. Whpt are my chances of this happening again? In fact,
what aye my chances of having another stillhorn whatever the
reason? It seems there are so many stillbirths theqe days. WHY?
I am twenty-four years old and both my children were delivered nat-
urally and were full term. I had no complications with either
yregnancy. I felt perfectly wonderfulcduring both.
My doctor had no real answers for me so that is whv I'm writina to
you.
the cord to tie in a knot? Please help me as mv husband and I are
Tlamning to have another child soon. This is upon the reccommend-
ation of our fami-ly physican who delivered our stillhorn child.

Everything went normally with my second hnhy so whet caused

I hope to get the took "1s ?Q Baby Alright"' which vou helped wri+;e.
In fact, I already have it ordered. I hope this will help me in
future pregnancies.

Thank you for any help you can give me in answering these aiiest-
ions.

Sincere7 TI,

Mrs. Mary fawthon