Contents:
- Is the baby entangled in the umbilical cord common?
- Why can a baby get wrapped around his umbilical cord?
- If the baby is entangled in the umbilical cord must be born by caesarean section?
- Babies wrapped around the umbilical cord may not be dangerous
Babies wrapped around the umbilical cord or nuchal cord is one of the problems that often occur in the womb. This condition is worrying because in some cases the baby's neck can suffocate on his umbilical cord. However, the baby wrapped in the umbilical cord may also not be as dangerous as you have imagined so far. Want to find out more about the baby wrapped around the umbilical cord? Check here.
Is the baby entangled in the umbilical cord common?
The umbilical cord serves to deliver nutrients and oxygen from mother to baby so the baby can survive in the womb. The problem with the umbilical cord during pregnancy can interfere with the nutrients and oxygen received by the baby, resulting in the development and growth of the baby can be disrupted.
The umbilical cord must be intact and good when the baby is born, so the baby is still receiving oxygen until the baby breathes through his nose. After birth, at least 2 minutes after birth, the umbilical cord can be cut, so the baby then receives oxygen from the nose.
Sometimes, the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck. This condition can occur around 20-30% of births or about one in three babies experience entanglement in the umbilical cord. Not only on the neck, the umbilical cord can also wrap around other baby's limbs. In the womb, the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby may not be a problem because the umbilical cord floats in the amniotic fluid.
However, when the baby will be born and the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby, this might be a problem. The umbilical cord can wrap around the baby's neck and get stressed when the baby is born. So, this can then reduce the oxygen and nutrients the baby receives.
Why can a baby get wrapped around his umbilical cord?
Reporting from Babypedia, babies wrapped around the umbilical cord can be caused by babies moving too actively in the womb. The umbilical cord tend to occur in babies who have a longer umbilical cord than the average umbilical cord. Although this is what usually happens, the long umbilical cord has not been proven to be the real cause of it nuchal cord.
Actually, no matter how much the baby moves in the womb, the cord is not going to harm the baby. A healthy umbilical cord is coated with jelly called Wharton's jelly. Jelly serves to keep the umbilical cord unaffected by blood vessel pressure, so that this pressure will not affect the baby. Therefore, technically your baby is actually not suffocated, just circled by the umbilical cord.
If the baby is entangled in the umbilical cord must be born by caesarean section?
Many people think that babies who are wrapped in umbilical cord can only be born by caesarean section, but it isn't.
How much danger the baby is wrapped around the umbilical cord depends on how much the umbilical cord is in the baby. If the cord has only one loop around the baby's neck, this might not be a serious problem. Even normal births can still be done according to the original plan.
The umbilical cord may be a little depressed when the baby is born. However, once the baby's head comes out of the vagina, the doctor or midwife can immediately release the umbilical cord from the baby's neck. Thus, normal delivery in this situation may not harm the baby.
But, it might be different if a lot of umbilical cord wrapped around the baby. If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck or other baby's limbs, this can be a serious problem. Especially if this causes a baby's heart rate to weaken and the blood flow from the mother to the baby is disrupted. Caesarean section may need to be done so that complications do not occur and the baby can be born safely.
Babies wrapped around the umbilical cord may not be dangerous
So, babies wrapped in umbilical cord can be dangerous but they may also not be dangerous. This depends on the condition of the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby. Are many umbilical cords wrapped around the baby? Is the umbilical cord tightly wrapped around the baby's neck until it strangles him and makes his heartbeat weaken? Or even the umbilical cord is very loosely wrapped around the baby so it's easy to release?
Don't worry, generally umbilical cord loops don't endanger a baby's life. Most of these problems can be handled properly and rarely cause serious complications. Most importantly, this problem can be handled properly and quickly. Therefore, it is important for you to diligently control the doctor to monitor the condition of the baby.
