Umbilical Cord Around The Neck

Umbilical Cord around the Neck occurs when the umbilical cord got wrapped around the baby’s neck in utero. The medical term for this kind of situation is called a nuchal cord or nuchal loop. Nuchal loops are the most common umbilical cord problems, particularly in late pregnancy. It usually occurs in about 25% of all births. A nuchal cord can cause stillbirth if the doctor or midwife is unaware of the situation before labor begins.

Luckily, with the advent of modern ultrasound technology and fetal monitoring, doctors and midwives can see if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck ahead of time and can prepare for it. When such a thing is noticed, the solution is a simple one. The doctor simply slips a finger between the cord and the neck during birth in order to prevent the newborn baby from being strangled and then untangles the cord and slips it over the baby's head once the head is out of the birth canal.

What is the effect of Umbilical Cord around the Neck?

About 25% of all babies are born with the cord around their necks and the enormous majority has no negative effect. The care provider simply slips the cord over the baby's head as the baby is born. If the cord is tense and it is preventing the baby from descending, the doctor can compress and cut the cord to facilitate birth. In some cases, cord compression can happen, which may cause decelerations in the baby's heart rate and will in turn result in a cesarean birth.

If it is tensed, conservative medical executive dictates clamping and cutting the cord before the baby’s body is delivered. However, care must be taken when cutting the umbilical cord of the baby before his body is delivered. What if I have trouble getting the rest of the baby out? He is getting zero oxygen through that cut cord.

However, this is no solace to those who have experienced the shock of their child’s death because when you are the statistic, it doesn’t matter how rarely something occurs.

How many times have you heard, “I’m so glad I had a cesarean because the baby’s cord was around his neck 3 times!!” What people do not understand is about one-third of all babies are born with the umbilical cord around their neck/body and it does not mean the baby is in harms way.

How to prevent Umbilical Cord around Neck at Birth

One of the best ways to prevent Umbilical Cord around the Neck at Birth is to visit your doctor regularly as well as yielding to his advice. Also, your choice of hospital for delivery is essential. A good hospital with modern facilities will go a long way in detecting whether a child is having the umbilical cord round the neck or not with the aid of the modern ultrasound machine.

Nevertheless, Umbilical cord around the neck at birth is nothing too complicated and the delivery will be a normal one including safe delivery of the baby if adequate care is taken at the proper time. In other words, do not worry your mind too much as this will not have any negative effect on your baby.