Umbilical Cord

The umbilical cord is what keeps a baby alive while he or she is developing in the womb. The cord is a fleshy tube that connects the fetus to the mother’s baby while the baby is in the womb.

What the Umbilical Cord Is

A normal umbilical cord contains a vein and two arteries. The vein is a tube that carries blood from the mother to the fetus, the blood contains oxygen and nutrients which the baby needs to live and grow. The arteries take blood without oxygen and waste materials back to the mother’s body.

In a few cases there will be a two vessel umbilical cord, in which there is only one vein and one artery. There is some evidence to indicate that a two vessel umbilical cord can lead to birth defects, low birthrate and other problems in a baby.

Doctors will check to see if there is a two vessel umbilical cord when they make ultrasound scans of a pregnant woman. Most doctors will pay extra attention if they find a two vessel umbilical cord because this can also sometimes lead to a problem pregnancy.

Umbilical Cord at Birth

The umbilical cord remains attached to the baby at the belly button until he or she is born. At birth the cord should become detached but doctors will sometimes cut it off with clamps.

Many people will try to save the umbilical cord because the blood in it is very rich in stem cells. Stems are used in a wide variety of scientific research and some medical treatments. Some scientists think that stem cells are so rich in DNA that someday a copy of every organ in the human body can be grown from them.

There is now a widespread move to save umbilical cords and the blood in them for scientific research. This blood is preserved in special umbilical cord banks. To facilitate this process special kits which enable a woman to save her baby’s umbilical cord are being distributed.

Umbilical Cord after Birth

A few babies and young children will develop what is called an umbilical cord hernia. This is a bulge in the area of the belly button that can be present for a few years or months after birth sometimes called an “outie.”

In most cases these hernias are harmless but they can sometimes require surgery or treatment. Parents should only become concerned about such a bulge if it gets dark, painful or feels very hard. This can be a sign of a condition that requires medical attention.