what causes the umbilical cord to wrap around

Other medical reasons why cords may move around the neck of a fetus or may result in loose knots include:

• an abnormally long umbilical cord
• a weak cord structure
• excessive amniotic fluid
• having twins or multiples

Full Answer

What causes the umbilical cord to wrap around a baby’s neck?

Other factors that might increase the risk of the umbilical cord wrapping around a baby’s neck include an extra-long umbilical cord or excess amniotic fluid that allows more fetal movement. Nuchal cords typically are discovered at birth.

What are the umbilical cord complications?

The umbilical cord complications are: umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck and many more. The nuchal cord is when the baby inside you wraps the umbilical cord around the neck completely. In fact, the nuchal cord is common in 12% of pregnancies between 24 to 26 weeks.

Where does the umbilical cord connect to the baby?

Your baby’s umbilical cord connects from their navel to the placenta, a special organ that grows during pregnancy to facilitate moving blood, oxygen, and nutrients from you to your baby. Your baby’s umbilical cord has three layers:

What is umbilical cord compression?

Umbilical cord compression happens when the umbilical cord, the tube-like structure that connects the placenta to the fetus, becomes compressed or flattened, restricting the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the baby. Mild or temporary compression is fairly common and is caused by the baby's movement in the womb or contractions during labor.

Can you prevent umbilical cord wrapping around?

There's no way to prevent or treat a nuchal cord. Nothing can be done about it until delivery. Health professionals check for a cord around the neck of every single baby born, and usually it's as simple as gently slipping it off so that it doesn't tighten around the baby's neck once the baby has started to breathe.

How common is umbilical cord wrapping?

A nuchal chord—when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck—is a very common event, occurring in about one-third of all births. The cord becomes wrapped around the neck during pregnancy as the baby moves around.

What are the symptoms of umbilical cord to wrap around?

Signs The Umbilical Cord Is Around Baby's NeckIt's visible via ultrasound. ... Baby is suddenly moving less in the last weeks of your pregnancy. ... Baby suddenly moves forcefully, then moves considerably less. ... Baby's heart rate is decelerating during labor.

How do you know if the cord is wrapped around the baby's neck?

The only way to detect the cord around the neck of the baby is through an ultrasound. “A nuchal cord is typically found when an expecting mother gets her ultrasound between 33-39 weeks of pregnancy.”

How do I know if my baby is in distress while pregnant?

How is fetal distress diagnosed? Fetal distress is diagnosed by reading the baby's heart rate. A slow heart rate, or unusual patterns in the heart rate, may signal fetal distress. Sometimes fetal distress is picked up when a doctor or midwife listens to the baby's heart during pregnancy.

How do you prevent umbilical cord compression?

Switching positions: Sometimes changing your position (from lying on your right to your left side, for example) can help alleviate compression and get more blood flowing to the baby. Oxygen administration: Receiving supplemental oxygen may help regulate the baby's heart rate and prevent further compression.

What is the most common problem with umbilical cord abnormalities?

Atresia, aplasia, or agenesis of one artery can lead to single umbilical artery syndrome [5]. Single umbilical artery (SUA) is the most common abnormality of the umbilical cord.

Can a baby get tangled in the umbilical cord in the womb?

A: Although worrying about the umbilical cord getting wrapped around your baby's neck is a very common concern among pregnant women, know that as often as it happens, it rarely causes a problem.

What increases your chance of stillbirth?

Increased risk being over 35 years of age. smoking, drinking alcohol or misusing drugs while pregnant. being obese – having a body mass index above 30. having a pre-existing physical health condition, such as epilepsy.

What week is most common for stillbirth?

A late stillbirth occurs between 28 and 36 completed pregnancy weeks. A term stillbirth occurs between 37 or more completed pregnancy weeks.

When do most umbilical cord accidents happen?

Table I summarizes these cases and surprisingly suggests that the majority of deaths were during the mother's sleep cycle (12 midnight to 7 am). Fetal death could be explained by known physiologic changes which occur during maternal sleep.

How can I prevent stillbirth?

Reducing the risk of stillbirthGo to all your antenatal appointments. It's important not to miss any of your antenatal appointments. ... Eat healthily and keep active. ... Stop smoking. ... Avoid alcohol in pregnancy. ... Go to sleep on your side. ... Tell your midwife about any drug use. ... Have the flu jab. ... Avoid people who are ill.More items...

How can I prevent the umbilical cord around my neck?

In fact, 25 to 40% of babies are born with their umbilical cord wrapped around their neck (called a nuchal cord). There is nothing that can be done to prevent this.

Is Delayed cord clamping standard?

Given the benefits to most newborns and concordant with other professional organizations, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in vigorous term and preterm infants for at least 30–60 seconds after birth.

How rare is a true knot?

Knotting of the umbilical cord—“true knot of cord”—is a rather rare event (about 1% of term deliveries) [1] and a challenging antepartum diagnosis [2].

What happens if you cut the umbilical cord without clamping?

When the umbilical cord is not clamped and cut right after the baby is born, the baby gets more of their own blood back into their body. Getting extra blood may lower the chance of your baby having low iron levels at 4 to 6 months of life and may help your baby's health in other ways.

Why do white women have a single umbilical cord?

White women are twice as likely to develop this condition compared to other races. You’re also more likely to have a single artery umbilical cord if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Why does my nuchal cord wrap around my baby?

In fact, the cord may wrap and unwrap multiple times throughout your pregnancy as your baby stretches and grows.

What are the three layers of the umbilical cord?

Your baby’s umbilical cord has three layers: 1 Tunica externa – this outermost layer is made of a dense elastic-like fiber to protect the cord. 2 Tunica media – the middle layer contains a majority of the umbilical cord’s blood vessels. It helps to regulate your baby’s blood flow and blood pressure.‌ 3 Tunica interna – this connective tissue has valves controlling blood flow. It ensures deoxygenated blood moves to the placenta and oxygenated blood moves back to your baby

What is the name of the cord that wraps around the baby's neck?

Nuchal Cord. If your baby’s umbilical cord wraps around their body, it is called a nuchal cord. This condition affects many pregnancies, with around 20% of cases involving the cord around your baby’s neck and 5% of cases involving multiple loops.‌. Risks of nuchal cord.

What is the nuchal cord?

Nuchal Cord. Umbilical Cord Knots. The umbilical cord is a three-vessel cord that provides nutrients and oxygen to your baby while they're in the uterus. Usually, the cord doesn’t have any issues, but there are several conditions that may impact the effectiveness of your baby’s umbilical cord. Learn more about these abnormalities ...

What organs do babies have to move blood to?

Your baby’s umbilical cord connects from their navel to the placenta, a special organ that grows during pregnancy to facilitate moving blood, oxygen, and nutrients from you to your baby.

Can ultrasound diagnose nuchal cord?

As with other umbilical cord abnormalities, an ultrasound frequently diagnosis the condition. If it isn’t diagnosed before labor, it may become obvious if your baby’s heart rate decreases consistently with each contraction.

Why is my umbilical cord knotted?

Knotted cord: The umbilical cord can become knotted, particularly if it's abnormally long and compressed. If the knots are loose, it's usually not a serious issue. If the knots are too tight, they can cut off the flow of oxygen to the fetus.

What happens when the umbilical cord is compressed?

Umbilical cord compression happens when the umbilical cord, the tube-like structure that connects the placenta to the fetus, becomes compressed or flattened, restricting the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the baby.

What to do if you feel the cord drop into the cervix?

If you think you might be experiencing signs of umbilical cord compression —particularly feeling the cord drop into the cervix during umbilical cord prolapse—call your doctor or 911 immediately, or head to the nearest emergency room.

How to tell if a baby is in distress?

Signs of distress can include increased or decreased movement in the womb, an abnormally fast or abnormally slow heart rate, feeling the umbilical cord physically drop into the cervix, and a measurable size deficiency in the baby based on the average size of a fetus during pregnancy.

How many pregnancies do umbilical cord compressions occur?

Some estimates have stated that umbilical cord compression happens in roughly 1 out of 10 pregnancies. Many times, the condition either resolves itself or resolves with a doctor's quick intervention. Other cases can lead to a dangerous lack of oxygen to the baby and require an emergency C-section.

When is umbilical cord compression discovered?

It's possible to discover umbilical cord compression during routine pregnancy screenings, but it is sometimes not discovered until delivery or birth.

Why does my baby have a compression?

Mild or temporary compression is fairly common and is caused by the baby's movement in the womb or contractions during labor. This type of compression usually resolves after a short time without complication.

Why does the umbilical cord wrap around the neck?

Excessive fetal movement may be the main cause of the umbilical cord wrapping itself around the neck. The main cause of a nuchal cord is excessive fetal movement. Other medical reasons why cords may move around the neck of a fetus or may result in loose knots include: increased the chances of complications.

What happens if you have a nuchal cord?

The most common risk from a nuchal cord is decreased heart rate of the baby during delivery. This is usually the result of reduced oxygen and blood flow through the entangled cord during contractions. Even if there is a decreased heart rate, most babies will still be born healthy.

What are the risks to mother and baby?

Nuchal cords are not thought to pose many risks for mother or child with research studies continuing to back this theory.

What is the nuchal cord?

. When an umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the neck, the loop is referred to as the nuchal cord. The term “nuchal” relates to the nape or back of the neck.

What happens if you find a nuchal cord during a routine ultrasound?

If a nuchal cord is found during a routine ultrasound, it is monitored for the remainder of the pregnancy, and fetal heart rate is watched carefully during labor and delivery.

How many births have nuchal cords?

Tight nuchal cords occurred in about 6.6 percent of nearly 220,000 births that were analyzed by researchers from the Institute for Healthcare Delivery Research, Salt Lake City, UT. There are only rare cases where nuchal cords pose serious risks during labor and delivery.

Why do doctors recommend cesarean delivery?

A doctor may recommend a cesarean delivery if they feel the fetus is in distress or the mother’s health might be adversely affected by a vaginal delivery. These cases are rare, however.