One of the complications that often happens during childbirth isthe baby is entangled in the umbilical cord.This often causes concern for pregnant women. However, is this condition dangerous?
The umbilical cord stretches from the belly button in the fetus' abdomen to the placenta. While in the womb, the umbilical cord becomes a link between the fetus and the mother to carry oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby's bloodstream. The umbilical cord also serves to carry dirty blood from the baby's body back to the placenta.
Umbilical cord twisting occurs when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck of the fetus to 360 degrees. The main cause is because the fetus is too active to move or the size of the baby is getting bigger. Therefore, umbilical cord entanglement tends to occur at an later gestational age.
Several other factors that can increase the risk of the baby experiencing this condition are multiple pregnancies, excessive amniotic fluid, an umbilical cord that is too long, or the condition of the umbilical cord is not good.
The Difference Between Dangerous and Non-Harmful Coils
Pregnant women may be concerned if the fetus is entangled by the umbilical cord itself. In some conditions, the fetus being entangled in the umbilical cord can have a bad impact, but sometimes there are babies who are wrapped in the umbilical cord but the condition is normal. The following are the differences between the umbilical cord in babies which are dangerous and those that are not:
A twist that might have a bad impact on the fetus
The condition of the baby being wrapped in the umbilical cord is dangerous if the loop around the neck is too tight. Especially if there is more than one coil around his neck, so he becomes less active. This condition can cause the fetus to die in the womb.
Another condition that has a bad impact is if the coil makes the fetal heart rate slow down instantly. This is because the umbilical cord can stretch and compress during delivery, reducing blood flow to or from the baby's body.
Twisting the umbilical cord accompanied by other problems, such as the fetus swallowing meconium or its first stool, is also a dangerous condition. Inhaling meconium can make it difficult for the fetus to breathe because the airways are blocked and irritated by feces.
If this dangerous twisting of the umbilical cord occurs, the baby can experience fetal distress. In this case, the doctor needs to monitor the condition of the baby in the womb. If there is no improvement, then the doctor will remove the baby as soon as possible by caesarean section.
A coil that does not harm the fetus
Towards delivery, pregnant women may not realize that the umbilical cord has been wrapped around the baby's neck. However, don't worry just yet. Most babies go through this stage smoothly and labor can proceed normally.
Signs of a harmless umbilical cord tuck are if the baby is still actively moving and his heart rate is normal. If this is the case, babies with umbilical cord entanglement can be born healthy and have good Apgar scores.
In most cases, the umbilical cord wrapped around the fetus' neck is still loose and harmless, so doctors can easily remove the umbilical cord during delivery.
The twisting of the umbilical cord can only be detected by ultrasound during pregnancy or when the baby is born. If the baby is found to be entangled in the umbilical cord during pregnancy, there is no need to panic. The umbilical cord may fall off on its own before delivery. That is why, regular pregnancy check-ups to the obstetrician need to be done.
If the baby is wrapped in the umbilical cord, the doctor will monitor regularly to determine the development of the baby's condition in the womb, and determine whether the baby needs to be delivered immediately or not.
