Umbilical cord entanglement occurs quite often - in 20-30% of pregnant women. The essence of this phenomenon is that the umbilical cord is twisted in the form of a loop around the limbs, body or neck of the fetus. In some cases, she repeatedly entangles the body of the unborn child. Thanks to the achievements of modern medicine, childbirth with an entanglement of the umbilical cord most often ends well.
Umbilical cord entanglement options
There are several different options for entanglement with the umbilical cord:
- single, in which the umbilical cord wraps around the neck of the fetus 1 time;
- double / multiple, when there are several turns around the neck;
- isolated loop - the umbilical cord wraps around the fetus's neck only;
- combined loop - entwining around the limbs and / or the body of the unborn child;
- weak entanglement with the umbilical cord;
- tight.
Umbilical cord entanglement: reasons
Umbilical cord entanglement may appear due to various reasons:
- oxygen starvation of the fetus (hypoxia), which causes active intrauterine movements of the fetus, which is why it becomes entangled by the umbilical cord;
- increased content of adrenaline in the mother's blood, which also contributes to increased fetal activity;
- the umbilical cord is excessively long - more than 60 cm;
- polyhydramnios, due to which the child has a lot of room for movement, as well as opportunities for entanglement in the umbilical cord.
Umbilical cord entanglement: consequences for the baby
The most common and relatively safe for a child is considered to be a single entanglement of the umbilical cord around his neck. In this case, during childbirth, the doctor can loosen the umbilical cord and remove it from the baby's body. More dangerous is double entanglement with the umbilical cord, since it can lead to oxygen starvation and microtrauma of the cervical vertebrae. Babies born with this birth complication may subsequently have headaches, high blood pressure or hypotension, and fatigue.
As a result of tight entanglement with the umbilical cord, there may be the same above-mentioned consequences, but childbirth in this case can be complicated by fetal asphyxiation. The latter threatens to stop the baby's breathing. This is very rare, but in such cases, obstetricians usually take emergency measures to perform a caesarean section.
It must be understood that the fetus, when entwined with the umbilical cord around its neck, suffers from hypoxia. However, the effects of oxygen starvation may not manifest itself in all children, and the severity may also vary. For some children, entanglement with the umbilical cord does not at all affect their health in the future, for others, the appearance of VSD and disturbances in the general state of the body is possible. All such conditions are successfully treated today. Subject to the correct daily routine, careful care and attention, the child will grow up healthy and strong.
Prevention of cord entanglement
For the prevention of cord entanglement, a pregnant woman needs:
- worry less;
- take regular walks in the fresh air;
- stay as little as possible in a stuffy, unventilated room;
- Healthy food;
- to engage in health-improving and breathing exercises, coordinating the exercise with a doctor.
In addition, it is necessary to be observed by the gynecologist, visiting him at the appointed time of examinations.
