Should you worry if your sonography shows ‘cord around the baby's neck'?

Is it a matter of concern? Find out.

When your baby is inside the womb, the little one does a lot of things it moves around, kicks, sharpens it senses, nourishes and grows. While all this happens, the umbilical cord, that also grows along with your baby, can get wrapped around her neck. Mostly, it s the anomaly scan in the second trimester that can point out this phenomenon. While most doctors assure parents not to get worried about this condition, it makes mothers anxious. So here are a few facts about cord around the neck for you to put your mind at rest.

It isn t harmful: Cord or loop as it is always referred to isn t harmful, if wrapped around your baby s neck. In fact, many babies are born with the loop around their neck. Remember, the cord is too long to create any tension around the neck or sung tightly and choke. The average length of the cord is around 50 to 60 cm, and there is a lot of room for the baby to breathe and swallow amitotic flood even with the loop around her neck. The loop doesn t, in any way, affect the growth and development of the baby. Here are eight amazing facts about your baby s kicks that you need to know.

It isn t the main reason for c-section: Many doctors, especially if you are an uninformed patient could ask you to go for a c-section for a safer delivery. In fact, the loops or even multiple loops around the neck aren t a valid reason to perform a c-section. During delivery as the uterus contracts, the placenta, the cord and the baby all move downwards in tandem. If there are no other danger of maternal and fetal wellbeing, then the baby can slip out of the loop easily or even come out with the loop wrapped around the neck. Here are 12 causes that could lead to a c-section.

It doesn t come in the way of natural labour: The loop or the cord doesn t make it difficult for the baby to come out through the vaginal opening. As mentioned, the cord doesn t create an obstruction for the baby to enter into the birth canal. A study conducted in the United States showed that babies born with tight cord wrapped around their neck didn t suffer from any damage or growth retardation. Here are tips to help you have a normal delivery.

It isn t a cause of still birth: This is one fear that every mother have, but is futile. There is a very small percentage of births that can be affected because of the cord around the neck. In fact, according to a study in the Journal of American Medical Association, deaths due to placental problems are more common than due to a cord around the neck. However, if fetal distress is a cause of concern due to the loop the last minute decision for a c-section is taken by the doctor.

So if your sonography says your baby has the loop around her neck, don t panic. If she is achieving all her developmental milestones in the womb, the loop isn t going to harm her in any way.

Image source: Shutterstock

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References:

1: Henry E, Andres RL, Christensen RD. Neonatal outcomes following a tight nuchal cord. J Perinatol. 2013 Mar;33(3):231-4. doi: 10.1038/jp.2012.79. Epub 2012 Jun 14. PubMed PMID: 22699359.

Suzuki, S., & Fuse, Y. (2012). Length of the Umbilical Cord and Perinatal Outcomes in Japanese Singleton Pregnancies Delivered at Greater Than or Equal to 34 Weeks Gestation. Journal of Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics,1(4-5), 57-62.