Umbilical Cord Entwine

A future mother often hears horror stories pertaining to a baby’s umbilical cord. There are times when this device that attached a baby to its mother by the naval can choke a baby.

This could happen if the umbilical cord is too tightly entwined around the baby. However, this is rare. Further explanation is provided in the next two sections.

Causes

Factors contributing to the wrapping or entwining of the umbilical chord include oxygen deficiency (intrauterine fetal hypoxia) and elevated adrenaline levels (stress-related). These two predispositions often cause increased mobility in a child.

Another factor that contributes to possibly entwining of the umbilical cord is the presence of polyhydramnios giving the baby to move around more. As you can see, in all these mentioned cases the common factor causing or leading to umbilical cord wrapping is increased fetal movement.

However, even if the baby’s umbilical cord is entwined this is not necessarily an occurrence a mother needs to be alarmed about. However, whenever in doubt during prenatal exams it is wise if both the mother and father (if present) as many questions as possible.

The child’s condition is what most matters in the event of a wrapping umbilical cord. The main concern would usually be whether or not a child suffers from hypoxia.

Recognition

It may take you some effort to know if you are suffering from the entwined wrapping of an umbilical cord. One of the first kinds of studies that are usually done is the CTG study and this is a time when umbilical entwining symptoms are first recognized.

Ultrasound testing may also be needed, with or without use of CTG testing. However, it is said that the Doppler mathematical indices of blood flow is what seems to be the most accurate.

Sometimes one or more of these types of tests mentioned above may need to be repeated. In fact, if the presence of hypoxia is suspected one or more of the above tests should be repeated several times.

Assessing the Danger

As far as danger to the fetus, usually only a dual or multiple umbilical entwine is a cause for concern. This is especially considered to be a sign of fetal hypoxia.

This is a more extreme situation in which the wrapping of the umbilical cord around the unborn baby could be potentially fatal. The main cause of fatality, of course, would be a decrease in blood supply to the child’s tissue, as this is what is meant by both acute hypoxia and/or asphyxia (lack of oxygen).

Proper medical attention may be needed. If it is close to the baby’s due date the baby may need to be delivered either on time or prematurely via C-section (through the mother’s abdomen versus through the birth canal).

Prevention

Umbilical cord entwine can be prevented. One way to do so is to minimize the amount of stress that the body and mind endures during pregnancy.

One way to help reduce stress is to not forget to do breathing exercises. An expecting mother can also try various gymnastic and stretching routines in order to calm down.

These stretching and breathing exercises are done in order to keep the body circulating the way it should. This is how hypoxia that increases fetal motor activity as well as oxygen deficiency as well as umbilical cord entwine can be prevented.