What to do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once in late pregnancy?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 15, 2024
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During the late stages of pregnancy, a B-ultrasound might sometimes reveal that the fetus has the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck once. This condition is a physiological occurrence. Having the cord wrapped once around the neck does not cause intrauterine hypoxia or harm the growth and development of the fetus inside the womb. The vast majority of cases where the cord is wrapped are physiological, and whether the cord is wrapped around once or twice, there is no need for excessive worry. In the late stages of pregnancy, the most important thing when the cord is found wrapped around the neck is to monitor fetal movements. As long as the fetal movements are good, it indicates that the fetus is in a normal condition inside the womb. It is also important to keep up with regular prenatal check-ups to assess whether the fetal growth and development are normal. Additionally, it is not advised to take any action to intervene when the cord is wrapped around the neck, as neither adopting sleeping positions nor any other methods can release the cord from the neck. These methods are futile and sometimes might even harm the fetus.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does the baby not move much when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck and there is not much amniotic fluid for one week?

When umbilical cord wrapping around the neck occurs during pregnancy, it generally does not affect the fetal limb movement. However, a decrease in amniotic fluid can affect the baby's movements. When amniotic fluid decreases, the baby has less room to move inside the uterus, thus causing reduced fetal movements. It is recommended to regularly visit the hospital for prenatal check-ups. If a reduction in amniotic fluid occurs, it is important to promptly identify the reason and then proceed with appropriate treatment. Regular monitoring of fetal movement changes is advised, and fetal heart monitoring can be done to assess the safety of the fetus. Drinking more water to replenish amniotic fluid is also advisable.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Is climbing stairs useful for umbilical cord around the neck?

When there is a situation with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck, pregnant women should absolutely not blindly try certain exercises, such as climbing stairs, which actually have no scientific basis. Doing so not only fails to alleviate the condition of the cord being wrapped but might even increase the baby's activity, leading to a more serious entanglement. During the mid-stage of pregnancy, pregnant women should pay attention to rest, avoid exhaustion, and sometimes the baby's movements might even resolve the wrapping of the cord. Therefore, it is important to take scientific care during pregnancy and follow the doctor's advice, and not to engage in any exercises on one's own.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does an umbilical cord around the neck always require a cesarean section?

When nuchal cord occurs, it is not always necessary to perform a cesarean section, because sometimes the cord may be loosely wrapped around, even if only for one loop, and in such cases, natural childbirth is still possible. However, if the nuchal cord is wrapped more than two or three times, and is tightly wrapped, and if there is fetal hypoxia inside the uterus, then a cesarean section must be performed to quickly terminate the pregnancy. Nuchal cord is a common cause of difficult labor in pregnant women. Therefore, during the later stages of pregnancy, regular prenatal check-ups should be carried out to monitor the fetus's health. If any abnormalities are detected, it is urgent to admit to the hospital for delivery to avoid potential impacts on the baby, such as hypoxia or asphyxiation.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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What should I do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once?

Umbilical cord wrapping around the neck once is a very common phenomenon, occurring in 20% of fetuses. When the umbilical cord wraps around the neck once, if the umbilical blood flow and fetal movements are normal, it indicates that the cord wrapping does not affect the fetus and will not have a direct impact on the fetus's intrauterine growth and development. However, during childbirth, attention must be paid to the possibility that the umbilical cord wrapping may cause difficulties in the descent of the presenting part of the fetus, leading to abnormal umbilical blood flow. If difficulties in the descent of the presenting part and changes in the fetal heart rate occur during delivery, the possibility of umbilical cord wrapping should be considered. If necessary, a cesarean section should be performed to terminate the pregnancy. There are no medications or other treatments that can alleviate umbilical cord wrapping; instead, enhanced prenatal monitoring is sufficient.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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How long should I wait before rechecking the ultrasound if the umbilical cord is around the neck?

When there is an occurrence of umbilical cord around the neck, it is generally recommended to have an ultrasound examination once every one to two weeks. Umbilical cord around the neck is a relatively common phenomenon during pregnancy, mostly due to the umbilical cord being too long, frequent fetal movements, and an excessive amount of amniotic fluid. These factors can cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the fetus's neck, and it may also wrap around the fetus's abdomen or limbs. Therefore, when umbilical cord entanglement occurs, it is important to enhance prenatal check-ups to regularly monitor changes in fetal heart rate and fetal movement. Additionally, towards the late stages of pregnancy, the appropriate method of delivery should be selected based on the specific circumstances of the umbilical cord entanglement.