What’s something that many people fear that is actually wise physiological design?
Cord around the neck, also known as nuchal cord.
Nuchal cords are pretty common… in 1 out of 3 births.
Why shouldn’t you fear nuchal cords?
- Babies don’t breathe inside of the womb through their trachea! Therefore, they can’t suffocate! They are getting oxygen through their umbilical cord before, during, and even AFTER birth until they fully transition to breathing with their lungs.
- The umbilical cord is cushioned by Wharton jelly, which is mucous connective tissue that protects the life sustaining blood vessels inside from compression. Even if the cord knots, it usually doesn’t compress.
True knots, or knots that tighten, are very rare.
Having the cord wrapped around baby’s neck can actually PROTECT it from a cord prolapse.
Cord prolapse is actually life threatening for the baby. Cord prolapse is an uncommon complication, especially in undisturbed birth, where the cord descends through the cervix ahead of or alongside the baby. The cord gets compressed, leading to restricted oxygen flow to the baby.
You might ask: well what if the cord is wrapped around the neck and as the baby descends, the cord pulls, tightens and suffocates the baby?
The uterus, placenta attached to the uterus, and the baby all descend together at the same time. The cervix thins and shortens, causing the fundus to thicken and push the uterus (with the baby inside) down. The cord is not tightening, nor stretching.
Which, speaking of stretching, the umbilical cord is also able to stretch. In fact, it can stretch up to 12.5% of it’s length!
Here is a great YouTube video explaining the physiological process of labor, with a visual of the fundus building up and pushing the baby down.
Was your baby born with a nuchal cord? My first was! When your baby is born, gently unwrap the cord from its neck. It’s that simple. Don’t forget to delay cord clamping until your baby receives all of their blood. Learn more here.
