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Nuchal Cord
What to do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck and there are frequent fetal movements?
When there is umbilical cord entanglement, if there is an increase in fetal movement frequency, it is important to consistently monitor the fetal movements. If, during monitoring, the fetal movements become especially frequent, or if there is a sudden cessation of movement after frequent movements, this is a very dangerous sign and immediate medical examination at a hospital is necessary. Additionally, regular prenatal examinations at the hospital should be conducted, such as fetal heart monitoring or ultrasound checks. It's also important to adopt a left lateral sleeping position to improve placental blood supply, avoid vigorous exercise, and maintain a relaxed mindset.
What should be noted if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once at 39 weeks of pregnancy?
At 39 weeks of pregnancy, finding a single loop of umbilical cord around the neck during an ultrasound should not be a concern; this condition is quite common among pregnant women and does not have a significant impact on the fetus, nor does it affect natural childbirth. At this time, the following aspects should be noted: First, attention should be paid to any abnormal fetal movements. If there is an increase or decrease in fetal movement, it is necessary to come to the hospital for an examination to rule out hypoxia. Second, be aware of signs of labor, including bloody show and contractions. If these conditions occur, you should come to the hospital promptly to await birth. Third, it is important to attend routine prenatal check-ups a week later. Do not overly focus on the cord around the neck, as it generally does not cause hypoxia or affect the method of childbirth.
Can you have a natural birth if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once?
An umbilical cord wrapped around the neck once is generally manageable with normal delivery. An umbilical cord wrapped around the neck indicates that the cord is relatively long, or that the fetus has a large range of movement within the womb. The occurrence of the cord around the neck, if just one loop, usually does not affect the delivery and does not cause fetal distress inside the womb. If the cord is wrapped around the neck three times or more, a cesarean section may be considered to end the pregnancy. Moreover, the decision for normal delivery should also consider the baby’s size or the size of the pelvis. At 39 weeks of pregnancy, if there are no signs of labor, it is advisable to go to the hospital to check the pelvis to see if vaginal delivery is possible. If vaginal delivery is possible, one can wait; if not, a cesarean section is recommended.
What to do when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck at 39 weeks of pregnancy?
At 39 weeks of pregnancy, it is full-term and nearing the expected delivery date. During this period, if the umbilical cord is found to be wrapped around the neck, it is a normal occurrence and there is no need for excessive worry. Umbilical cord wrapping around the neck is a normal variation that does not affect fetal growth and development, nor does it cause fetal hypoxia, and it also does not affect the method of childbirth. Therefore, for a 39-week pregnancy with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck there is no difference from a normal pregnancy. Just follow the normal procedures for routine prenatal checks and waiting for childbirth. If there are no signs of labor, then continue to wait until after week 40 to go to the hospital for childbirth. However, if there are signs of labor, you should go to the hospital in time, wait for childbirth, and pay attention to enhanced monitoring during the process. There is no need to intervene with the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck, nor is there any way to proactively intervene with it.
Does umbilical cord around the neck require a B-ultrasound recheck?
When there is a situation of umbilical cord around the neck, pregnant women need to regularly visit the hospital for an ultrasound checkup to understand the condition of the umbilical cord entanglement, mainly to monitor the umbilical blood flow. If there is an increase in umbilical blood flow, it indicates that the cord entanglement is tight, which can affect the baby's safety, potentially leading to lack of oxygen or suffocation. Therefore, in the late stages of pregnancy, it is also necessary to go to the hospital every 3-7 days for fetal heart monitoring to check if there is any lack of oxygen in the fetus while inside the womb. If there is fetal hypoxia in the late stages of pregnancy, it is advisable to terminate the pregnancy in a timely manner.
Is moxibustion useful for breech presentation and nuchal cord?
Fetal breech presentation and nuchal cord can be effectively addressed with moxibustion. Breech positions are common in early pregnancy but typically resolve to a head-first position by 32 weeks and become relatively stable. Higher incidences of breech positions are noted in cases of fetal abnormalities, twin pregnancies, abnormal amounts of amniotic fluid, uterine abnormalities, and narrow pelvis. If a breech position is still present after 32 weeks, moxibustion treatment can be considered. Moxibustion is applied at the Zhiyin acupoint (located 0.1 inches beside the nail corner on the outer side of the little toe) and is generally recommended once daily for 15 to 30 minutes, with one week constituting a treatment course. Afterward, the improvement in the fetal position can be evaluated. The purpose of using moxibustion is to promote fetal activity, which may help resolve nuchal cord entanglement during fetal movements.
How to count fetal movements when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck
When there is nuchal cord presence, it is important to determine the number of loops around the neck as well as the tightness of the loops, to assess if they might affect the fetal heart rate. Generally, nuchal cords do not impact fetal blood circulation, so fetal movement can still be measured normally. Proper measurement should be taken at fixed times each day: morning, noon, and evening—for example, at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 9 PM respectively. During each of these times, select one hour when you can calmly and attentively feel and count the baby’s movements in a quiet setting, and record the number of movements.
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.
Will there be changes in the fetal heart rate if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck?
When the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, there are some situations where changes in the fetal heart rate may occur. The umbilical cord is mostly wrapped around the neck just once, which generally does not affect the growth and development of the fetus, nor does it significantly change the fetal heart rate. The impact on the fetal heart rate in the case of nuchal cord depends on how tight the cord is wrapped around the neck, the number of loops, and the length of the umbilical cord, among other factors. If the umbilical cord is tightly wrapped and has multiple loops, or if it is compressed due to contractions of the uterus, it can obstruct fetal blood circulation and lead to hypoxia in the fetus, thereby affecting the fetal heart rate.
What will the fetal movement be like if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck?
Generally, when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, it often does not affect the fetal movement or fetal heart rate changes. It is quite common for the cord to be wrapped around once, and if the wrapping is loose and does not affect the blood supply from the placenta, fetal movement will not change. However, if the cord is tightly wrapped multiple times, it can affect the blood supply of the umbilical cord and impact the fetal blood circulation, leading to frequent fetal movements. Therefore, pregnant women should learn to count fetal movements themselves to understand if the fetus is experiencing hypoxia in the womb.