Can you have a natural birth if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck twice?

Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
Updated on September 25, 2024
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The umbilical cord wrapped around the neck twice is something that can definitely be attempted, meaning a trial of natural delivery, or vaginal trial. Clinically, there have been many cases where the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck twice, and the baby was delivered smoothly. Therefore, it's unnecessary to avoid a trial of delivery and opt for cesarean section just because the umbilical cord is wrapped around twice; that would be somewhat excessive. Of course, when the cord is wrapped around the neck twice, since the wrap is relatively tight, the remaining length of the cord might be short, and when the baby's head moves downward, there could be changes in the fetal heart rate, but not necessarily in all cases. Therefore, for pregnant women with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck twice, doctors will closely monitor changes in the fetal heart rate during the delivery process.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 2sec home-news-image

Is it dangerous for the umbilical cord to be wrapped around the neck during the mid-stage of pregnancy?

During a mid-pregnancy ultrasound, it is sometimes indicated by the presence of a U-shaped or W-shaped notch behind the fetus's neck that the fetus may have the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. During pregnancy, it is perfectly normal for the umbilical cord to wrap around the neck, and it generally does not affect the fetus or pose any danger. The length of the umbilical cord during pregnancy is approximately 30 to 80 centimeters, which is quite long relative to the size of the uterine cavity. Hence, many umbilical cords have excess length that can wrap around the neck or limbs of the fetus, leading to the umbilical cord being coiled around the neck or limbs. However, current research indicates that whether the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck or limbs once or twice, it does not affect the fetus. It does not cause intrauterine hypoxia or affect the growth and development of the fetus, nor does it influence the mode of delivery. A natural childbirth can still be an entirely viable option.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
1min 4sec home-news-image

Can you have a natural birth if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck twice?

The umbilical cord wrapped around the neck twice is something that can definitely be attempted, meaning a trial of natural delivery, or vaginal trial. Clinically, there have been many cases where the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck twice, and the baby was delivered smoothly. Therefore, it's unnecessary to avoid a trial of delivery and opt for cesarean section just because the umbilical cord is wrapped around twice; that would be somewhat excessive. Of course, when the cord is wrapped around the neck twice, since the wrap is relatively tight, the remaining length of the cord might be short, and when the baby's head moves downward, there could be changes in the fetal heart rate, but not necessarily in all cases. Therefore, for pregnant women with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck twice, doctors will closely monitor changes in the fetal heart rate during the delivery process.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
1min 9sec home-news-image

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 Lu
Obstetrics
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36 weeks umbilical cord around the neck 2 weeks how to correct

At 36 weeks of pregnancy, which is approximately 9 months, it is close to full-term gestation. If an ultrasound reveals that the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck twice, it often indicates the presence of a W-shaped notch behind the neck. Having the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck twice is a normal physiological occurrence and does not affect the growth and development of the fetus. Many pregnant women, upon hearing about the umbilical cord around the neck, fear it might affect fetal growth and development or cause ischemia or hypoxia, and thus want to correct it through various methods. Firstly, it is unnecessary to correct the umbilical cord around the neck as it is a physiological change. Secondly, there is no known method to correct this condition; neither dietary activities nor any other methods can intervene with the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck. Therefore, there is no need, nor is there a way, to intervene with the umbilical cord wrapping; it is sufficient to simply observe and wait.