Can nuchal cord be corrected by lying prone?

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

Updated on September 15, 2024

00:00

00:00

Nuchal cord refers to a condition during pregnancy where the umbilical cord wraps around the fetus's neck or abdomen due to the baby's continuous movements and changes in position. Lying prone cannot correct a nuchal cord because the fetus can move freely within the womb. In some cases, the baby may even resolve the issue through its movements, so there is no need for excessive worry. It is only necessary to visit the hospital regularly for prenatal check-ups, follow the doctor's advice, and monitor the fetal heart rate. Generally, this does not cause any adverse effects.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Liu Wen Li

Obstetrics

59sec

home-news-image

How to correct nuchal cord with one loop?

Nuchal cord occurs because the fetus moves frequently within the uterine cavity, which can result in the umbilical cord looping around the neck once, referred to as a single-loop nuchal cord. In fact, it is not correctable because it is impossible to physically reach the umbilical cord or the fetus during pregnancy. Moreover, a single-loop nuchal cord is quite common, occurring in about one-fifth of all pregnancies. If the loop is loose or the umbilical cord is sufficiently long, there is generally no significant impact on the baby. However, if the loop is tight, it can pull on the umbilical cord, causing the blood vessels within the cord to narrow. This may lead to noticeable changes in fetal movements and heart rate. Therefore, with a nuchal cord, it is important to enhance monitoring and pay attention to changes in fetal movements and heart rate.

home-news-image

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

46sec

home-news-image

Can ultrasound detect nuchal cord?

During the color ultrasound examination, it is possible to detect whether the fetus is experiencing umbilical cord entanglement around the neck. If the ultrasound shows a V-shaped echo around the fetal neck, it generally indicates that the umbilical cord is wrapped around once. If the echo is W-shaped, then the cord is wrapped twice. If the cord is wrapped multiple times, the echo will appear serrated. Additionally, the color ultrasound can also assess the blood flow around the umbilicus to determine the presence of umbilical cord entanglement. If cord entanglement is detected, it is recommended to have regular ultrasound check-ups at the hospital to monitor the fetus's safety in the uterus.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Yin Xing

Obstetrics

1min 24sec

home-news-image

How to prevent umbilical cord entanglement in late pregnancy

There are no effective prevention methods for nuchal cord, which is the most common form of umbilical cord entanglement where the cord wraps around the fetus's neck, limbs, or trunk. Nuchal cord occurs in 90% of these cases, frequently involving the cord wrapping around the neck once. This phenomenon can be observed in 20% of deliveries and is associated with factors such as an overly long umbilical cord, a small fetus, excessive amniotic fluid, and frequent fetal movements. An excessively long umbilical cord is mostly a physiological occurrence since the cord floats in the amniotic fluid and its actual length cannot be accurately measured, with no effective methods to prevent its occurrence. Excessive amniotic fluid and a small fetus are linked to certain pregnancy complications, such as diabetes-induced polyhydramnios and restricted fetal growth. Actively controlling blood sugar during pregnancy can prevent such issues. Frequent fetal movements are physiological for some pregnant women. Women who experience more frequent fetal movements throughout pregnancy are likely to encounter nuchal cord. Clinically, nuchal cord does not require special management unless it leads to obstructions in fetal descent, fetal distress, or variations in fetal heart rate. It does not impact delivery or fetal development.

home-news-image

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

53sec

home-news-image

Can the umbilical cord unwrap itself after it has wrapped around the neck and entered the pelvis?

When the fetus has already engaged and there is nuchal cord occurrence, it is generally unlikely for the wrapping to unwind again. This is because once the fetus has engaged, the fetal position is fixed, and the fetus will no longer change its position, making the nuchal cord a more fixed condition. When dealing with nuchal cord, it is important to observe the number of loops and whether the tightness of the loops could impact the fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly attend prenatal appointments at the hospital to monitor its developmental condition. If the nuchal cord loops just once around the neck, it usually does not affect the baby.

home-news-image

Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

47sec

home-news-image

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.