What will the fetal movement be like if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on January 27, 2025
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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.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can you exercise with the umbilical cord around the neck?

When a nuchal cord occurs, one should not have too much psychological burden, as it is a fairly common situation. The prognosis should be determined based on the specific circumstances of the nuchal cord, including the number of loops and the tightness of the loops. If the cord wraps around once or if there is a loose knot, appropriate activities can be undertaken. However, if the wrapping is tight, or if there are multiple loops, one should regularly visit the hospital for prenatal check-ups to understand the safety of the fetus in the womb. In such cases, it is necessary to reduce activities to avoid increasing the risk of nuchal cord complications, which could cause fetal hypoxia or even suffocation.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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The difference between a V-type and U-type nuchal cord.

When umbilical cord entanglement occurs, ultrasound examination may reveal a U-shaped or V-shaped entanglement. The V-shape and U-shape both indicate that the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once. In such cases, there is no need for excessive anxiety. Sometimes the cord may unwind by itself as the fetal position changes, loosening or alleviating the entanglement. It is important to regularly visit the hospital for prenatal check-ups, rest adequately, enhance nutrition, and adopt a left lateral position to improve placental blood supply.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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What should I do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck?

Umbilical cord entanglement around the neck is a common complication for pregnant women. It mostly occurs with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck once, accounting for about 20% of all deliveries, which means that 1 in 5 pregnant women will experience this condition. The main danger of umbilical cord entanglement is that if the cord is wrapped tightly or is short, it can pull on the cord during pregnancy or delivery, causing the blood vessels within the cord to constrict. This constriction can decrease the fetal blood circulation, leading to fetal distress, which is characterized by changes in fetal heart rate and fetal movement. Therefore, if there is umbilical cord entanglement, it is important to enhance monitoring during pregnancy and delivery. If fetal distress or fetal hypoxia occurs, a cesarean section should be performed promptly to terminate the pregnancy.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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What should I do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once during the mid-pregnancy?

The incidence of the umbilical cord wrapping around the neck once is quite high, accounting for about one-fifth of pregnant women. Generally, if the umbilical cord is loosely wrapped around the child's neck, and if the cord is long enough, it usually does not have a significant impact on the fetus. However, if the umbilical cord is tightly wrapped around the neck, and additionally, if the cord is relatively short, it can sometimes lead to pulling and thinning of the cord, causing obstruction in the blood vessels within the cord. This can result in oxygen deficiency for the baby. Therefore, during the mid-pregnancy period when umbilical cord entanglement occurs, it is important to enhance monitoring. Regular prenatal check-ups, counting fetal movements by oneself, and frequent monitoring of fetal heart rate changes are advisable.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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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.