What to do when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck at 39 weeks of pregnancy?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on May 21, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 6sec home-news-image

Can placenta previa with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck one time be delivered vaginally?

Placenta previa and umbilical cord around the neck are two relatively common clinical conditions during pregnancy, and they have different impacts on natural childbirth. First, having the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck once is a very normal physiological occurrence, and it generally does not affect the ability to have a natural childbirth in any situation. Therefore, from the perspective of the umbilical cord around the neck, it does not affect natural childbirth. Second, placenta previa refers to the lower edge of the placenta being close to the internal os of the cervix. Whether natural childbirth is possible mainly depends on the type of placenta previa. If it is a partial or central placenta previa, such conditions generally cannot proceed with natural childbirth, as they might cause significant bleeding, necessitating an elective cesarean section. However, in the case of marginal placenta previa, where there is still some distance between the lower edge of the placenta and the cervical os, attempting natural childbirth might be possible, provided that preparations for a cesarean section are in place.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
40sec home-news-image

Does the umbilical cord wrapping always involve the neck?

Umbilical cord entanglement around the neck usually occurs during the mid-pregnancy period, as this is when the baby moves more frequently. The baby has a larger range of movement within the uterine cavity, which can easily lead to the cord wrapping around the neck, abdomen, legs, or arms. Generally, if there is no cord entanglement found after 32 weeks of pregnancy, it is unlikely that it will occur. However, this is not certain. After the baby engages, which is after 35 weeks, the baby's position becomes fixed, and it is unlikely for cord entanglement to occur thereafter.

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

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.

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

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.