What should I do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck once?

Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
Updated on December 04, 2024
00:00
00:00

Umbilical cord wrapping around the neck once is a very common phenomenon, occurring in 20% of fetuses. When the umbilical cord wraps around the neck once, if the umbilical blood flow and fetal movements are normal, it indicates that the cord wrapping does not affect the fetus and will not have a direct impact on the fetus's intrauterine growth and development. However, during childbirth, attention must be paid to the possibility that the umbilical cord wrapping may cause difficulties in the descent of the presenting part of the fetus, leading to abnormal umbilical blood flow. If difficulties in the descent of the presenting part and changes in the fetal heart rate occur during delivery, the possibility of umbilical cord wrapping should be considered. If necessary, a cesarean section should be performed to terminate the pregnancy. There are no medications or other treatments that can alleviate umbilical cord wrapping; instead, enhanced prenatal monitoring is sufficient.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Su Min
Obstetrics
1min home-news-image

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.

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
39sec home-news-image

Can nuchal cord be corrected by lying prone?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
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.