Single entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the child. The entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus: causes and consequences

Any woman, having heard from a doctor at a planned ultrasound that her child has an entanglement of the umbilical cord, begins to worry and worry, because there are a lot of rumors about such a phenomenon. There is even a sign according to which the expectant mother should not be engaged in knitting or sewing, otherwise she will face such a problem.

Many people advise not to exercise during pregnancy to avoid the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck of the fetus. However, all signs and superstitions should not be trusted, since there is not a grain of truth in them.

Medical practice shows that do not be afraid of entanglement of the umbilical cord. Many women experience this phenomenon. Modern doctors make every effort during the birth process in order to protect the child from negative consequences, such as asphyxia.

Causes of the umbilical cord entwining around the neck of the fetus

The umbilical cord is the main link that connects a woman and her unborn child, allowing him to receive the necessary nutrients. The umbilical cord is formed at the time of conception and only at 13-14 weeks does it take its final form.

The umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus can occur for the following reasons:

  • long umbilical cord (more than 70 cm). Because of this, loops can form in the uterus around the baby's neck. The length of the umbilical cord depends on hereditary factors;
  • polyhydramnios. It creates more space for the fetus to move. The umbilical cord is completely free-floating. This fact increases the likelihood that entanglement will occur;
  • hypoxia. Due to the lack of oxygen from the mother through the umbilical cord and placenta, the baby may begin to move excessively and fall into the resulting loop.

The above reasons do not always lead to entanglement. Sometimes this can happen purely by accident.

The entanglement of the umbilical cord is detected on ultrasound. The revealed loops still mean nothing. Firstly, a child before birth can not only “get entangled” in the umbilical cord, but also “untangle” itself. The loop found on ultrasound may not last long and not affect the condition of the fetus. Secondly, not every cord wrapped around the neck is dangerous. Only 10% of such cases end with various complications.

The entanglement detected on ultrasound should be further examined. Thanks to color Doppler mapping, showing the direction of blood flow, you can count the number of loops on the baby's neck, that is, in this way the multiplicity of entanglement is determined. The most common is a single entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck.

With the help of cardiotocography, it is possible to find out whether the existing loop leads to hypoxia. Further, if there are signs of a lack of oxygen, an ultrasound examination called “doplerometry” is performed, which allows you to check the intensity of blood flow in the vessels of the umbilical cord, to find out if the child in the womb receives enough oxygen.

If hypoxia is suspected, all studies are carried out several times, as the fetus moves and its condition is constantly changing.

Consequences of entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus

Until almost 37 weeks, doctors do not focus on cord entanglement, unless it threatens the baby. Before childbirth, it may appear and disappear several times.

The danger to the baby is tight multiple or double entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck. It can cause hypoxia. Oxygen deficiency causes a violation of intrauterine development, the work of the whole organism.

Metabolic processes change, adaptive capabilities decrease, the nervous system is damaged. The degree of damaging effects of hypoxia depends on the duration of oxygen deficiency.

Problems with the processes of blood supply to the tissues of the baby can be caused by strong squeezing of the limbs or neck. Strong tension on the umbilical cord can lead to premature detachment of the placenta and sudden delivery.

What should a future mother do when an umbilical cord entanglement is found in a fetus?

The question of what to do when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck of the fetus is of interest to many pregnant women.

Firstly, the fair sex in a position, having learned about the existence of an entanglement in her baby, don't have to worry. Stress and anxiety will negatively affect the child.

Secondly, in order to avoid dire consequences, it is necessary follow all recommendations doctor. No need to miss scheduled examinations. Thanks to them, you can find out in time about violations in the state of the baby and prevent the occurrence of undesirable consequences.

Doctors sometimes to prevent hypoxia prescribe special drugs aimed at maintaining uteroplacental circulation. In certain cases, health care providers may suggest early admission to a woman's hospital.

With repeated entanglement of the fetal neck with the umbilical cord, a planned caesarean section is performed at 38-39 weeks. Natural childbirth in such situations is unacceptable, as it can be dangerous for the child. If the fetus has hypoxia that threatens his life, an emergency caesarean section may be prescribed by the doctor.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that umbilical cord entanglement is not as terrible an event as it seems. Serious consequences of the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck of the fetus can be avoided by visiting according to the plan of the doctor and following his recommendations.

It is also worth walking as often as possible in the fresh air, reconsider your lifestyle, give up bad habits. This will reduce the risk of entanglement.

If, nevertheless, he was discovered, then there is nothing to be afraid of. In most cases, these situations are not dangerous. A single entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck or twice will not threaten the child until the blood flow is disturbed.

Such cases are very rare and can only occur during childbirth. However, professional doctors will not let trouble happen. Modern methods of research and control will allow you to give birth to an absolutely healthy baby.

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Double entanglement of the umbilical cord - what should a woman in labor with such a diagnosis? As medical practice shows, you should not be afraid of just a simple entanglement, since it occurs in many women. Modern obstetricians and doctors make every effort to protect the baby from negative consequences (for example, from asphyxia) during childbirth.

The umbilical cord is the main link connecting a woman and a child; with its help, the fetus receives the necessary nutrients. It is formed at conception, and only at 13-14 weeks of gestation takes its final form. The reasons for umbilical cord entanglement are as follows:

    umbilical cord, more than 70 centimeters in length; polyhydramnios; hypoxia.

Is double entanglement of the umbilical cord dangerous? Consequences of entanglement around the neck of the fetus.

Until the 37th week of gestation, doctors practically do not focus on the entanglement if it does not pose a threat to the child. Before the onset of the birth process, this phenomenon can appear and disappear on its own. A serious danger to the baby is the repeated tight or double entanglement of the umbilical cord.. As a result, the child may develop hypoxia. Lack of oxygen provokes developmental disorders inside the womb, and also interferes with the normal functioning of the child's body as a whole. There are changes in metabolic processes, adaptive capabilities are reduced and the central nervous system is damaged. The longer the oxygen deficiency, the more pronounced the damaging effects of hypoxia.

Violations in the processes of blood supply to the tissues of the child can be caused due to severe compression of the neck or limbs. Excessive tension on the umbilical cord leads to premature exfoliation of the placenta and even a sudden birth process.

What can double entanglement of the umbilical cord lead to? How to give birth with a similar diagnosis?

The fair sex, being in an “interesting” position, having learned about the entanglement of the fetus, should not worry, because excitement and stress will negatively affect the child. In order to prevent terrible consequences, all medical recommendations should be followed. You should not miss the planned examinations, because thanks to them you can find out in a timely manner about violations in the development of the baby, prevent the appearance of undesirable, negative consequences.

Sometimes, for preventive purposes, doctors prescribe special medications that are designed to maintain uteroplacental circulation. In some cases, doctors may suggest early hospitalization for a pregnant woman. If multiple entanglement is detected at 38-39 weeks, then a planned cesarean section is prescribed, since natural childbirth in such a case is unacceptable (there is a serious danger to the baby). If the fetus has hypoxia that threatens his life, then the doctor may prescribe an emergency cesarean.

Summing up, I would like to say that entanglement with the umbilical cord is not as terrible a phenomenon as it might seem. You can avoid the serious consequences of this event if you plan to visit a doctor and follow all his recommendations. In addition, it is desirable to walk in the fresh air more often, change your lifestyle a little and “tie up” with bad habits. Thus, the risk of entanglement will decrease. If this phenomenon is detected, do not be afraid, because the entanglement will not threaten the baby until the blood flow is normal. Modern techniques enable women to give birth to perfectly healthy babies.

Similar interesting articles.

When, after the next ultrasound, expectant mothers hear the diagnosis “umbilical cord entwined around the neck”, they are very frightened. They imagine a terrible picture: an unborn child is suffocating from the noose that the umbilical cord has become for him. But you should not be afraid. The baby in the womb is not yet breathing, so it cannot suffocate. From the fact that the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, nothing terrible will happen. After all, the baby will continue to receive through it all the necessary nutrients.

Despite the fact that such a phenomenon does not pose a direct danger to the health of the child, it will be useful for every expectant mother to learn about the causes and consequences of entanglement of the umbilical cord around the fetus's neck. You will learn about this from this article.

To properly understand the essence of the problem, you must first understand what constitutes umbilical cord.

This is a special cord that connects the organisms of the mother and child. Through it, the necessary nutrition is supplied to the fetus.

The formation of the umbilical cord begins at the 3rd week of pregnancy. It consists of connective tissue, an umbilical vein, and a pair of arteries. Inside the umbilical cord, the vessels are twisted into a spiral.

The vein in the umbilical cord serves to supply the mother's arterial blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients, to the baby's body. Arteries, on the other hand, drain blood from the fetus with metabolic products.

The umbilical cord is a temporary organ. It is needed by the fetus only until the moment of birth. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is removed: doctors cut it.

In the normal state, it has a length of 40 to 60 cm. If the length of the umbilical cord goes beyond 70 cm, then conditions arise for the umbilical cord to wrap around the fetal neck.

Causes of pathology

Despite the development of medicine and the wide availability of medical information, in modern society there are still many superstitions associated with the umbilical cord wrapping around the neck of the fetus. For example, some "experts" still advise pregnant women not to engage in knitting and weaving, to refuse to raise their hands up in the last stages of pregnancy. Allegedly, this may contribute to the umbilical cord wrapping around the neck of the fetus. Naturally, this is complete nonsense.

Why does entanglement occur? This intrauterine pathology can develop under the influence of the following factors:

Types of pathology

There is the following classification of umbilical cord entanglement of the neck of the fetus:

  • Tight. Such an entanglement is characteristic of a short umbilical cord.
  • Not tight. Such an entanglement is characteristic of a long umbilical cord.
  • Single. One loop.
  • Double. Two loops.
  • Triple. Three or more loops.
  • Isolated. The umbilical cord wraps around only one part of the body. For example, the neck.
  • Combined. The entanglement affects several parts of the body.

With umbilical cord wrapped around the neck 1 time faced by at least 20% of women. Doctors do not even consider this phenomenon a pathology, since a single loop cannot cause fetal hypoxia.

A single entanglement of the umbilical cord at 32 weeks is not a reason to panic. Obstetricians believe that the child will be able to be born independently.

You can start to worry if doctors find cord entanglement at 33 weeks pregnant. As a rule, before childbirth, the child independently removes the loop. However, if it is a combination entanglement, affecting other parts of the body, then the loop may be too tight. In this case, the fetus will not be able to get rid of it, which can create some difficulties during childbirth.

double cord wrap

In the vast majority of cases, this pathology is also not considered dangerous. Especially if it is detected before 37 weeks. After this period, the likelihood that the fetus will be able to get rid of the entanglement is very small.

Double entanglement of the umbilical cord around the fetal neck may complicate natural childbirth. But even then, only if the obstetrician was not previously informed of the presence of pathology. If the doctor knows exactly how the loops of the organ lie, then the birth goes well. In any case, if a woman in labor has a double entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus, then everything necessary for a caesarean section is prepared. The slightest deviation in the health of the child or mother, and doctors perform an operation.

Triple entanglement of the umbilical cord

This type of pathology is much less common. It can be considered harmless only if the entanglement is not tight. That's why women with triple entanglement checked with particular care. At the same time, they are prescribed dopplerography and CTG in a mandatory case.

Despite the fact that the doctors themselves consider the triple entanglement of the umbilical cord to be safe, they still do not risk it and after the 37th week of pregnancy they prefer to induce labor. At the same time, if the cervix does not open wide enough, doctors do a caesarean section.

It should not be thought that triple entanglement is an absolute indication for surgery. Needed for a caesarean section additional reasons:

  • The fruit is overweight.
  • Transverse position of the child in the uterus.
  • Narrow pelvis.
  • Hypertonic disease.

As you can see, in general, wrapping the umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus does not pose an immediate threat to the life of the child. However, it is always better to play it safe and be prepared for any development of events. Therefore, obstetricians regularly examine pregnant women after 32 weeks of pregnancy. For pathology diagnosis, they resort to the following methods:

The use of these methods allows doctors to ensure a safe birth with cord entanglement.

Consequences

Most often, physicians have to deal with tight and single entanglement. In this case, there is no threat to the health of the fetus. A woman gives birth quite successfully on her own.

The danger arises when entanglement is tight and repeated. There is a direct threat to the health of the fetus due to hypoxia. Doctors immediately warn a woman in labor about possible dangers:

  • Oxygen starvation of the child during the passage of the birth canal.
  • Narrowing of the lumen of the vessels that feed the fetus.
  • Fetal circulation problems.
  • Hypoxia.
  • Cessation of cardiac activity.
  • Placental abruption.

As mentioned above, doctors tend not to take risks and after 37 weeks of pregnancy they do a caesarean section. This operation is also resorted to in cases where the situation becomes critical for any reason.

entanglement prevention

The expectant mother can minimize the risks of developing pathology. To do this, she needs to following:

These measures are sufficient in most cases to prevent the umbilical cord from wrapping around the baby's neck.

When a pregnant woman hears from a doctor that her baby has an umbilical cord entanglement, it sounds ominous. And if this pathology is located around the neck, there are fears for the baby. But is the devil as terrible as he is painted? What is the danger of entanglement, how to determine it and, most importantly, how to act for a future mother when making such a diagnosis, we will consider in more detail.

The umbilical cord and its functions

Until the third trimester, the fetus moves quietly in the uterus and can both become entangled and unravel from the umbilical cord

The umbilical cord is a special organ that forms during pregnancy and connects the mother's body with the child. It is through the umbilical cord that the baby receives the nutrients and oxygen necessary for life and development.

At one end, the umbilical cord is attached to the abdominal wall of the fetus, after birth it will be cut off to form the navel we are used to, and at the other end to the placenta. The average length of the umbilical cord is 50-60 cm. The umbilical cord is considered long if its length reaches 70-80 cm, and short if the length is less than 40 cm. A long umbilical cord increases the risk of entanglement.

The umbilical cord performs the following functions:

  • delivery of oxygen;
  • supply of nutrients from mother to child;
  • excretion of waste products from the body of the baby.

What is cord entanglement, causes and types

An entanglement is a condition when the umbilical cord creates a loop around any part of the baby's body. The nodule may form around the trunk, neck, or limbs of the fetus. Multiple entanglement, when several parts of the baby’s body are captured by the loops of the umbilical cord, does not go away on its own and requires close supervision of doctors

I want to immediately reassure expectant mothers: on average, every fifth birth occurs when the baby is entwined with the umbilical cord, and this is far from always the cause of any negative manifestations.

In vain is the fear about the entanglement of the umbilical cord around the baby's neck. The fact is that the fetus in the womb does not breathe with lungs, so entanglement is dangerous only in terms of the fact that the umbilical cord itself can be squeezed. The very same squeezing the neck does not cause any harm to the baby.

Causes of entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord

Although not a single mother carrying a baby in the womb is safe from entanglement with the umbilical cord, there are a number of reasons that provoke this pathology:

  • long umbilical cord (70–80 cm);
  • increased activity of the baby due to hypoxia;
  • polyhydramnios;
  • the presence in the mother's diet of tonic drinks - tea, coffee;
  • an increase in movements due to adrenaline, a substance released into the blood of a future mother during stress.

In this vein, of particular importance is the long-standing advice to pregnant women - "less nervous." Especially in the case of diagnosed polyhydramnios or an elongated umbilical cord.

Types of entanglement

By the number of loops, the entanglement is divided into the following categories:

  • single;
  • double;
  • triple.

According to the degree of tension, the entanglement is divided into the following types:

  • tight;
  • not tight.

According to the features of the parts of the body captured by the umbilical cord, the entanglement is divided into the following categories:

  • isolated - in the case when only the neck or one other part of the body is wrapped with the umbilical cord;
  • combined - when the nodes simultaneously cover several parts of the baby's body.

The safest is a single isolated, non-tight entanglement. The author of this article was also diagnosed with this type of pathology during pregnancy. At the same time, the specialists of both the ultrasound and the antenatal clinic, and later the maternity hospital, did not see any danger in this and did not prescribe any measures like a protective regimen or sedatives. The doctor chosen for the delivery, reassured: a single loose entanglement is not an indication for a caesarean section. During natural childbirth, as soon as the baby's head appears, the doctor carefully removes the umbilical cord from the neck and thus the problem is solved quickly and easily. In the case of an emergency, as happened in the case of the author, or a planned (for other reasons) caesarean section, the removal of the umbilical cord loop is even easier, since in this case the child does not pass through the birth canal and there is no danger of tension on the umbilical cord.

Symptoms and diagnosis of cord entanglement

The only symptom of cord entanglement is an increase in fetal activity. If a woman feels an unusually large number of movements of the child, as well as in the case when the tremors become sharper, this is an occasion to immediately visit the doctor who leads the pregnancy. Since the first phase of hypoxia has come. The specialist will prescribe all the necessary examinations to identify the cause of increased activity.

Emergency measures require a state of "calm", when after a long, up to several days, increase in activity, the movement stops. A sharp slowdown means that the second, dangerous for the life of the fetus, phase of hypoxia has come. The baby's strength is over and he can no longer give signals to his mother. In this case, it is necessary to call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital, where, with a high degree of probability, the woman will be placed to maintain the pregnancy. In severe cases, if the time permits, the doctor may decide to perform an emergency caesarean section to save the life of the child.

To determine the entanglement of the umbilical cord and assess how dangerous it is for the fetus, the following examinations are performed: ultrasound, CTG, dopplerometry.

Ultrasonography


Ultrasound diagnostics allows you to establish the fact of entanglement with the umbilical cord and assess the general condition of the fetus

Ultrasound diagnostics is a modern, safe for the fetus method of analyzing the condition of the baby. Ultrasound, unlike, for example, x-rays, can be done as often as the situation requires - even if you have to carry out this type of diagnosis several times a week.

Thanks to ultrasound, the doctor will be able to draw the following conclusions:

  • will determine the very presence of entanglement;
  • evaluate the general condition of the fetus;
  • check the condition of the umbilical cord and amniotic fluid.
  1. Sometimes during an ultrasound scan it is impossible to examine the child because of its inconvenient position for the apparatus. In this case, you need to go out and walk for 10-15 minutes along the corridor or on the street, weather permitting. The movement of the mother will allow the baby to change position, and then the diagnosis will be effective, without the need to come additionally.
  2. It is highly desirable to come to the ultrasound in a calm state, even if you are almost sure that there is an entanglement. Since stress will lead to increased activity of the child, which will complicate diagnosis and may lead to the production of the so-called "false entanglement". This false diagnosis is made when, with a complication of diagnosis, the apparatus shows a loop that seems to be wrapped around the fetus, but in fact is nearby.

Cardiotocogram


Cardiotocogram - the most reliable way to assess the prenatal state of the fetus

CTG (cardiotocogram) - a study of the fetal heart rate, its changes depending on the movements of the baby. Today, CTG is the most informative method for analyzing a baby in the womb.

CTG is measured with a special ultrasonic sensor, which is fixed on the belly of a pregnant woman.

This study is carried out no earlier than 32 weeks of pregnancy, when the sleep and wakefulness of the fetus is established.

The main condition for a correct result, which is rarely warned by doctors, who, as a rule, have a tight schedule, is that the child must be awake at the time of the CTG. Otherwise, the data may give false positive or false negative information about the condition of the fetus.

It is important to understand that the conclusion on the interpretation of the CTG recording is not a diagnosis. The results of a single study give only an indirect idea of ​​the condition of the fetus from the moment of the study for no more than a day. They should be considered only in conjunction with the clinical picture, the nature of the course of pregnancy and other studies - ultrasound and Doppler.

AND ABOUT. Makarov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor

https://www.medison.ru/si/art239.htm


For correct results, dopplerometry should be carried out during the rest period of the baby.

Dopplerometry studies the features of blood flow in the child's place, the arteries of the baby's brain, as well as in the umbilical cord.

Doppler is also performed using ultrasound. The optimal start date for the study is the 30th week, but if indicated, it can be prescribed earlier - starting from the 20th week of pregnancy.

Doppler ultrasound is performed on ultrasound machines, for the patient the procedure does not differ from conventional ultrasound diagnostics: the specialist drives the sensor over the abdomen, following the results on the monitor screen. Only unlike conventional ultrasound, the doctor sees curved blood flow lines, based on the speed of which a conclusion is made about the condition of the fetus.

To obtain the correct results, dopplerometry must be carried out during the rest of the baby. Otherwise, the device will give false values, which can have detrimental consequences for the fetus.

Video: Ultrasound diagnosis of entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord

Risks and consequences of cord entanglement

As already mentioned above, the entanglement may not pose a danger to the child and not affect the delivery process. But in any case, the woman is under closer supervision of doctors, since the entanglement carries certain risks:

  • narrowing of the vascular lumen, leading to a lack of oxygen and nutrients for the child;
  • premature detachment of the placenta during childbirth;
  • incorrect insertion of the baby's head to pass through the birth canal.

From the risks follow possible ways to remove the entanglement of the baby's umbilical cord. So, with a narrowing of the lumen, the doctor may decide on a planned cesarean section, usually this happens after the 37th week of pregnancy. But the operation can be performed earlier if there is a deterioration in the condition of the baby.

According to a scientific study conducted in 2015, which involved 102 women who gave birth urgently due to progressive fetal hypoxia, it was revealed that caesarean section reduces the incidence of lesions of the central nervous system, as well as developmental delays in children exposed to intrauterine hypoxia.

If the labor activity of the woman has already begun and the detachment of the child's place has come or the fetus has been inserted incorrectly, an emergency caesarean section will be performed in order to save the life and health of the child. At such a moment, the patient's trust in her doctor is important. Today there are many opponents of caesarean section and supporters of natural childbirth. But it is important to remember: the harm caused to the child by hypoxia far exceeds the risk of complications of operative delivery.

So, the entanglement that led to the clamping of the umbilical cord can have the following consequences:

  • deterioration of blood supply in the transferred part of the body and, as a result, underdevelopment or possible incorrect functioning in the future;
  • low weight of the fetus;
  • insufficient development of organs and systems of the child due to a deficiency of nutrients;
  • hemorrhages in vital organs;
  • disorders of the central nervous system due to hypoxia up to disability.

Video: fetal hypoxia with cord entanglement

Treatment and actions of the expectant mother in diagnosing cord entanglement

There is no such treatment for this condition. A pregnant woman is shown more frequent visits to the doctor with additional examinations. Perhaps a woman will be prescribed a complex of drugs that support uteroplacental blood flow.

Sometimes there is a need for hospitalization: if the examination specialist detects acute hypoxia or uteroplacental insufficiency.

Also, if there is an entanglement, the expectant mother is recommended to undergo CTG at least once a week. Moreover, it is often necessary for the pregnant woman herself to monitor this. During the “interesting situation”, the ultrasound specialist also strongly recommended to the author to do CTG every week, but in the antenatal clinic, no action was taken on this recommendation - the author herself had to ask for additional numbers for CTG. Thus, despite the fact that a pregnant woman is observed by professional doctors, you should always remember: the responsibility for the baby lies primarily with her.

Childbirth during entanglement

With a single loose entanglement, natural childbirth is possible. At the moment when the baby's head appears, the midwife will carefully remove the noose and thus solve the problem. At the time of the release of the child, the woman in labor is forbidden to push. The doctor will definitely tell the woman in labor about this. Therefore, it is so important during childbirth to listen to the commands of doctors and immediately follow them.
Even a double entanglement, if it is not tight, can be removed by a midwife at the time of birth of the baby's head.

A planned caesarean section will most likely be prescribed in case of tight multiple entanglement around the fetal neck.

An emergency caesarean section will be performed if hypoxia is detected in the child.

During labor, the following examinations are carried out:

  • fetal heart rate control: in the first stage of labor - every 15-20 minutes; in the second period, with the onset of attempts - every 3 minutes;
  • CTG: performed every 3 hours for 20-30 minutes, longer if necessary, or throughout the entire period of labor.

If examinations show a deterioration in the situation, the doctor may decide to speed up labor or, if acute hypoxia is detected, to perform an emergency caesarean section.

The free part of the umbilical cord shortened due to entanglement may prevent the baby from moving along the birth canal, in such cases the obstetrician cuts the perineum - an episiotomy, so that the child can continue moving along the birth canal.

If the sensors show that hypoxia has set in, the doctor may use vacuum extraction or obstetric forceps to speed up the extraction of the fetus. Unfortunately, both methods of childbirth are very dangerous for the fetus. According to a study conducted on the basis of 75 women who gave birth with vacuum extraction, and 565 women who used obstetric forceps during childbirth, from 27.2% to 80% of children born in such ways, there are severe damage to the nervous system, trauma to the head and spinal cord.
Vacuum extraction and obstetric forceps are used if the entanglement has led to acute fetal hypoxia

That is why prenatal examination and birth monitoring of the condition of the woman and the fetus is of particular importance. This allows you to carry out an emergency caesarean section and not bring the situation to the need for extraction.

Prevention of entanglement of the umbilical cord of the fetus


Slow walks during pregnancy are an effective means of plastically entwining the baby with the umbilical cord

Preventive measures include the following activities.

Often, during an ultrasound scan during pregnancy, a woman hears from a doctor such a conclusion as a single entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus. This fact causes panic in almost all expectant mothers who are faced with such a situation. Let's try to figure it out and find out: is this kind of phenomenon so scary and how can a single entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck be dangerous for the baby's health?

What causes entanglement?

To begin with, it must be said that this kind of phenomenon can both arise and disappear on its own. That is why doctors are in no hurry to draw any conclusions, and in most cases take a wait-and-see approach. As a rule, if the entanglement was found around the middle of the gestation period, then the ultrasound is repeated before delivery, at 37 weeks of gestation.

As for the direct causes of a single entanglement with the umbilical cord, experts usually name the following factors leading to this:

  • the length of the umbilical cord is more than 70 cm;
  • the presence of a large volume of amniotic fluid - polyhydramnios;
  • oxygen starvation of the fetus - hypoxia.

So, with polyhydramnios, the baby has a large space for movement, which rarely increases the likelihood of developing an entanglement of the umbilical cord not only around the body, but also around the neck.

As for hypoxia, it is most often considered as a provoking factor, i.e. insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus through the umbilical cord can lead to an increase in its motor activity. Ultimately, the fetus simply falls into one of the loops of the umbilical cord.

What should be done with a single entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck of the fetus?

According to statistics, only in about 10% of cases this kind of phenomenon leads to complications. That is why the expectant mother should not be very worried and nervous about this. Moreover, excitement from the mother can be transmitted to the fetus, which will only aggravate the situation.

As for the actions of doctors, then, as already mentioned above, if the loop on the neck does not squeeze the fetus, then doctors prefer to use expectant tactics, i.e. waiting almost until birth.

In order to determine the condition of the fetus with a single entanglement of the umbilical cord around his neck, (CTG) can be prescribed and the first study involves recording the baby's heartbeats, and with the help of the second, the state of blood flow intensity in the vessels located in the umbilical cord itself is determined.

Why is such a phenomenon dangerous?

A single loose entanglement of the umbilical cord, as a rule, does not pose any danger to the health and development of the fetus. During the course of pregnancy, such a phenomenon can occur repeatedly and disappear on its own, as evidenced by ultrasound performed during pregnancy.

As a rule, a double tight entanglement poses a danger to the health of the unborn baby. With this phenomenon, the development of oxygen starvation is noted. This violation negatively affects the processes of intrauterine development of the fetus and the development of brain structures in particular. So, as a result, there may be a decrease in adaptive capabilities, a violation of metabolic processes, and damage to the nervous system. The degree of negative impact directly depends on the duration of oxygen starvation of the fetus.

It is also worth noting that the strong tension of the umbilical cord, in view of the shortening of its total length due to entanglement, often leads to premature detachment of the placenta, which requires intervention by doctors.

Thus, as can be seen from this article, a single entanglement of the umbilical cord of the fetus around his neck should not cause alarm for the expectant mother, because. does not affect its development.


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