The umbilical cord is a one-of-a-kind cord that connects the placenta to the fetus, and thus the only direct (along with the placenta) path between mother and baby. From the 8th week of pregnancy, blood vessels run through the umbilical cord: two arteries and a vein. It is through the umbilical cord that the baby receives oxygen and nourishment from the mother. But there are also situations when the umbilical cord can be a threat.

Umbilical cordprovides your baby with all the nutrients and oxygen he needs to live. How is it done? Find out what you need to know about the structure and role of the umbilical cord. What problems may arise whenthe structure of the umbilical cordis incorrect?

Structure of the umbilical cord

Initially, the umbilical cord consists of four blood vessels, but one vein disappears around week 8 of pregnancy. From then on, the umbilical cord is made up of three large blood vessels wrapping around each other: two arteries and a vein (previously there are four vessels, but one vein disappears early in utero). The dishes, surrounded by a jelly-like, resilient substance, are suspended in a fairly hard but flexible tube. Thanks to this, the umbilical cord is properly stretched, which allows the free flow of blood, even when compressing the vessels by the developing fetus. One end of the umbilical cord connects to the baby's belly, the other end should be in the center of the placenta. At the place of attachment to the placenta, umbilical vessels divide into numerous and finer branches, up to microscopic capillaries, which wrap the placenta in a dense net.

How does the umbilical cord work?

The mother's blood, containing nutrients and oxygen, reaches the placenta. There, all these valuable substances penetrate the blood in the umbilical vein, which transports them to the fetus, thus nourishing it and allowing it to breathe. On the other hand, metabolic products are removed from the child's body along with the blood and carried away through the umbilical arteries. They supply blood to the placenta, and this is where these waste products enter the mother's bloodstream (from where they are excreted through the kidneys). In a properly running pregnancy, the mother's blood never mixes with the baby's blood. Only childbirth ends this wonderful symbiosis. With the first breath of a newborn baby, the umbilical cord is no longer needed. When the throbbing has stopped, the doctor or midwife clamps it in two places with clamps, and thenintersects.

Dangerous clamping of the umbilical cord

Each bend or break of the umbilical cord makes the blood vessels running through it less clear, and then the baby's blood reaches the baby less. To prevent this, the vessels are surrounded by a jelly-like substance that makes the umbilical cord stiff and makes it practically impossible to fully tighten it (with the vessel lumen closed). Despite these safeguards, sometimes the umbilical cord becomes looped or knots inside the uterus. When it is wrapped around the baby's body, it makes labor much more difficult, and when it is tightened around the neck, the baby is at risk of becoming hypoxic. Doctors can deal with this problem though, so don't panic when something like this happens to your baby (20-30% of babies are born with an umbilical cord around their necks). However, it is important to observe the umbilical cord during pregnancy and childbirth in order to react as soon as possible if anything disturbing happens.

Important

The umbilical cord is the first toy of the unborn baby. Toddlers love to play with it, e.g. swing, holding on to its handle. Towards the end of pregnancy, they may clamp the umbilical cord so tightly that the oxygen supply is temporarily reduced.

The length of the umbilical cord does matter

At the end of pregnancy, the umbilical cord reaches a length of approx. 60 cm. If it is too long, there is a greater risk of it becoming wrapped around your baby's body (even several times), obstructing the oxygen supply. On the other hand, the umbilical cord that is too short when the baby moves, pulls the placenta, favoring its premature detachment, which also threatens the pregnancy. In rare cases, the so-called umbilical cord prolapse. This happens when, after the rupture of the membranes, the umbilical cord appears in the birth canal before the head or other part of the baby's body is inserted into it. Then, during the lowering of the leading part, the umbilical cord is compressed and, as a result, the blood flow in the umbilical vessels is interrupted. This can lead to hypoxia. In such situations, a caesarean section is performed quickly. The prolapse of the umbilical cord is favored by an excess of amniotic fluid and the gluteal or transverse position of the fetus.

Unusual cord blood

During pregnancy, fetal blood taken from the umbilical cord can be used to diagnose numerous diseases and disorders. On the other hand, after birth, the cord blood can be collected - at the parents' request - and stored in the event that the child falls ill in the future, e.g. with leukemia. This blood is a source of stem cells that are used in modern therapies.

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Category:

Pregnancy