Everything about the umbilical cord: normal indicators, functions during pregnancy and appearance. Where does the mother's umbilical cord go after childbirth?
Throughout pregnancy, the umbilical cord connected the fetus to the mother's body, supplying the baby with food and removing waste products. But then came the happy moment - the child was born. Immediately with the first breath of the baby and the cry with which he announces his birth, the umbilical cord is cut. A wound remains at the junction, which heals over time, but there remains a mark reminiscent of the mother who gave life to the child - the navel. Where does the mother's umbilical cord go after childbirth and what is done with it - this question as a result worries all women in labor. First you need to figure out what it is.
The umbilical cord is an anatomical formation that appears immediately after conception. In structure, it is part of the chorion (outer shell of the fetus) and part of the ovum. From it, the placenta is first formed, and the umbilical cord itself is already moving away from it. The result of these formations is a single anatomical formation with the medical name of the placenta - this is the placenta together with the umbilical cord.
The latter in the presented chain plays a huge role in the process of carrying a child. It is through it that various nutrients and trace elements are delivered to the baby, as well as processed products are selected. Oxygen is supplied to the fetus through the presented membrane and the process of hematopoiesis occurs. Metabolic processes occur through a vein and two arteries that pass through the umbilical cord.
Fate during childbirth
The onset of labor is the timely rupture of the membranes of the ovum and the subsequent discharge of water (amniotic fluid). The fetal bladder protects the baby from shock, noise, and infection. After that, the uterus begins to expel the fetus from itself.
Please note: As soon as the baby is born, the umbilical cord is immediately cut off, without waiting for the placenta to emerge. He can come out 1.5-2 hours after giving birth. The umbilical cord is dissected as follows: it is clamped in two places and, after the pulsation in it has stopped, cut off. In a warm room, the ripple can last up to 15 minutes, and in a cool room, everything happens much faster.
The newly born baby is placed below the level of the uterus so that blood does not flow to the placenta. A few extra minutes of communication between the baby and the mother make it possible to saturate the blood with hemoglobin. The placenta should come out immediately after the birth of the baby - this guarantees a decrease in the likelihood of postpartum complications for both the mother and the newborn. The exit of the placenta is considered the third birth period, it is the shortest. If it does not come out on its own, it is taken out manually - this often happens when a woman loses a lot of blood during childbirth, as well as if the biomaterial is in the womb for more than two hours. After the placenta comes out, it is checked for integrity so that even the smallest piece of placenta does not remain in the uterus. Then the question of what to do with it is decided - this is the prerogative of doctors or the most newly-made mother.
What to do after giving birth
Many women in labor are interested in where the placenta goes after childbirth, because despite the fact that in the modern world, the placenta with the umbilical cord is considered the property of a woman who has given birth to a child, most of them do not even see it “in person”.
Nevertheless, the woman in labor must decide what to do with the "child's place":
- take it for yourself;
- leave in the hospital;
- freeze in order to preserve the stem cells contained in it, thereby insuring the future.
This is interesting: Stem cells of the presented biomaterial can save a child in case of emergency. In medical institutions in America and Europe, the placenta with the umbilical cord can be transferred to the ownership of the clinic for a good fee, which is confirmed by the contract. This biological material is used to produce medicines, cosmetics and stimulants.
In Russia, this is not practiced in all clinics, so the expectant mother must, before arriving at the hospital, decide what to do with the afterbirth after childbirth. If freezing is not provided in the maternity hospital in which the woman is going to give birth, you should agree in advance with other clinics, where the medical staff will transfer the material for storage immediately after childbirth.
What to do with the afterbirth in the absence of instructions
What is done with the umbilical cord after childbirth if the woman in labor does not decide on her own where to place it. As soon as the placenta and umbilical cord leave the womb of a woman, they are disposed of in this medical institution. Each region and even a medical institution has its own laws and regulations on what needs to be done with the waste of biological tissues, which are these biomaterials. Destroy them in accordance with the approved requirements and the technology adopted in this institution. If childbirth occurred with pathologies, then the afterbirth is preserved, and according to the doctor's prescription, the corresponding studies of the resulting biomaterial are carried out. In the event of a stillborn baby, the placenta and umbilical cord are sent for histological analysis - this will help determine the cause of the sad outcome.
The afterbirth can be taken for scientific research, laboratory experiments, and obtaining certain substances. This is done with the consent of the woman in labor, but in most cases without her knowledge. The collection of stem cells and blood from the umbilical cord, their deep freezing is an expensive undertaking, therefore it is not supported by either doctors or women in labor. Although unreasonable. It should also be noted that if the laws of the clinic provide only for the disposal of the placenta, it will not be given to the mother, even if she so wishes. Usually, women who have given birth to a child are no longer interested in the fate of the “children's shelter”.
Pagan rites of the ancestors
The ancestors attached sacred meaning to the umbilical cord and performed some rituals using it:
- Mother kept a piece of dried umbilical cord. It was believed that it prevents the destruction of family ties, and the relationship between the mother and the child in this case only improves.
- A piece of one's own umbilical cord, which should have been worn in a breast medallion, endows a person with wisdom and bestows upon him the strength of the whole family. Deceased relatives will help you overcome difficulties and show you the right path.
- The Slavic sorceresses gave their granddaughters an infusion from the dried umbilical cord of the child himself - this gave her strength, the girl acquired the ability to secret knowledge.
- Following popular belief, the umbilical cord contains all the information about the owner. If it falls into the hands of the enemy, he will be able to magically affect life, health, his actions and thoughts.
This is not all the beliefs that have come down to modern humanity from antiquity. They may seem ridiculous, but in the old days people attached great importance to them. The Slavs considered the last younger brother or sister of a newborn child and buried him in the ground, planting a birch or fruit tree in this place. In some tribes of the African people, the woman who gave birth simply ate the subsequent biomaterial of the child. In the countries of the East, it was believed that the child's place is the receptacle of the child's soul, therefore it should be returned to the Gods, and in return the child should receive health and a happy fate. Therefore, all the remains of the afterbirth were buried in a safe place or in a landmark: the last of the boy was buried on the battlefield, which predicted him military glory and many victories in battles. He was also buried next to the hearth, so that a good housewife and keeper of the hearth would grow out of her. Of course, in modern times, the placenta is not endowed with such sacred qualities, and people relate to it more simply. The main thing is that it comes out of the woman's womb completely and, as quickly as possible, is a sign of a successfully completed childbirth and the timely formation and development of a child in the womb.
- This is an organ in the form of a long thin tube that connects the fetus with the mother's body.
Functions, structure, blood circulation
The formation of the organ begins from the second week of gestation, as the fetus grows, the umbilical cord also increases.The length of this organ can reach 60 centimeters, with a diameter of 2 centimeters. The surface is covered with special membranes. This tube is quite dense, to the touch it resembles a dense hose.
Since the main function of the organ is to supply the fetus with nutrients and the removal of metabolic products, its basis is blood vessels: 2 arteries and a vein. Initially, 2 veins are formed, but in the process of fetal development, one of them closes. The vessels are very well protected from pinching and bursting. They are enveloped in a thick jelly-like substance called warton jelly... The same substance has the function of transferring certain substances from the blood of the fetus to the amniotic fluid.
Through the vein, arterial blood, rich in nutrients and oxygen, enters the fetus; through the arteries, venous blood that has already been used up is drained from the fetus to the placenta, which performs the purification function ( the fetal liver is not yet able to cope with this work). In a fetus, before birth, 240 ml of blood per minute passes through the arteries, in a fetus at the twentieth week - only 35 ml per minute.
In addition to the above elements, the umbilical cord contains:
- Yolk duct- through it, nutrients from the yolk sac enter the embryo,
- Urachus- the connecting canal between the placenta and the bladder.
Umbilical cord blood test (cordocentesis)
The procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance. A thick needle is used to pierce the umbilical cord where it attaches to the placenta and take a blood sample.The procedure is carried out for diagnostic purposes if you suspect:
- Hereditary neutropenia
- Chronic granulomatosis
- Mixed immunodeficiency.
A few years ago, cordocentesis ( examination of fetal umbilical cord blood) were used to determine hemophilia, thalassemia, hemoglobinopathy, Down's syndrome. Today, for these purposes, an analysis of amniotic fluid is used, as well as a biopsy of chorionic villi ( BVH).
After childbirth
In order for blood to pass normally through the vessels of the umbilical cord, it is necessary to maintain a certain level of hormones in the warton jelly. During childbirth, the amount of oxytocin- a hormone that provokes labor. The vessels are compressed and the blood flow stops - the atrophy of the organ begins, which proceeds for several hours after the birth of the child.Within 15 minutes after the birth of the baby, blood circulation in the umbilical cord stops ( if childbirth takes place without pathology). In this process, the temperature of the environment also plays a role - when cooled, the vessels also shrink.
How and when are they cut?
After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped on both sides with special clamps, after which it is cut.Today, there is a lot of controversy about how quickly you need to cut the baby's umbilical cord: immediately after birth or after it stops pulsing.
In America and Europe, the procedure is carried out within 30 - 60 seconds after the birth of the baby. There is an opinion that the baby does not receive umbilical cord blood, which is very useful for him and may develop anemia.
American scientists have conducted a study that proves that a cut, made a little later, reduces the likelihood of developing sepsis, respiratory diseases, respiratory diseases, anemia, cerebral hemorrhage, and visual impairment.
According to research by experts from the World Health Organization, 60 seconds after birth, 80 ml of blood from the placenta enters the baby's body, and after another 2 minutes - 100 ml. This is an additional source of iron for a newborn, sufficient to provide the baby with this element for a whole year!
The term "late" cutting by specialists means cutting 2 to 3 minutes after birth. This should not be confused with some savage tribal practices of leaving the umbilical cord not cut at all ( in a few days she dries up by herself). As for cutting after the complete cessation of pulsation or 5 minutes after birth, such children often experience functional jaundice. Therefore, everything is good in moderation.
In newborns
The remainder of the cut umbilical cord dries up rather quickly and falls off on its own after a few days.A small wound remains at the site of its attachment. You need to take special care of it and then the wound will heal without problems.
Usually, it is enough to daily treat the navel area with brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, do not wet it until the remainder of the umbilical cord falls off. You should also allow the navel to "breathe" during a diaper change for a minute.
But sometimes wound healing is difficult. Doctor's help is required:
- If the body around the wound is swollen and reddened,
- If a foul-smelling, pus-like fluid flows out of the wound.
Ultrasound
During an ultrasound examination, such parameters are investigated as:- The junction of the placenta and umbilical cord,
- The junction of the umbilical cord and the abdominal wall of the fetus,
- The presence of a normal number of arteries and veins.
Doppler analysis allows you to detect impaired blood circulation in the vessels of the placenta and in the body of the fetus.
Entanglement
Causes of pathology:- Recurrent stress
- Lack of oxygen.
In the second case, the lack of oxygen causes discomfort to the fetus, which also makes it move more, increasing blood circulation and thereby receiving more oxygen.
The child can "get entangled" in the umbilical cord himself, and after a while unravel. Therefore, this condition is not always dangerous.
The entanglement can be detected using ultrasound from the fifteenth week of gestation. In order to determine how much the baby's body is compressed, dopplerometry is done. In the event that there is a possibility of oxygen starvation, the examination is carried out more than once.
How to prevent entanglement?
- More being in the fresh air, walking, doing light gymnastics,
- Avoid stress
- Do special breathing exercises,
- Attend gynecologist's consultations on time and undergo all the necessary examinations.
Long or short
Umbilical cord length abnormalities are the most common organ abnormalities. The norm is 50 centimeters, that is, approximately the length of the body of a newborn baby.More often the umbilical cord is too long - 70 or even 80 centimeters. With this length, there is a possibility of part of the umbilical cord falling out during the outpouring of water ( if breech presentation is observed). Also, an umbilical cord that is too long can cause it to wrap around the neck. But there is no evidence that it is the length that affects the likelihood of entanglement. If the loops are not tightly entwined, then the birth can go on normally, and there is no danger to the baby's life.
If the length of the umbilical cord is less than 40 centimeters, and sometimes even up to 10 centimeters, they speak of shortening. With such a short umbilical cord, there is a high likelihood of misalignment of the fetus. A short umbilical cord can create tight loops around a baby's neck. In addition, it is more difficult for the baby to roll over and pass through the birth canal during childbirth. With strong pull, there is a possibility of placental abruption.
False and true nodes
True node formed in the first weeks of gestation. During this period, the fetus is still very small and its active movement causes "tangling" of the umbilical cord. Such a knot is dangerous during childbirth, since when the fetus passes through the birth canal, the knot may tighten, the fetus will begin to suffocate. If the baby is not born very quickly, he may die. This happens ten percent of the time.
Fake node Is an increase in the diameter of the umbilical cord.
Causes:
- Varicose blood vessels
- Tortuosity of blood vessels,
- Wharton's Jelly Displacement.
Hernia
This is a fairly rare fetal development disorder. With a hernia, some of the internal organs of the fetus develop under the sheath of the umbilical cord. This happens more often with the intestines. Usually, ultrasound examination reveals this disorder. However, sometimes it is very minor. In such cases, there is a danger of organ trauma during cutting of the umbilical cord. Therefore, before cutting, the obstetrician must very carefully examine the navel area and the part of the umbilical cord that is in close proximity to the baby's body.Very often, such a violation is combined with other developmental defects. Hernia is treated only with a surgical method.
Prolapsed umbilical cord
One of the first stages of labor is the discharge of amniotic fluid. Sometimes the flow of water traps the umbilical cord, which enters the cervix or even the vagina. It is this situation that is called loss.This phenomenon is dangerous because the fetus moves along the cervix and can squeeze the umbilical cord, that is, the movement of blood and oxygen into its body is blocked.
Prolapse is more common in early childbirth, with presentation.
Fallout is detected after the water comes out. A woman in labor may feel "something foreign" in the vagina. If at this moment the woman is not in the hospital, she should get on all fours, lean on her elbows and urgently call an ambulance.
In some cases, the umbilical cord is inserted into place. Sometimes operative delivery is prescribed.
Cyst
This is a fairly rare pathology, and to determine the cyst with accuracy, usually, perhaps, only after the birth of the child.This education can be in a single copy or there can be several of them. Most often they are formed in warton jelly.
Cysts are visible on ultrasound. They have no effect on blood circulation between the fetus and the placenta.
In most cases, cysts are combined with fetal malformations, therefore, in the presence of cysts, it is recommended to undergo a genetic analysis.
Cysts are classified as false or true.
False- without capsule, are in Wharton's jelly fabric. They are small enough to be found in all segments of the umbilical cord. The causes of these cysts are often unknown. Sometimes they appear at the site of a hematoma or edema.
True cysts are formed from particles of the vitelline duct. Such cysts have a capsule, they can be quite large - up to one centimeter in diameter. They are always formed near the fetal body. It is not always possible to distinguish a false cyst from a true one.
The rarest type of umbilical cord cysts are umbilical-mesenteric cysts. Such formations appear if the formation of the fetus is disturbed in the early stages of pregnancy. In this case, between the bladder and urachus ( umbilical cord component) a cavity is formed in which fetal urine accumulates. In medicine, only ten such cases have been described.
For 9 months, the expectant baby is completely safe in the mother's womb, connected to her by a material thread, through which she receives the necessary nutrients. Soon he will only have a memory of her - a small wound that will heal and form a navel, but mom will be worried about where this thread goes after the baby appears, especially if she gives birth for the first time.
After conception, an anatomical formation appears in a woman's body, consisting of a chorion and a part of the ovum. From it, the placenta and the outgoing umbilical cord are formed. Together they received the medical name "afterbirth".
This education plays a huge role in carrying a baby. The placenta serves for temporary vital organs - lungs, intestines, kidneys and produces necessary substances such as oxygen and food, and the umbilical cord pumps them directly to the baby, and also removes waste products. In other words, it is such a "transfer".
Birth of a child
You have already learned where the mother's umbilical cord is attached, and now we will analyze where the umbilical cord goes after the baby is born.
The rupture of the membranes of the ovum and the discharge of amniotic fluid provokes the uterus to expel the fetus from itself - this is the beginning of labor. After the end, the afterbirth should come out on its own within 1.5-2 hours, if during this time nothing came of it, the doctors carry out the cleaning manually. The reason for this may also be a large loss of blood by the girl (more than 300 ml).
After separating the child's seat, the obstetrician-gynecologist must examine the uterine cavity to exclude the presence of residual tissue that could lead to infection.
Ideally, if everything comes out at once, this is a signal that the risk of pathologies is minimal.
But in order to cut off the umbilical cord from a child, it is not necessary to wait for the extraction of the placenta. Immediately after the birth of the child, it is clamped in two places to stop the pulsation and then cut off. If the room is warm, you can wait up to 15 minutes for the pulsation to stop; if it is cold, everything happens faster. This is the answer to how this important thread is cut.
Mom's property
It is useful to know that this anatomical base is the property of the mother after childbirth, and your word for disposal is everything. Think about it and plan your actions while you are pregnant, there are 3 options:
- Pick up and dispose of as you see fit.
- Leave the hospital in custody.
- Save by freezing.
Interestingly, in advanced countries, the umbilical cord that comes out after childbirth is considered a unique organ that is frozen in order to preserve stem cells that can save a baby in emergency situations, in cases of problems and diseases. Also, cosmetics, medicines and stimulants are made from biological material, and the girls who donated their part for these purposes receive a good monetary reward. However, in the CIS countries, such services are not very popular, so if you decide on a modern method, first find out in which clinics such a practice is carried out.
If there is no indication
Most moms are completely unaware of what to do with the umbilical cord if there is no indication. In such a case, it passes into the hands of the medical staff and must be disposed of, depending on the prescribed rules in this medical institution, and destroyed according to the laws of the region.
If the pregnancy took place with pathologies, part of it remains and the biomaterial is examined.
If the fetus was born dead, it is sent for histological analysis in order to understand the cause of the death.
Sometimes the fetal membrane is taken for experiments or to obtain certain materials, but these procedures are expensive. In most cases, the mother in childbirth is not notified of this, and the newly-made mothers themselves after childbirth, as practice has shown, are not interested in what is happening with the material next.
Ancestral beliefs
At a time when medicine was not yet so developed, our ancestors gave the children's place a truly sacred meaning and performed special rituals.
- The women kept the dried pieces, as they believed that this would strengthen their bond and prevent the breakage of family ties.
- Witch doctors cooked a decoction from it, which they watered young girls. It was believed that this way you can get secret knowledge.
- If someone always carried a piece of their own flesh with them, connecting them to their mother, it was not considered strange. The ancestors believed that she gives wisdom and strengthens.
- Another belief says that this thread is a storehouse of information about the owner, with which you can influence his life. Therefore, it was carefully kept from enemies.
- It may seem even more insane that the ancient Slavs considered the last brother or sister of the child, buried him, and planted a tree on the site of the grave.
Those days are long gone. Science makes confident steps in its development, but it is you who have to decide who and how the umbilical cord should belong after childbirth. Perhaps you will not remember about it, thereby handing it over to doctors, or you may decide to preserve stem cells. You are free in your choice, even if you consider it right to dry it and always carry it with you.
In order for the fetus to develop normally in the womb, nature provides for the emergence of temporary organs that help the unborn child to interact with the mother's body. These are the placenta and the umbilical cord. The correct structure and stable functioning of both will give a high chance of giving birth to a healthy baby; if the work of the temporary body is disrupted for some reason, there is a threat to the development, and often the life of the fetus. Let's figure out why the umbilical cord is needed and what to do when doctors discover pathologies in it.
What is the umbilical cord, what does the organ consist of
The first scar in a person's life is the navel - a depression that forms after the removal of the umbilical cord: the organ is cut when the child comes out into the light, the remainder disappears, the wound is overgrown. Two identical navels, like fingerprints, do not occur in humans.
The umbilical cord is a cord-like organ, within which there are vessels that carry blood from the placenta to the fetus and vice versa; in other words - the intrauterine "highway". Since the placenta communicates directly with the pregnant woman's body, the umbilical cord inextricably connects the expectant mother with the baby. In another way, the umbilical cord is called the umbilical cord.
The cord has a gray-bluish color; looks like a tube twisted in a spiral. If you feel it, the tube will be tight. 
The umbilical cord resembles a blue-gray silicone tube, but is actually entirely organic; ensures blood circulation between mother and fetus
When and how is the umbilical cord formed
The umbilical cord begins to form at the 2nd week of pregnancy, and by the 12th week it is already fully functioning. As the fetus grows, the umbilical cord also increases in size.
First, from the wall of the hind intestine of the embryo, the embryo membrane develops, which serves as a respiratory organ for the future baby - this is allantois, a process resembling a sausage in shape. Allantois carries the vessels from the body of the embryo to the outer shell - the chorion. It is from allantois that the umbilical cord is gradually formed; later, the process also includes the remains of the yolk sac - another temporary organ responsible for the normal development of the fetus before the formation of the placenta. With the appearance of a full-fledged placenta (by 12-16 weeks of gestation), the yolk sac is no longer needed, its tissues serve as "building material" for the umbilical cord.
One end of the umbilical cord is fixed in the umbilical region of the fetus, the other is closed with the placenta... There are four attachment options:
- central - that is, in the middle of the "cake" (the shape of the placenta is similar to a cake, the word is translated from ancient Greek); considered the most successful;
- lateral - not in the center, but not at the very edge;
- marginal - the umbilical cord clings to the edge of the placenta;
- shell - rare; The umbilical cord does not reach the placenta and is attached to the membranes between which the umbilical cord vessels extend to the placenta.
Central attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta is most common How the umbilical cord works
The bulk of the umbilical cord falls on Warton jelly - a unique connective tissue; is a jelly-like substance with reticular fibers and a large amount of collagen. The jelly is elastic and has a strong structure. After birth, such tissue in the human body does not come across.
In the umbilical cord, jelly plays an important role:
- provides the elasticity of the temporary organ;
- protects the vessels through which blood circulates from mechanical damage, in particular, squeezing, as well as from twisting.
Wharton's jelly feeds on separate blood vessels; the amount of the substance increases at 6–8 months of pregnancy. At the end of gestation, the jelly is converted into connective tissue, saturated with collagen fibers.
In addition to the main vessels of the umbilical cord, the following stretch along the cord:
- nerve fibers;
- yolk duct - while the yolk sac is active, this vessel transfers valuable substances from the sac to the embryo;
- urinary duct (or urachus) - removes fetal urine into the amniotic fluid.
In the later stages, the need for ducts disappears, both are gradually absorbed. It happens that they do not completely dissolve, then pathologies may appear - for example, a cyst forms in the urachus.
Outside, the umbilical cord is covered with a closed amniotic membrane - several layers of connective tissue. Not reaching a centimeter to the navel, the amnion passes into the skin of the unborn child.
The main vessels of the umbilical cord
The main work of providing the fetus with oxygen and nutrients in the umbilical cord is performed by three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein. Initially, two veins form, but while the fetus is growing, one of the veins closes.
In the vessels of the umbilical cord, everything happens differently than in the systemic circulation:
- arterial blood enriched with valuable substances and oxygen flows from the placenta to the fetus through a vein with thin walls and a wide lumen;
- the venous blood used by the fetus, filled with carbon dioxide and "waste" - metabolic products, returns to the placenta through the arteries; the baby's place (placenta) clears the fluid, thus replacing the liver, which is still being formed in the fetus; followed by the purified and re-saturated with useful elements, blood again rushes through the umbilical vein to the fetus.
The volume of blood flowing to the fetus through the vein is equal to the volume flowing through the arteries. At 20 weeks of gestation, the blood flow rate in the umbilical cord is 35 milliliters per minute, and before childbirth, it increases to 240 milliliters per minute. 
With the help of vessels in the umbilical cord, the unborn child eats and breathes
Dimensions of the umbilical cord
The diameter of the umbilical cord is on average one and a half to two centimeters; depends on the amount of Wharton's jelly.
In the absence of pathologies, the length of the umbilical cord corresponds to the growth of the unborn child and increases in size along with the fetus. In a newborn, the umbilical cord in most cases is no more than 50-52 centimeters. There are babies with a longer rope, up to 70 centimeters, or a little shorter - 40–45 centimeters. Both options are recognized as minor deviations from the norm, in which it is premature to sound the alarm.
If the length of the umbilical cord is more than 70 centimeters or shorter than 40, this is already a cause for concern. Such conditions cannot be considered normal, they often lead to complications in the development of the fetus.
When something is wrong with the umbilical cord
Why this or that expectant mother has anomalies of the umbilical cord, it has not yet been possible to find out exactly; medical science has only guesses. So, among the possible causes of pathologies are called:
- bad habits;
- the work of women in industries that are hazardous to health (for example, associated with radiation);
- living in an area with an increased background radiation;
- taking certain medications;
- periodic nervous disorders, stress;
- oxygen deficiency in the body of the expectant mother.
Doctors speculate that cord abnormalities often mean that the fetus has a developmental abnormality - in particular, chromosomal abnormalities leading to Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and other refractory mental disorders. 
The fact that a child is born with Down syndrome, at the stage of gestation, is signaled by anomalies of the umbilical cord - for example, the absence of one vessel
Consider some of the anomalies of the umbilical cord and the consequences to which they lead.
Entanglement of the fetus
It would seem that there is a direct connection between the length of the umbilical cord and the high probability that it will wrap around the fetal neck. However, not everything is so simple: a long umbilical cord, of course, increases the threat of entanglement, but the cause of the complication is not always.
In some cases, the unborn child gets entangled in the usual umbilical cord, and even in the short one; for example, if the baby is too active. And the excessive activity of the fetus provokes, in particular, a strong nervous excitement of the mother: adrenaline is released into the blood, which passes through the placenta and the umbilical cord to the baby, causing anxiety.
Umbilical cord entanglement is one of the main fears of the expectant mother. No wonder: pathology occurs in 20-30% of pregnant women.
There are such types of entanglement:
- isolated - a loop of the umbilical cord wraps around one part of the body - a handle, a leg;
- combined - several loops at once cover the neck or limbs; in other cases, the umbilical cord is repeatedly wrapped around the body part.
Double entanglement of the fetal neck with the umbilical cord is more dangerous than a single one; will create problems during gestation and delivery When the loops are not tightened, the prognosis is more favorable: the baby is even able to extricate himself from the "trap". If the entanglement is tight, it is impossible to free oneself; the umbilical cord squeezes its own blood vessels, the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus is difficult, hypoxia occurs.
Oxygen starvation is extremely dangerous for the fetus; leads to complications, including:
- intrauterine growth retardation - the fetus is behind the "schedule", gains insufficient weight, grows poorly; after childbirth, it resembles a premature baby, even if born on time;
- neurological disorders in a newborn baby;
- mental and physical developmental delay; hypoxia provokes irreversible changes in the brain - ischemia, edema, hemorrhage;
- weak resistance of the body to infections;
- one of the most serious consequences is cerebral palsy.
During acute oxygen deficiency, fetal death in the womb is not excluded.
When an abnormally short umbilical cord is wrapped around the fetus, the loop will almost certainly be tight. Strong tension of the umbilical cord threatens premature placental abruption; if the placenta is half exfoliated, the death of the baby is inevitable. When a smaller part of the child's place leaves, the woman is placed in a hospital for preservation and is recommended to give birth using a cesarean section.
A shortened umbilical cord also creates problems during childbirth: squeezing through the birth canal, the child is deprived of freedom of maneuver, which is why severe hypoxia threatens to occur right at the time of delivery.
To reduce the threat of fetal entanglement, the expectant mother needs:
- walk more often and for a long time in the fresh air; the summer months are best spent outside the city, in the country;
- maintain physical activity, do gymnastics for pregnant women, including breathing;
- less nervous, avoid stress;
- regularly visit a gynecologist, take tests on time, undergo examinations.
Prolapsed umbilical cord
A sure sign of the beginning of labor - so to speak, the overture - is the discharge of amniotic fluid. In some cases, the umbilical cord is carried away by the fluid flow, especially if it is too long. As a result, the organ ends up in the cervix or penetrates into the vagina - that is, it seems to fall out of place.
Meanwhile, ahead is the advancement of the unborn child along the birth canal; getting into the narrow space of the neck, the fetal head squeezes the umbilical cord, which means that the child blocks the access of oxygen to himself. As a rule, this situation is typical for early childbirth. The risks to a baby's life increase when:
- a pregnant woman has a narrow pelvis;
- the fruit is large;
- the unborn child has a movable head;
- breech presentation in the fetus.
With a breech presentation, the fetus faces the entrance to the birth canal with its legs or buttocks; this position can cause the umbilical cord to fall out A woman is able to detect trouble only after the waters have receded; will feel the presence of a foreign object in the vagina. If the expectant mother is already in the hospital by this time, she needs to get on all fours, leaning on her elbows, and call for help. Sometimes the umbilical cord can be returned to its previous position. If attempts are futile, urgent surgery is required.
Knots on the umbilical cord
Doctors distinguish between knots and false ones.
True ones are formed in the first weeks of pregnancy; the fetus, due to its small size, easily slips into the loop of the umbilical cord - it tightens, a knot appears. This pathology is one of the rare. It happens that the knot is tightened slightly, then normal bearing and childbirth is possible. If the knot is tight, the fetus begins to choke; as a result, either dies or is born with severe asphyxia (suffocation). As a rule, with the formation of tight knots, early delivery is recommended.
A weak knot in the umbilical cord can tighten as the baby passes through the birth canal. In such a situation, it is important that the baby comes out quickly, without having time to suffocate. According to statistics, 9 out of 10 children in such cases are born alive. 
Obstetrician skill during labor helps save the life of a baby with a cord knot
False knots are not actually knots, but thickenings on the umbilical cord that occur if:
- there was a varicose expansion of the umbilical cord vessels;
- vessels are too tortuous;
- a large amount of Wharton's jelly has accumulated in the umbilical cord.
This anomaly is not dangerous; the expectant mother calmly carries the fetus and gives birth to a healthy child.
Lack of a vessel in the umbilical cord
By the 20th week of gestation, when a woman undergoes a special ultrasound examination - dopplerometry - the doctor is able to count the number of vessels in the umbilical cord.
Fine . But 0.5% of normal pregnancies and 5% of multiple pregnancies occur in the absence of one artery in the umbilical cord. Why this happens, doctors find it difficult to determine.
The woman is diagnosed with EAP - the only artery in the umbilical cord. In 9 out of 10 expectant mothers, the remaining artery, despite the increased load, copes with the delivery of waste venous blood to the placenta. Mild hypoxia is possible, which does not threaten the life of the baby. However, the expectant mother with pathology is under the close scrutiny of doctors during the entire gestation period.
In rare cases, EAP leads to serious disturbances in blood flow and is accompanied by the appearance of birth defects in the fetus, among them:
- heart disease;
- dysfunction of the genitourinary system - in particular, the absence of one kidney;
- pathology of the central nervous system.
Two vessels in the umbilical cord, according to doctors, serve as a marker of genetic disorders in the fetus, so it is important to examine the blood circulating along the cord. Analysis of the karyotype, that is, the set of chromosomes, will answer the question of whether the child will suffer from Down's disease or other chromosomal pathologies.
Other anomalies
The quality of the cord depends on how at the stage of formation the umbilical cord is attached to the placenta. Attachment in the center is considered correct. If the umbilical cord ends up at the edge of the placenta, it can lead to severe bleeding during labor. And when the umbilical cord clings to the membranes and contacts the placenta through additional vessels, the supply of the unborn child with nutrients is sometimes disrupted (there are not enough vessels). The danger of membranous attachment increases during childbirth - in some cases, the umbilical cord breaks and the fetus begins to suffocate.
The umbilical cord is too narrow - such an anomaly leads to a delay in the intrauterine development of the fetus, since the amount of valuable substances and oxygen supplied to the baby is sharply reduced. It happens that doctors are forced to resort to early delivery.
A rare pathology is a hernia of the umbilical cord - the internal organs of the fetus, more often than others, the intestines, fall under the sheath of the umbilical cord. As a rule, in such conditions, the organ develops normally. The greatest threat of a hernia is during childbirth: there is a great danger of injury to the organ in the umbilical cord when it is cut.
Also, cysts of the umbilical cord are rare; are usually formed in warton jelly. Cysts do not interfere with blood circulation, but signal the likelihood of genetic defects in the fetus. So if an umbilical cyst is found, a genetic analysis is required.
Research methods of the umbilical cord
An ultrasound scan will help to detect abnormalities in the development of the umbilical cord - this is the main research method. Pregnant women are advised to have an ultrasound scan during routine screening in each trimester.
With the help of ultrasound diagnostics, the doctor identifies:
- the level of blood flow in the vessels;
- whether the fetus is entwined with an umbilical cord (seen from the 15th week of pregnancy);
- fetal heart rate;
- how the cord attached to the placenta;
- how the umbilical cord is fixed on the abdominal wall of the unborn child;
- the number of arteries and veins in the cord;
- are there any nodes;
- fetal motor activity.
Ultrasound allows the doctor to detect possible abnormalities in the development of the fetus, including those associated with umbilical cord abnormalities When there is reason to suspect umbilical cord abnormalities (slow or rapid heartbeat, signs of hypoxia), the doctor sends the patient for additional examinations, including:
The method of treatment depends on what type of pathology the diagnosis revealed. If a loose umbilical cord entanglement or false knots on the cord are found, the woman stays at home, but is regularly examined by a doctor. In more difficult cases, the pregnant woman is admitted to a hospital; when the fetus is diagnosed with severe hypoxia as a result of tight entanglement or the presence of true nodes on the umbilical cord, an early delivery by cesarean is prescribed.
It happens that the unborn child is suspected of chromosomal abnormalities; then, to study the karyotype, the umbilical cord blood is taken for analysis. The procedure is carried out under the control of ultrasound; the needle pierces the umbilical cord where it is attached to the placenta. Now in medical institutions they prefer to take for analysis not blood, but a sample of amniotic fluid or the outer shell of the fetus - chorionic villi.
What is done with the umbilical cord after childbirth
From a woman's body, the umbilical cord comes out at the same time as the placenta and membranes, at the final stage of childbirth. A clamp is applied to the cord, followed by the umbilical cord cut. A brace is applied to the process leaving the baby's body, which is removed after a while. The remainder of the umbilical cord is cut off, and a sterile napkin is placed around the umbilical ring. 
The umbilical cord, which served as the fetus of "dear life", after the birth of the baby is cut with surgical scissors
With proper care, the wound heals within a few weeks - such measures are enough:
- treat the umbilical area with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green every day;
- until the remainder of the umbilical cord falls off, keep the navel dry;
- leaving the navel open for a few minutes when changing diapers.
A wound in the navel of a newborn requires daily care. The last minutes of the umbilical cord
Already during childbirth, the vessels in the umbilical cord are compressed, the blood flow through them slows down. This is due to the action of the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates labor. Blood stops in the umbilical cord 15 minutes after the birth of the baby; under the influence of air temperature, which is lower than body temperature, the vessels contract even more, close completely. Within a few hours, the organ that has completed its tasks in the mother's womb atrophies.
When to cut the umbilical cord is an important medical question. Either immediately after the birth of the child, or a little later, after 2-3 minutes, when the organ stops pulsing. Previously, they did not stand on ceremony with the rope and removed without delay. However, new scientific discoveries made specialists think.
Scientists from the World Health Organization have found that in the first minute of a baby's life, 80 milliliters of blood flows from the placenta through the cord, and in the next 2 minutes - 100 milliliters. This blood contains a huge amount of a valuable element - iron, which will then be enough for a baby for a whole year.
Other studies have shown that late cutting of the umbilical cord will reduce the threat of:
- extensive inflammation - sepsis;
- cerebral hemorrhage;
- respiratory diseases;
- anemia;
- visual defects.
If the umbilical cord is not cut at all, it will dry out and fall off by itself - after 4-7 days. Since the vessels of the organ are pinched, the outflow of blood from the baby's body is impossible these days. But who wants to keep a newborn tied to a dead organ - except perhaps to mothers from wild tribes, where this practice still exists.
But all female placental mammals, following instinct, bite the umbilical cord after giving birth.
It is better to get rid of the used umbilical cord in due time - no later than 3 minutes after the birth of the child. For example, already after 5 minutes with an unsected umbilical cord, the threat of functional jaundice in the baby increases.
But if the baby is born with asphyxiation (for example, due to a tightened knot on the umbilical cord), cutting the umbilical cord is required immediately in order to start resuscitation as soon as possible. Sometimes a child is born lifeless, but the umbilical cord pulsates, which means that not all is lost, the baby is considered live-born and doctors are fighting for his life.
The umbilical cord is also called the umbilical cord (lat.funiculus umbilicalis). Its function is to connect the embryo and then the fetus with the mother's body. The length of the umbilical cord in humans reaches 50 - 70 cm and more. This enables the fetus to move in the uterine cavity. In a newborn baby, the umbilical cord is about 2 cm thick. Outwardly, it is elastic, similar to a dense rubber hose with smooth and shiny shells.
Where does the umbilical cord come from?
The umbilical cord is attached to the placenta in the center or lateral. It happens that the umbilical cord joins the membranes, while not reaching the placenta itself.
When does the umbilical cord appear?
It is known for sure that, starting from 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, it only begins to form, and by 2 months it fully grows to normal size. But, there are "ropes" only up to 40 cm in length, or reaching more than 1 meter! Such anomalies of the umbilical cord are prerequisites for tying knots and other complications.
Umbilical cord abnormalitiesThe most serious are umbilical cord abnormalities associated with a discrepancy in its length: a long or short umbilical cord, the reasons for the appearance of such deviations are not exactly known.
With a long umbilical cord (70–80 cm), which happens very often, childbirth can take place without complications. However, it is possible that it is entwined around different parts of the fetus, which can occur due to the active movements of the child. The entanglement can be single or multiple. There is also a tight-loose entanglement. All cases should be closely monitored by your doctor.
A short umbilical cord, less than 40 cm, rarely 10–20 cm, can provoke an abnormal position of the fetus. During childbirth, such a pathology as a short umbilical cord is often the very reason why the fetus moves very slowly through the birth canal, and the placenta exfoliates ahead of time.
A thick umbilical cord can provoke long-term healing of the umbilical wound. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully look after her.
Where does the umbilical cord go after childbirth?
Most often, the umbilical cord of a newborn is sent to a special laboratory where the study is carried out. Now it has become fashionable to donate the umbilical cord to stem cell storage centers, where these cells are removed from the umbilical cord and stored throughout a person's life. Well, in ordinary cases, the umbilical cord is disposed of in the hospital.