Nuchal Cord (Cord Coil)
Abstract
Nuchal cord is a very common pregnancy problem. 10-29% of pregnant women experience this
kind of problem. It is a condition where the umbilical chord wraps around the baby. This
condition is primarily due to the excessive movement of the baby inside the womb. Medical
professionals suggest that it is also due to the locking of a gelatinous substance called Warton’s
jelly, a substance present at the veins and arteries of the umbilical cord which helps prevent
nuchal cord on the baby. There is no such symptoms present or seen physically to the mother.
That is why it is advised to educate pregnant women about responsible pregnancy.
Clinical Analysis
Nuchal cord is the term manifested by medical experts when an umbilical cord was wrapped
around the baby’s neck. This condition may occur during pregnancy, labor, or birth. The
umbilical cord connects the baby to the mother’s placenta. During fetal development in the
womb, the umbilical cord is the lifeline to the baby supplying nutrients (Mount Sinai). Umbilical
cord is a significantly important part of pregnancy. But this cord that attach the baby to the
mother may cause a problem during pregnancy. According to Maternal Health, Neonatology and
Perinatology, around the world, 10-29% of fetuses experience nuchal cord and the incidence
increases with advancing gestation age. According to Healthline, nuchal cord usually occurs
due to baby acrobatics. But there are few other causes of nuchal cord. Healthy cords are
protected by a gelatinous, soft filling called Wharton’s jelly. This type of jelly is the mucoid
connective tissue that surrounds the two arteries and the vein of the umbilical cord
(ScienceDirect). Furthermore, this jelly helps to keep the cord knot-free as the baby rotates or
move. In the case of having nuchal cord, the umbilical cord has insufficient Wharton’s jelly.
According Healthline, nuchal cord can also be cause of having twins or multiples, when there is
excessive amniotic fluid, the coed is especially long, and the structure of the cord is poor. There
are so many ways that nuchal cord could be avoided. According to Healthline, 1 in 2,000 births
will have true knot in the cord and could do such risk both in baby and the mother.
Recommendation
According to Healthline, there is no such symptoms of a nuchal cord. Their will be no change in
a women’s body during pregnancy. It is recommended that nurses should educate their
patients in responsible pregnancy. They should advice their patients that it is very important to
go for a regular ultrasound screening to know if there are problems in terms of cord coil on their
baby. In this way, they could assess early what to do during the period of pregnancy and on the
day of delivery.
References
Peesay, M. (2022, December 6). Nuchal cord and its implications. BMC. Retrieved June 22,
2022, from
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://mhnpjournal.biomedc
entral.com/articles/10.1186/s40748-017-0068-7%23:~:text%3DNuchal%2520cord
%2520occurs%2520when%2520the,increases%2520with%2520advancing
%2520gestation%2520age.&ved=2ahUKEwjx-o2C-
bv4AhVLqVYBHfaYDs4QFnoECAcQBQ&usg=AOvVaw3f0GdstIi4Dv_Vj0SG_RO4
Science Direct. (n.d.). Wharton Jelly. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/wharton-jelly
Young, B. (2017, September 29). How Does Nuchal Cord Affect My Baby? Healthline. Retrieved
June 22, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/nuchal-
cord#complications
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