Beyond myths, nuchal cord, is completely science.

At past five on Saturday morning 27th September, 2014,I trekked with my husband and delivery luggage in his hand to a near by hospital where I registered for antenatal because I have been told to come immediately after I noticed any sign since I was a first timer(first delivery).

When I got to the hospital, I told the doctor the signs I noticed cramp,and mucus plug with some bloody show. The doctor then did ultrasound i guess he did that to determined situation of things. He then directed one of the nurses on duty to led me to the ward where I was admitted and induced.

While i was in the ward, i experienced contraction continuously and i was at this condition for several hours hoping that soon the water will burst and the baby will come out. All this while, my husband was beside me providing emotional support. His presence in that room really meant a lot to me psychologically as that translated to me that i was not alone. Meanwhile, the nurses too were not far from my reach coming around to check the baby's breathing rate and the dilation of my cervix.

At exactly the 13th hour or there about, the cervix had opened enough and the water bursted. I was encouraged this time because I knew the pain will be over soon after delivery, unknown to me that I have just started. After the water bursted, the doctor and the nurses were expecting the baby to descend,but to our greatest surprise the baby refuse to descend. Been curious to know the cause of the delay, the young matron came around and inserted her glove covered finger inside my cervix, she reported that she could touch the baby head and could also feel the baby umbilical cord round its neck . Yaks !!!

They have to check back for my baby's breathing rate and having realized that it was declining, the doctor immediately informed my husband the development at his office. He gave him the options whether they should wait till i deliver the baby naturally which may leads to complication during birth or they should proceeds with a ceaserian section immediately to save the baby's life whose heart rate has dropped drastically.

Without much time wasting, he gave his consent having witnessed the pain that I have passed through!.

In preparation for the caesarian section, my pubic hair was shaved then I was rushed to the theater. After some minutes,the baby was carried out,a bouncing baby boy given to one of the nurses, though i was bit unconscious but I was aware of the whole thing it seems I was in a far distance because faintly I could hear the baby crying( Special thanks to the anestetics given to me).

The baby was cleaned up, his weight checked to be 4.2 kg!!. (With the weight, i wonder if i could have deliverd that baby without episiotomy)The baby was dressed and given to his anxiously waiting father in the ward.

---

Pixabay

The doctor sew me up and I was taken to the ward on a stretcher. According to the doctor, the umbilical cord was thrice round my baby's neck !. Yes thrice i say, the baby was becoming less energetic when call for the C-section was made. Though the operation was successful but the question kept coming to my heart,what is the meaning of this and
what could have caused the umbilical cord to wrap round my baby's neck?

My curiosity was never satisfied until i knew what happened inside me._{join me to find out what i discovered}

What is umbilical cord ?

The umbilical cord is the connection between the baby and the placenta. It has three vessels which are two arteries, that performs the function of transporting blood from the foetus to the placenta, and one vein,that transports oxygenated, nutrient- rich blood from the placenta to the baby. In short,all baby needs to develop in the womb is provided by the umbilical cord.

The wrapping of umbilical cord around the baby's neck is referred to as the nuchal cord. Umbilical cord can go over a baby's neck once, twice or even multiple times but it's nothing to stress about. Nuchal cord is not caused by anything mother has done,it cannot be prevented but can be well managed.
Unregulated movement of the foetus is the main cause of a nuchal cord which usually occur during the third trimester when the baby swims around in the uterus and play with its umbilical cord. I remember then that the baby used to moved uncontrolably inside me, then i did not even know the implications of his movement_{i thought he was playing football.lol, though no football pitch in my womb}

Other medical reasons are shown below:

An abnormally long umbilical cord.
A weak cord structure.
Excessive amniotic fluid.
Having twins or multiples.
Source

The presence of "Wharton's Jelly" which it's work is to keep the cord from knots and also protects a healthy umbilical cord from blood vessel compression also keep the baby safe in the womb no matter how many wriggle the baby does.

---

A mother cannot tell if her baby has a nuchal cord if it has not being revealed by ultrasound during her routine checkup just like mine, the ultrasound never reveal the nuchal cord, so i was not prepared for what i experienced that day neither my doctor too, however my child survived it because some are not so lucky like mine.

wikipedia Commons., Public domainBy The original uploader was Jeremykemp

According to research, there is no much risk for mother or baby, it is only in rare cases when things is taken for granted that severe complication such as neonatal encephalopathy which can leads to damage of brain occur. Nevertheless, once the ultrasounds had revealed nuchal cord,during the routine scan,then it is the duty of the doctor to monitor the baby carefully during its delivery. Nothing can be done about nuchal cord until delivery even though the ultrasound reveal it. During the delivery,the most common risk from a nuchal cord is if the baby's heart rate decreases which is caused by shortened flow of blood and oxygen due to entangled cord during contraction. Even,most babies are still born healthy despite the fact that there is decreased heart rate. _{my boy is completely healthy}. But If there is extremely fetal distress, it is advisable to go for C- section. But C- section is not necessary for the delivery of a healthy baby with a nuchal cord.

Pixabay.com

Studies show that up to half of nuchal cord resolve before delivery . However, if it does not resolve and ultrasound does not reveal it before delivery then during delivery after the baby's head comes out the midwife can easily slip the cord over the baby's head with her finger before the shoulder is delivered, this can be done if the nuchal cord is loose,but if the cord is tight,the midwife may slip the cord over baby shoulder and if this is also not working,the physician may allow the shoulders and body to be born in a somersault, with the cord being unwrapped after delivery. This is called somersault technique,but if the nuchal cord is too tight,then the midwife may clamp and cut the cord before the baby's shoulders are born.

Final note

In Africa folklore, especially from my Yoruba tribe, its believed that a child with nuchal cord on his/her neck will automatically be stubborn, but i don't see any connection as this phenomenal is what science completely explained.

Also, there is this common belief that chicken survival around children born with nuchal cord can not be guaranteed. I found this to be funny because my son has never endanger any chicken close to him. He even stylishly dodge one when he see it.

---

Thanks for your time, in reading, you can drop your comment if you find this post interesting. And you can interact with us on steemstem discord channel by checking here

REFERENCES
Heres-how-your-ob-knows-the-umbilical-cord-is-around-your-babys-neck

wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuchal_cord

Medicalnewstoday.com/articles

Melissacatephotography.com/the-incredible-umbilical-cord

Nuchal-cord-9-facts-cord-around-the-neck

Mamanatural.com/nuchal-cord