Patient's question:
What should be done if the fetal umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck? Can it be a natural delivery or does it need a cesarean section?Doctor's answer:
Umbilical cord is a common occurrence during fetal delivery. It is generally believed to be related to excessive length of the umbilical cord and frequent fetal movement. The expectant vein is longer than the umbilical cord, usually coiled in a spiral shape, and the umbilical cord itself is surrounded by a gelatinous substance, which gives it some elasticity. Therefore, the number of times the cord wraps around the neck is mostly unrelated to the survival rate of the fetus. Only after labor, with the tightening of contractions, does the descending fetal head tighten the wrapped cord, potentially causing the cord to become too short and hindering smooth delivery.After discovering umbilical cord, it does not necessarily require a cesarean section. During delivery, if the cord is loosely wrapped and has sufficient length, a cesarean section is not needed. Only when the cord is tightly wrapped multiple times and relatively too short, with the fetal head not descending or the fetal heart showing significant abnormalities, should surgery be considered.