Patient's question:
I am 23 weeks pregnant. The ultrasound results are as follows:Fetal head position: Above the pubis
Spinal column position: Left anterior
Intracranial structures: Clear
Biparietal diameter: 57mm
Femur length: 41mm
Amniotic fluid thickness: 36mm
Placental thickness: 24mm
Position: Anterior wall
Grade I
Fetal heart rate: 146 beats per minute
Ultrasound findings: Single viable fetus, 23 weeks pregnant, umbilical cord
Please help me analyze my baby's development. Does the umbilical cord affect the baby? What should I pay attention to? Can I have a normal delivery?
Doctor's answer:
Hello, your condition is basically normal. The umbilical cord is loosely around the neck and does not affect umbilical cord blood circulation, nor does it pose a risk to the fetus. According to statistics, the incidence of umbilical cord is 20%—25%. This means that out of every 4—5 fetuses, one is born with the umbilical cord. There have been cases where the cord has wrapped around the neck 3 or even 7 times, and the children have all been fine.Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility of anything going wrong. If the umbilical cord is wrapped too tightly, it can compress the umbilical vessels, obstructing blood circulation or compressing the fetal neck vein, leading to ischemia and hypoxia in the fetal brain tissue. This can cause intrauterine distress, stillbirth, stillbirth, or neonatal asphyxia. This phenomenon often occurs during labor. If it is accompanied by an excessively short or relatively short umbilical cord, it may affect the descent of the presenting part during labor, prolonging the process and exacerbating fetal hypoxia, which can endanger the fetus.
Our advice to you is:
(1) Learn to count fetal movements. If the fetal movements are too frequent or too infrequent, seek medical attention promptly.
(2) If there is too much or too little amniotic fluid or an abnormal fetal position, undergo prenatal examinations.
(3) Use indirect methods such as fetal heart monitoring and ultrasound to assess the condition of the umbilical cord.
(4) Do not request a cesarean section out of fear of umbilical cord complications.