Short umbilical cord

The umbilical cord is an important link between mother and child, through it oxygen and nutrients come to the baby, and the products of metabolism return. Knowing what condition the umbilical cord is in will help predict the outcome of childbirth.

Causes of a short umbilical cord

The most frequent anomaly of the development of the umbilical cord is a change in its size. The length of the normal umbilical cord is 40-70 cm. The short umbilical cord is the most common anomaly of all those that occur. There are relatively short umbilical cord and an absolutely short umbilical cord, which occurs much more often. An absolutely short umbilical cord has a length of less than 40 cm, and a relatively short one has a normal length, but can be shortened due to the following factors:

• hugging around various parts of the child's body (neck, legs, body);
• the formation of nodes on the umbilical cord: distinguish the true and false nodes of the umbilical cord. True nodes are more common and represent a varicose enlargement of one of the umbilical cord in one or more places. True nodes of the umbilical cord are found in 1-2% of cases and represent a tight loop of the umbilical cord. True nodes are observed when there is a small but active fetus;
• incorrect position of the fetal body.

Possible complications of pregnancy and childbirth with a short umbilical cord

A short umbilical cord can significantly complicate the process of delivery and prevent the fetal movement through the birth canal. Clinically, such births can proceed as with mild labor and end with caesarean section. A relatively short umbilical cord, which is caused by a convulsion, can lead to a violation of the fetal heart activity and show a picture of acute fetal hypoxia. The true nodes are also dangerous for the development of hypoxia in childbirth, when the fetus moves through the birth canal The knot can be tightened all the more tightly, disrupting the access of oxygen to the baby. The presence of a true node, also, is an indication for delivery by cesarean section. With a relatively short umbilical cord caused by false nodes, varicose veins may be injured during labor and there may be a hemorrhage to the umbilical cord.

As we see, a change in the length of the cord is an undesirable phenomenon that can complicate the course of pregnancy and childbirth. Timely confirmation of this anomaly will allow a woman, together with a doctor, to choose the right tactics for delivery.