-By Bushra Hatahet, UK-Trained Clinical Midwife
One of the most common concerns parents have is whether the umbilical cord might be wrapped around their baby’s neck.
This is called a nuchal cord.
Although it sounds alarming, it is actually very common. Around 20–30% of babies are born with the umbilical cord loosely wrapped around their neck, and in most cases it causes no problems at all.
It is important to remember that babies do not breathe through the umbilical cord.
Throughout pregnancy and labour, your baby receives oxygen through the placenta. The umbilical cord simply carries oxygen-rich blood from the placenta to your baby and returns blood back to the placenta.
Unlike an adult with something around their neck, the cord does not stop your baby from breathing because your baby is not using their lungs until after birth.
Once your baby’s head has been born, your midwife or obstetrician will quickly check to see whether the umbilical cord is around the neck.
If the cord is loose, it can usually be gently slipped over your baby’s head before the shoulders are born.
Sometimes the cord is wrapped more than once.
This is also quite common and often still causes no difficulty during birth.
If the cord is a little tighter, your healthcare professional may guide your baby through the loop of cord as the body is being born, rather than trying to pull the cord over the head.
Very occasionally, if the cord is extremely tight and preventing the birth of your baby’s body, it may need to be clamped and cut before the shoulders are delivered. This situation is uncommon and your birth team is trained to manage it safely.
The important thing to remember is that finding a nuchal cord is not an emergency in itself. It is something midwives and obstetricians see regularly and know how to manage calmly.
One of the most common things I hear after a birth is,
“The cord was around my baby’s neck—is that why labour was difficult?”
The answer is often no.
Many babies are born with a loose nuchal cord and nobody would ever know unless the midwife mentioned it. In most cases, it is simply a normal variation of birth and does not cause any long-term problems.
If you are looking for calm expertise and genuine continuity of care, let’s talk.
