Guess how many times I’ve heard this…
“Well the cord was wrapped so they had to take her…”
I call 🐂
But don’t feel bad if this was you- it happens all the time!
The cord wrapping around baby’s neck at birth most of the time really isn’t that big a deal because the body has a divinely designed innate intelligence-
In fact 3/5 of my babies had it! 2 times my midwife moved it and I didn’t even realize it.
🪢 Innate Solution 1:
The cord comes equipt with Wharton’s jelly which prevents a knot from becoming tight if present or a cord wrapping around the neck from getting tight. It’s very slippery and if you’ve ever felt one in real life you could see what I’m talking about.
🪢Innate Solution 2: the placenta is still delivering oxygen to baby while it’s not cut- also why it’s important to not cut the cord too early in case baby isn’t breathing right away. It’s literally a lifeline.
If you’ve ever felt a cord after birth then you would know how slippery and hard it is to mash it together to block the flow going through it.
We crushed and cut our cord with stones at our last birth and let me tell you how hard it was! From being so slippery and squishy and pliable the body’s inborn genius protections are quite evident.
All we need to do is trust because
Innate knows best!
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When I first learned that nearly 60% of babies can have their umbilical cord wrapped around their neck, it completely changed how I viewed labor and delivery complications. I used to worry that it meant immediate danger, but understanding the biology behind it helped me overcome my fears. Wharton’s jelly, a unique substance within the cord, keeps it flexible and slippery, which naturally prevents tight constriction around the baby’s neck. This amazing design helps ensure that the cord doesn’t pinch off oxygen flow. Another crucial factor often overlooked is the placenta. As long as the cord remains intact before being cut, the placenta continues to supply oxygen to the baby, acting as a lifeline during delivery. This is why cutting the cord too early can sometimes cause unnecessary stress if the baby isn’t breathing immediately. From my personal experience attending births, sometimes the midwife gently moves the cord to relieve tension, and often, the mother doesn’t even notice because the baby is safe and comfortable. I’ve also felt how difficult it is to tighten or crush the cord after birth, which speaks volumes about the protective design nature gave us. The cord’s slippery, squishy quality, enhanced by Wharton’s jelly, makes accidental tightening rare. Learning about these innate protections brought me peace of mind and trust in the natural process of birth. For expectant parents, it helps to know that many babies are born perfectly healthy despite the cord wrapping, and that healthcare professionals are well-equipped to monitor and manage any real risks. If you’ve ever heard the phrase "We had to take her because the cord was wrapped around the neck," remember that it’s often an oversimplification. Most of the time, the body knows best and has already ensured the baby’s safety without intervention. Trusting the birth process and understanding its natural safeguards is empowering for parents and birth professionals alike.
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