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The Cord Around the Baby’s Neck – Is It a Problem?

Parents are often frightened that the baby’s umbilical cord can be around the neck at birth. In fact, this is a very common event. It occurs in about one third of all births. The reason for that is simple: the baby moves around during the pregnancy; as a result the cord becomes wrapped around the baby’s neck.
However, there is nothing to worry about! The umbilical cord is covered with a thick coating known as Wharton's Jelly. It resembles gristle in texture and therefore protects the cord’s arteries and veins from being compressed. As a result, the cord wrapped around the baby’s neck doesn’t cause problems.
When you are in labor and once the baby’s head is out, the doctor will check if there is the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck. As a rule, the cord is wrapped loosely enough in order to be slipped over the baby’s head. In case the cord is wrapped several times this may take more time, and you may be asked not to push for a minute.
Occasionally the cord is wrapped too tightly. In this case it should be cut before the baby is born. It is usually done by placing two cord clamps and cutting between them. This procedure can be done by your doctor or midwife. After this procedure your baby will be born quite rapidly, as it is no longer getting nutrients from the mother via placenta.
Sometimes neither of these methods has to be employed as the baby will be born rapidly. As the baby’s is born through the cord, a practitioner should hold the baby's head very even and close to the mother's body.
To sum up, the cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck usually doesn’t require any additional monitoring for mom or baby.
 
Birth Injuries
Injuries from birth are of a serious matter. When the baby is hurt during the birth process, it can cause birth injury (or birth trauma). According to the statistics, it occurs in 6-8 out of every 1,000 births. There are several reasons for birth injuries: the size of the baby, position of mother or baby at birth, premature labor, and other. It is more likely in women, who are having their first baby, or in those having pelvic abnormalities or gestational diabetes.
Here is the list of the birth injuries that occur:
1. Bruising
This happens quite often as the baby passes through the birth canal. Nevertheless, it is more common when the baby is born with the use of vacuum extraction or forceps (in this case it is called “forceps marks”). Typically, it goes away in a few days without any treatment.
2. Caput Succedaneum
This means severe swelling of the baby’s scalp. It is more likely to occur in babies born with a vacuum extraction. However, it can be also caused by the presses made by the baby’s head against the cervix for a long period of time. There can be bruising in the caput area. Usually, it lasts only few days, and the swelling can go on its own. In some cases your baby will need to have an ultrasound to look for further problems.
3. Cephalohematoma
This is bleeding underneath the outer tissue that covers the bone (periostium) in the baby’s head. It may show up several hours after the birth. Medical treatment is not necessary but it generally takes several weeks or even months for this to disappear completely as the blood reabsorbs. It is more common to occur in operative deliveries where forceps or vacuum extraction was used, though it occurs in about 2% of spontaneous births.
4. Lacerations
This is cuts on the baby’s skin caused by the assistance of a vacuum extractor or by scalpel in C-section. Some cuts may be deep so that they need stitches or they may be glued, but as a rule the majority can be just bandaged together. The wound must be treated with antibiotic ointment in order to prevent any infection.
5. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
It is very common and doesn’t require any treatment. It looks like a simple redness and can affect one or both eyes. The degree of redness depends on the amount of small blood vessels broken. It doesn’t affect the baby’s eyes long term and last about a week.
6. Fractures
Another birth injury is breaking the collarbone. Humerus fractures can also occur with a breech delivery. This usually heals without any treatment, though splinting may reduce pain. There is a little movement on the side of the fracture during the healing process.
7. Brachial Palsy
This is damage to the brachial plexus (a group of nerves that aids the hands and arms). As a result, a baby can lose the ability to move its arm for some time or even forever. The extent of this injury can be seen with the help of x-rays, MRI or other radiographic tests. During the recovery special exercises (e.g. physical therapy) may be required. This has more common with a shoulder dystocia (when the baby can’t deliver its arm).
8. Facial Nerve Paralysis
Paralysis can occur when pressure is put on the facial nerves. This is more common in births where forceps are used, though can occur without it. Typically, the paralysis is seen when the baby cries. This injury may disappear on its own in a few weeks.
9. Intracranial Hemorrhage
This happens when blood vessels are broken inside your baby's skull. Actually, the bleeding can occur in many locations depending on the causes of bleeding. This type of injury is much more probable in premature infants. Poor feeding and seizures can be the signs of it. To check for an intracranial hemorrhage in a baby with a high risk of bleeding screening should be done.

Generally speaking, there are those birth traumas that do not require any medical treatment and clear up themselves in a few days or weeks. But there are also very serious birth injuries, which must be healed or, what is better, prevented, as it can influence the baby’s health for the rest of its life. Be sure consult the practitioner about making all necessary examinations in order to prevent your baby from birth injury or to find out whether there is a threat for its health or not.

Discomforts in Late Pregnancy
Of course there are many joys of pregnancy, like feeling the baby move, but there are also discomforts which usually take place in late pregnancy. Most people know about the most common annoying symptom – you have to get up almost every hour in the night to go to the bathroom. However, there are more late pregnancy discomforts. Here you will find a list of common complains at the end of the pregnancy and how you can cope with them.
1. Insomnia
Not being able to fall asleep is really annoying. There can be two forms of insomnia: when you’re exhausted and as a result cannot fall asleep or you cannot fall asleep but feel fine. At least the second form can let you be productive. Advice can be to try some exercise earlier in the day, avoid caffeine or energy drinks after early evening, relax before going to bed and even well-known remedy of a glass of warm milk (may be with honey).
2. Back pain
In case of back pain try to massage route. Pelvic tilts work here very well. You can also try stretching or using warm compress (e.g. rice sock or warm bath). Another thing to try is taking a shower on hands and knees. The water hits you in the back and thereby reduces back pain.
3. Cramps in Legs
Great starts are stretching prior to bed and not pointing your toes. Nutritional problems (e.g. lack of potassium) are said to contribute to this problem.
4. Breath shortness
The baby grows and compresses your diaphragm. As a result, you have less room to breathe. Stretching and pelvic tilts help many women to deal with this problem. Another good thing is to sleep sitting up. Some women fold body pillow and lean it on the headboard; others find a recliner or other chair to be better for them.
5. Exhaustion
Growing a baby takes a lot of energy. The best advice for recovering is to get in a brief nap or rearrange your schedule to sleep when you are most sleepy.
6. Gastrointestinal delights
Heartburn, belching and gas are all the results of the baby growing healthy. Avoid offending food and staying upright after meals – that’s all you can to here. A glass of milk with honey can help with heartburn. You can also ask your practitioner to recommend something.
7. Contractions
When they start, it’s a great time to practice everything you were taught in childbirth classes. Try to ignore contractions as long as possible. They are not as strong and frequent as in labor, that’s why you should try to relax. Try to nap, change positions, and take a bath. Some women can have contractions at a certain point every day; others can have non-stop contractions for the last few weeks. Both are quite normal. Talk to your practitioner if are worried about contractions or just don’t know how to deal with them.
8. Pubic bone pain
It’s not really a bone, but it can really hurt. You can no longer stand on one leg putting on your pants. Lifting a leg while getting into the tube can also be painful. The best solution for this is any warm compress (e.g. rice sock).

We’ve mentioned the most frequent complains of mothers during late pregnancy and the things you can do to prevent or reduce them. Mention these things and don’t forget to use them. Make your late labor more pleasant!

When is it better to go to the hospital to give birth?
“It is time to go to the hospital and have a baby?” - Every pregnant woman has this question in her mind. Contractions at the end of your pregnancy can make you believe that you are in labor. Here you will find the list of ways to decide if you are really in labor and ready to go to the hospital.
1. Ask your practitioner or midwife when they would like you to come to the hospital. Because of your medical history or some other reasons they may have special rules for you.
2. Don’t go to the hospital t early, as it has been linked to an increase in interventions. Moreover, it will be better and more comfortable for you to be in your home in early labor.
3. You can use 411 method if you aren’t given a specific time to go to hospital: contractions four (4) minutes apart, lasting one (1) minute for one (1) hour.
4. If you are planning to have an unmedicated birth, it’s better to stay home a bit longer.

To sum up, when you have contractions or other signs of labor, calm down and be sure to contact your practitioner for further instructions.

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